a spatial analysis of industrial and environmental risk patterns in the Gironde region of southwestern France. Using publicly available geospatial datasets, the study examines the distribution, clustering, and cumulative impact of regulated industrial facilities (ICPE), pollutant-emitting installations (IREP), hazardous-material pipelines, and former industrial sites. The analysis integrates cartographic visualisation, kernel density estimation, and commune-level statistical aggregation to identify areas of heightened environmental risk. Three key visualisations support the findings: a comprehensive base map of industrial infrastructure, a hotspot map highlighting cumulative industrial presence, and a scatter plot linking facility density to reported environmental discharges. Results show that industrial risk in Gironde is highly spatially concentrated, with the Bordeaux metropolitan area emerging as the dominant risk hotspot. Strong spatial continuity between historical and current industrial activity is observed, indicating long-term path dependency in land use. Furthermore, communes with higher densities of industrial facilities generally report greater environmental discharges, though emission intensity varies by site and sector.

title: "Industrial Risk Clusters in the Gironde Region" author: "Max Droste & Jaden Ng" date: "2025-12-14"