Identification of vulnerable transportation infrastructure and household decision making under emergency evacuation conditions
Year: 2005
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This dissertation combines two primary problems under general disaster \nconsiderations. First, a methodology is presented to identify vulnerable \ntransportation infrastructure, which is defined as the set of network links, the \ndamage of which results in the maximum disruption of the network’s origindestination \nconnectivity. The disrupting agent is permitted a limited number of \nresources with which to damage the network. The measure of disruption, \nresulting from the damage, is based on a given set of traffic conditions, the \navailability of alternate paths, and roadway design characteristics. A bi-level \nmathematical programming model represents the interaction of the traffic \nassignment and the disruption measure. This bi-level model allows the problem \nto be viewed as a game between an evil entity, who seeks to disrupt the network, \nand a traffic management agency that routes vehicles so as to avoid vulnerable \nlinks to the greatest degree possible while meeting origin-destination demands. \nThe second problem is to mathematically describe household decision \nmaking behavior in an emergency evacuation. Traditional transportation network \nevacuation models have omitted a commonly observed sociological phenomenon \n– that families gather together before evacuating an area. This omission can lead \nto overly optimistic evacuation times, and the evacuation models fail to capture \nunderlying traffic patterns that only arise during times of crises. Two linear \ninteger programs are developed to model the decision making behavior; the first \ndescribes a meeting location selection process and the second assigns trip chains \nfor drivers to pick up family members who may not have access to a vehicle. The \nmathematical programs are combined with a traffic assignment-simulation \npackage for evacuation analysis. \nInteractions between the two problems are also explored. Evacuation \nconditions are examined when the traffic management agency routes traffic \naround vulnerable links. The impact of the unusual traffic patterns, that arise \nusing the household decision making behavior evacuation model, is evaluated in \nterms of shifts in the relative vulnerability of the transportation links. Finally, the \nrouting strategies are evaluated for extensions in network evacuation times.
Authors: Pamela Murray‐Tuite, Hani S. Mahmassani
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1643206196