A Computational Framework for Identifying Safe Evacuation and Rescue Routes in Catastrophic Urban Flooding Environments
Publication: Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
ABSTRACT
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, resulting in more extreme flash flooding events. To increase flood resilience in urban areas, there is a need for local-scale flood information systems to guide evacuation and rescue operations. However, current guidance for inland areas prone to riverine flooding is often limited and ambiguous due to limited application of urban-scale hydrodynamic models and digital urban feature datasets. To address these challenges, this study proposes an operational framework that integrates a validated urban-scale flood forecasting model, high-resolution urban point cloud datasets, human vulnerability model, and transportation network to predict rescue and evacuation routes. Using Manville Township in New Jersey as a case study, the study reveals the time-varying nature of evacuation route for residents and rescuers during Hurricane Ida. The results highlight the importance of an operational framework with flood forecasting systems to increase the effectiveness of evacuation actions.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
Pages: 136 - 143
History
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Case studies
- Disaster preparedness
- Disaster risk management
- Engineering fundamentals
- Evacuation
- Flood frequency
- Flood routing
- Floods
- Information systems
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure resilience
- Methodology (by type)
- Research methods (by type)
- Systems engineering
- Urban and regional development
- Urban areas
- Water and water resources
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