Prioritization of Bridges to Improve Emergency Road Network Performance after the Earthquake

Abstract

Following an earthquake, the issue of relief, mainly in metropolises, where the extent and depth of the devastation can be widespread, is crucial. Meanwhile, urban roads including the bridges as major arteries play an essential role after the earthquake. Bridges also have a unique role in making disaster response routes network efficient. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure their full performance in disasters such as earthquakes. On the other hand, maintaining this function for all bridges in a network requires huge costs, which is generally impossible. This study aims to assess the selection and prioritization of bridges for retrofitting according to their importance and role in helping disaster response routes network. In this paper, to prioritize bridges in an emergency road network, a five-stage methodology is presented using analytical methods and an optimization model. Given the importance of network length and critical points connectivity in the efficiency of the emergency road network, the probability of failure, network length, and travel time have been used as major indicators in prioritizing bridges for retrofit funding, especially in the first 72 hours after the disaster. This methodology has also provided the possibility of evaluating budget allocation options. The results are presented for the Sioux Falls model, and the efficiency of the proposed model has been shown.