Enhancing Urban Resilience: Managing Flood-Induced Disruptions in Road Networks

Abstract

Abstract Emergency preparedness is essential for ensuring the safety and protection of the population in the event of a disaster. To develop effective emergency plans, it is imperative to prepare and assess appropriate response scenarios. An event (an accident or a climatic event) that occurred on a primary road artery could lead to partial or total closure of the artery to vehicular traffic for several hours or days, with negative consequences for vehicular circulation along the transport network including the structure itself. Therefore, in addition to reestablishing the functionality of the affected arterial road, reestablishing the functionality of the affected arterial road is highly important for determining possible alternative routes capable of providing an adaptive response to disruption. The aim of this paper is to improve the resilience of road infrastructures and to ensure reliable network availability under adverse conditions, such as extreme weather. The results of a study carried out in the city of Palermo to develop emergency response scenarios for heavy rainfall are presented. A dynamic microsimulation model was developed and implemented using Dynasim to model the main traffic corridors in the at-risk area. The impact of different emergency management strategies on mobility in response to natural disasters was assessed. The results can guide local public safety agencies in implementing effective traffic management strategies in the event of an actual emergency.