Evaluation of Evacuation Strategies According to the Travel Demand: The Case of Nuclear Research Reactor HANARO’s EPZ

Abstract

In the event of a nuclear accident, evacuation is the most effective protective action for the public. During the evacuation, total travel time is a key measure to protect the public because it is directly related to the public’s radiation exposure. Thus, strategies that reduce the total travel time are needed for a safer nuclear emergency plan. Many studies on evacuation strategies so far have suggested the methodology of effective routing decisions or delay management. Despite the application of those strategies during evacuation, the effectiveness of those strategies, in reality, varies depending on the level of travel demand. In this study, evacuation strategies based on travel demand levels were evaluated based on the case of the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of HANARO, the nuclear research reactor in the Republic of Korea. As a result, it was confirmed that effective evacuation strategies could be applied differently according to travel demand levels.