Function of Emergency Road Networks During the Post-Earthquake Process of Lifeline Systems Restoration

Abstract

This paper aims to present a framework for evaluating the functionality of emergency road networks after an earthquake from the perspective of local assistance during the process of restoring lifeline systems, such as electric power supply systems, gas supply systems and telecommunication networks. For the analysis, an earthquake of M7.3 in the Tokyo metropolitan area is anticipated, and the following types of local assistance between the related bases and the lifeline systems in the Kanto area are assumed. We employ four indices to quantify the physical and functional states of emergency road networks to be used during the post-earthquake restoration process: distance exposed by seismic intensity spatial distribution and distance exposed by PL value spatial distribution, the indices of which denote the physical state of the road networks as a result of ground motions and liquefaction, distance weighted by traffic congestion level, and distance weighted by averaged traveling time during the congestion, the indices of which denote the functional state of the road networks before being subjected to the above-mentioned seismic disturbances. By using the indices to evaluate the function of the networks from the point of view of efficiency in terms of gathering human resources and restoration materials, we can determine the most effective emergency road networks and related bases to provide local assistance to lifeline systems.