On Criticality Assessment Based Evacuation Modeling: Empirical Findings

Abstract

In this paper, criticality assessment is introduced as an intermediate step in evacuation modeling, in order to identify the optimal allocation of measures for the development of evacuation traffic management strategies. The criticality assessment of network components is reviewed and analyzed concerning its sensitivity in demand and supply variations. It is proposed that when highlighting the most critical component(s) of a network under evacuation conditions, one could either intervene to the component(s) itself, assuring the preservation of its operation and enhancement of functionality or intervene to alternative component(s) of the network that could offer attractive alternatives to the critical one. The two intervention approaches are presented in detail and evaluated in terms of minimizing travel times of evacuees in the Sioux Falls test network. 