Hazardous materials transportation route optimization considering dynamic wind speeds and risk equity

This study introduces a novel approach to hazardous materials transportation by integrating time-varying wind speed variations into risk assessment and equity optimization. Unlike previous research that mainly focuses on total transportation risk, our model specifically quantifies risk disparities and proposes an adaptive routing strategy for improving risks equity. Moreover, studies on hazardous materials route optimization rarely incorporate risk equity considerations in the context of fluctuating population densities and wind speeds. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing the impact area of hazardous materials accidents under varying wind conditions and developing a time-varying risk assessment function that accounts for dynamic population distributions. The Gini coefficient is utilized to quantify risk disparities across different routes. Based on this, we propose a novel time-dependent route optimization model for hazardous materials transportation that integrates risk equity considerations. The NSGA-II genetic algorithm is employed to solve the model efficiently. Finally, a case study on a transportation network in Shanghai demonstrates the model's practical applicability and examines the temporal distribution of risk equity, providing valuable insights for equitable risk management in real-world scenarios.