A Simulation-Based Analysis of Chemical and Radiological Hazard Zones Adapted to Physical Boundaries
Date of Award
3-24-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering Management
Department
Department of Systems Engineering and Management
First Advisor
Gregory D. Hammond, PhD.
Abstract
In the United States, industrial and terrorist use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials pose a risk to public safety. During the initial phase of typical CBRN incidents, emergency responders establish hazard zones based on standard distances from published guidelines and recommendations. This research investigates how standard hazard zones change in a real world environment that accounts for physical boundaries. Using a python simulation in ArcGIS®, new hazard zones were created by expanding standard hazard zones to follow nearby roads, railroads, and rivers. The new and standard zones were compared by calculating the population and area affected by each zone. Additionally, responder efficiency was compared across different combinations of physical boundaries. The simulation generated 990 random points across three cities and three environments (urban, suburban, rural) and was replicated for six hazards. The results revealed significantly larger populations and areas affected by new zones compared to standard zones and significant effects from the environment and city where the incident occurred. Depending on hazard, the median growth ranged from approximately 340 to 8,000 people and 0.6 to 8.8 square miles. The particular combination of physical boundaries used in creating hazard zones was not found to influence responder efficiency.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENV-MS-16-M-188
DTIC Accession Number
AD1054126
Recommended Citation
Sundheim, Mickie J., "A Simulation-Based Analysis of Chemical and Radiological Hazard Zones Adapted to Physical Boundaries" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 415.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/415