Training of Crisis Mappers and Map Production from Multi-sensor Data: Vernazza Case Study (Cinque Terre National Park, Italy)

This aim of paper is to presents the development of a multidisciplinary project carried out by the cooperation between Politecnico di Torino and ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). The goal of the project was the training in geospatial data acquiring and processing for students attending Architecture and Engineering Courses, in order to start up a team of "volunteer mappers". Indeed, the project is aimed to document the environmental and built heritage subject to disaster; the purpose is to improve the capabilities of the actors involved in the activities connected in geospatial data collection, integration and sharing. The proposed area for testing the training activities is the Cinque Terre National Park, registered in the World Heritage List since 1997. The area was affected by flood on the 25th of October 2011. According to other international experiences, the group is expected to be active after emergencies in order to upgrade maps, using data acquired by typical geomatic methods and techniques such as terrestrial and aerial Lidar, close-range and aerial photogrammetry, topographic and GNSS instruments etc.; or by non conventional systems and instruments such us UAV, mobile mapping etc. The ultimate goal is to implement a WebGIS platform to share all the data collected with local authorities and the Civil Protectio

Modelling shared space users via rule-based social force model

The promotion of space sharing in order to raise the quality of community living and safety of street surroundings is increasingly accepted feature of modern urban design. In this context, the development of a shared space simulation tool is essential in helping determine whether particular shared space schemes are suitable alternatives to traditional street layouts. A simulation tool that enables urban designers to visualise pedestrians and cars trajectories, extract flow and density relation in a new shared space design and achieve solutions for optimal design features before implementation. This paper presents a three-layered microscopic mathematical model which is capable of representing the behaviour of pedestrians and vehicles in shared space layouts and it is implemented in a traffic simulation tool. The top layer calculates route maps based on static obstacles in the environment. It plans the shortest path towards agents' respective destinations by generating one or more intermediate targets. In the second layer, the Social Force Model (SFM) is modified and extended for mixed traffic to produce feasible trajectories. Since vehicle movements are not as flexible as pedestrian movements, velocity angle constraints are included for vehicles. The conflicts described in the third layer are resolved by rule-based constraints for shared space users. An optimisation algorithm is applied to determine the interaction parameters of the force-based model for shared space users using empirical data. This new three-layer microscopic model can be used to simulate shared space environments and assess, for example, new street designs

A Review of the Procedures Associated with Devising Emergency Evacuation Plans

The incidence of freak weather and geological events, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, has increased over the past thirty years. Coupled with an increase in the populations located in the path of these natural disasters, the imminent danger posed by naturally occurring phenomena has also risen. Given the potential dangers, it is wise for policy administrators to ensure that appropriate emergency plans are in place that aim to minimize the negative consequences associated with these disasters. Effective emergency planning and management should successfully combine the skills and knowledge of law enforcement agencies, transport planners as well as the knowledge and skills of emergency planning professionals. In Australia, there has not been a thorough investigation of the emergency impacts on the transport infrastructure nor have emergency plans adequately integrated the transportation aspect. Which transport routes should evacuees and emergency vehicles use is a question that needs to be answered urgently to avoid situations: · Where evacuees are trapped in their vehicles, · When emergency personnel are unable to gain access to the people in need, and · When emergency vehicles are not able to get onto the road network due to traffic congestion. Thus in a case of a suburban bush fire (wild fire), a fire that may have been easily extinguished or controlled is left to engulf more bush land and increase in ferocity. This paper critically assesses the many emergency evacuation models developed and also describes the important information required to devise the models. It is clear, however, that more research needs to be undertaken that specifically investigates the effects of a mass evacuation on current transport networks

Training of Crisis Mappers and Map Production from Multi-sensor Data: Vernazza Case Study (Cinque Terre National Park, Italy)

This aim of paper is to presents the development of a multidisciplinary project carried out by the cooperation between Politecnico di Torino and ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). The goal of the project was the training in geospatial data acquiring and processing for students attending Architecture and Engineering Courses, in order to start up a team of “volunteer mappers”. Indeed, the project is aimed to document the environmental and built heritage subject to disaster; the purpose is to improve the capabilities of the actors involved in the activities connected in geospatial data collection, integration and sharing. The proposed area for testing the training activities is the Cinque Terre National Park, registered in the World Heritage List since 1997. The area was affected by flood on the 25th of October 2011. According to other international experiences, the group is expected to be active after emergencies in order to upgrade maps, using data acquired by typical geomatic methods and techniques such as terrestrial and aerial Lidar, close-range and aerial photogrammetry, topographic and GNSS instruments etc.; or by non conventional systems and instruments such us UAV, mobile mapping etc. The ultimate goal is to implement a WebGIS platform to share all the data collected with local authorities and the Civil Protection

Aerospace Medicine and Biology. A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 244 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in February 1981. Aerospace medicine and aerobiology topics are included. Listings for physiological factors, astronaut performance, control theory, artificial intelligence, and cybernetics are included

New energy carriers in vehicles and their impact on confined infrastructures Overview of previous research and research needs

International audienceThe global warming debate forces the vehicle industry to come up with new environmentally friendly solutions. In 10 years time, or even faster depending on the pressure from different governments in particular in Europe, vehicles will not only use gasoline, diesel and LPG, but also CNG, Hydrogen, ethanol, DME and other bio-fuels, as well as batteries and fuel cells. This quick development and the diversity of new energy carriers can jeopardize the safety in underground infrastructures such as tunnels or car parks. This can cause a major drawback in the adoption of new energy carriers as regulators or operators may prohibit use of these vehicles in underground systems if no new relevant measures will be taken. Unclear situation will also affect the implementation of international policies aiming at reducing the environmental footprint and especially CO2 emission in road traffic. The problem became clear after a workshop with the vehicle industry, tunnel operators, authorities, and safety experts organised in November 2008 by L-surF Services with the support of ITA-COSUF, ECTP and HYSAFE. This workshop demonstrated that the construction sector lacks appropriate design data and tools as well as knowledge to build safe underground infrastructure compatible with a diversity of new and alternative energy carriers. Vehicle industry, infrastructure operators and regulators have not yet addressed this problem. In a first part, an overview of the regulatory situation regarding safety and security of the admission of new energy carriers for vehicles in underground infrastructures is presented. Then, a detailed review of previous relevant research projects performed makes it possible to formulate recommendations in terms of a strategic research & development agenda. The overview shows that it is necessary to develop an integrated risk assessment and management method specific for underground transport systems, metros and hubs in confined spaces taking into account the "emerging risk" aspects

Coastal management and disaster planning on the basis of flood risk calculations

Recent studies showed that one third of the Belgian coastline is not sufficiently protected against severe storm events. Therefore coastal protection plans are set up to assure a minimum safety standard for the entire coastline. Flood risk calculations constitute the main input parameter for the concept and planning phases. Since 100% safety can never be guaranteed, contingency plans are constructed to reduce the remaining flood risks. Flood risk calculations are a powerful communicative and operational instrument to use between engineers and experts on the field, thus forming the link between coastal management and disaster planning

Risk analysis for flood event management

PhD ThesisFlood risk management seeks to reduce flood consequences and probability by considering a wide range of options that include non-structural measures such as flood event management. Quantitative flood risk analysis has provided a powerful tool to support appraisal and investment in engineered flood defence. However, analysing the risks and benefits of non-structural measures have been limited making it difficult to compare the benefits of a wide range of options on a shared assessment platform. A major challenge to understand the performance of non-structural measures during a flood event is the complexity of analysing the human responses in the system that determines the successful operation of flood event management. Here presents a risk analysis approach that couples a multi-agent simulation of individual and organizational behaviour with a hydrodynamic model. The model integrates remotely sensed information on topography, buildings and road networks with empirical survey data and information on local flood event management strategies to fit characteristics of specific communities. The model has been tested in Towyn, North Wales, and subsequently used to analyse the effectiveness of flood event management procedures, including flood warning and evacuation procedures in terms of potential loss of life , economic damages and the identification of roads susceptible to congestion. The potential loss of life increases according to the magnitude of a storm surge (e.g. 11 for 1 in 100 years surges as opposed to 94 for 1 in 1000 surges). Providing 3 hours flood warning can reduce this by 67% if individuals take appropriate action. A global sensitivity analysis shows that hydrodynamic processes are only responsible for 50% of the variance in expected loss of life because actions taken by individuals and society can greatly influence the outcome. The model can be used for emergency planners to improve flood response in a flood event.EPSRC studentshi