Abstract

Using GIS to Develop Evacuation Bus Routes for Transit-Dependent Population
Track: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Authors: Chris Puglisi

In the event of an emergency which requires evacuation, local emergency management agencies need to coordinate and provide transportation for those residents who may not have access to a personal vehicle. GIS software can be used to aid these agencies in more effectively allocating their available transportation resources. Using census demographic data (household vehicle availability and number of commuters per household), a spatial estimate of transit-dependent population can be mapped. Routes can be designed based on this spatial data in order to service a given walking distance from the homes of transit-dependents, and to maximize the occupancy of buses servicing the routes in order to minimize the demand of local resources, which are typically limited.