An open multi-physics framework for modelling wildland-urban interface fire evacuations
Author(s)
Ronchi, Enrico
Gwynne, Steven MV
Rein, Guillermo
Intini, Paolo
Wadhwani, Rahul
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Fire evacuations at wildland-urban interfaces (WUI) pose a serious challenge to the emergency services, and are a global issue affecting thousands of communities around the world. This paper presents a multi-physics framework for the simulation of evacuation in WUI wildfire incidents, including three main modelling layers: wildfire, pedestrians, and traffic. Currently, these layers have been mostly modelled in isolation and there is no comprehensive model which accounts for their integration. The key features needed for system integration are identified, namely: consistent level of refinement of each layer (i.e. spatial and temporal scales) and their application (e.g. evacuation planning or emergency response), and complete data exchange. Timelines of WUI fire events are analysed using an approach similar to building fire engineering (available vs. required safe egress times for WUI fires, i.e. WASET/WRSET). The proposed framework allows for a paradigm shift from current wildfire risk assessment and mapping tools towards dynamic fire vulnerability mapping. This is the assessment of spatial and temporal vulnerabilities based on the wildfire threat evolution along with variables related to the infrastructure, population and network characteristics. This framework allows for the integration of the three main modelling layers affecting WUI fire evacuation and aims at improving the safety of WUI communities by minimising the consequences of wildfire evacuations.
Date Issued
2019-10-01
Date Acceptance
2019-06-06
Citation
Safety Science, 2019, 118, pp.868-880
ISSN
0925-7535
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
868
End Page
880
Journal / Book Title
Safety Science
Volume
118
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Fire Protection Research Foundation Inc
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000475999000082&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
See Further Info
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Engineering, Industrial
Operations Research & Management Science
Engineering
Wildland-urban interface (WUI)
Fire
Evacuation
Modelling
Decision making
WILDFIRE EVACUATION
SIMULATION
BEHAVIOR
SURFACE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-06-21