MODEL ANALYSIS OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FOR EARTHQUAKE DISASTER DEBRIS - ISSUES RELATING TO TEMPORARY STORAGE SPACE -

Abstract

 Disposing of debris in the aftermath of the hugely destructive the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 has been a significant long-term challenge. This is not least because experts expect a major earthquake to strike metropolitan Tokyo in the near future and are concerned that this would generate even more debris. It is important to transport debris quickly and efficiently from ravaged areas to temporary storage sites to safeguard public health. We need to determine the possibility of securing such locations. In this study, we estimate the amount of debris that an epicentral earthquake would generate in Tokyo's 23 wards. We calculate an acceptable amount of debris by category for storing temporarily at parks, sports grounds, and other sites. We then leverage linear programming to model a transportation plan for minimizing ton-kilometer units. We also highlight issues relating to temporary storage space by drawing on calculations that both reflect and exclude restrictions on acceptable debris levels.