AN INTELLIGENT DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT CRITICAL BUILT FACILITIES EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO EXTREME EVENTS

CUBER: Details

The project knowledge base will represent the 3D geometry of both building components and spatial objects. Simple open geometric descriptions will be used, but each geometry will also be associated with topological relationships among the 3D objects and spaces. A network-based model will be used to examine access requirements of users to spaces and restrictions on through movement to other areas of the building.

The network based model will be used to analyse the critical evacuation routes. Existing GIS software will be used to analyse the critical spatial relations. In itself this is not novel, however by associating geometry describing building spaces and 3D objects and access restrictions and making links to critical evacuation routes analysis, visualisations will be developed that allow one to see the knock on implications of the location of a disaster or hazard on optimum routes of egress in an emergency. These visualisations will be able to be used strategically to prepare and respond to extreme events in a complex built facility, and tactically to assist in evaluating the scenarios in emergency situation.

The critical spatial analysis tool will add a new kind of functionality to emergency planning decision support. This tool will allow the network of spaces and 3D objects which comprise the built facility to be represented and analysed in an interactive way. The research will make use of the fact that the geometric and topological aspects of the building will be expressed in the project knowledge base and the critical spatial analysis, combined with the critical evacuation routes analyses to develop the prototype Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) broker. This will use Fuzzy logic reasoning techniques to evaluate optimum evacuation routes in an emergency situation.

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