Optimizing postdisaster reconstruction planning for damaged transportation networks

The limited availability of reconstruction resources is one of the main challenges that often confront postdisaster recovery of damaged transportation networks. This requires an effective and efficient deployment and utilization of these limited resources in order to minimize both the performance loss of the damaged transportation network and the reconstruction costs. This paper presents the development of a robust model for planning postdisaster reconstruction efforts that is capable of: (1) optimizing the allocation of limited reconstruction resources to competing recovery projects; (2) assessing and quantifying the overall functional loss of damaged transportation networks during the recovery efforts; (3) evaluating the impact of limited availability of resources on the reconstruction costs; and (4) minimizing the performance loss of transportation networks and reconstruction costs. The model utilizes the user equilibrium algorithm to enable the assessment of the transportation network performance losses and a multiobjective genetic algorithm to enable the generation of optimal tradeoffs between the two recovery planning objectives. An application example is analyzed to demonstrate the use and capabilities of the recovery planning model.