Exploring potential debris removal strategies during the earthquake response phase

Abstract

Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters, causing widespread damage, particularly in urban areas. A critical but often overlooked component of post-earthquake emergency response is the role of debris removal in the initial response phase. While debris removal is typically treated as part of long-term recovery, its immediate integration could enhance access to casualties, enabling faster medical care. This study investigates the impact of different debris removal strategies on the effectiveness of emergency response in urban settings using an Agent-Based Model (ABM) developed on the NetLogo platform. The model simulates a virtual city, "Quakecity," with realistic urban features, including road networks, hospitals, building damage, and injured resident distribution.

Two primary debris removal strategies were tested: one based on population density and the other on proximity to hospitals. Additionally, the potential use of army vehicles for casualty transportation was examined. These strategies were evaluated under two earthquake scenarios, varying levels of resource availability for both ambulances and debris removal equipment, measured by assisted residents and unreachable residents.

Results demonstrate that ambulance capacity has a more significant impact on the number of assisted residents than debris removal alone, although both strategies improve response effectiveness, particularly in high-damage scenarios. The hospital-proximity strategy was most effective when resources were plenty, while differences between strategies diminished in resource-constrained conditions. The introduction of army vehicles as supplementary casualty transporters proved highly effective. This research highlights the importance of adapting emergency response strategies based on available resources and the potential benefits of incorporating debris removal into the immediate response phase.