A multi-objective optimization approach for evacuation planning

Evacuation time is often the choice of measure of effectiveness (MOE) and the objective function to minimize for evacuation planning, as time is sometime considered a surrogate for risk. However, the actual risk of evacuation operations also depends significantly on other factors, such as the space and time-space based factors related to hazard type and meteorological and geographical conditions. By analyzing different risk factors at evacuations, this paper presents a multi-objective optimization approach for evacuation planning. Through two case studies, it shows by combing the space-based risk and the travel time in route searching and traffic assignment, efficiency and safety of evacuation operations may be balanced and improved.