This exploratory study examines the use of agent-based modeling for the dynamic assessment of the hazards associated with flooding responses. While flooding is the specific agent used the techniques are applicable to any type of hazard. The equation upon which the model is built considers three components of vulnerability: geophysical, built, social environments and one component of resiliency, public safety response organizations. The three components of vulnerability combine to create an initial vulnerability level. The public safety response capability is subtracted to provide an adjusted vulnerability. The adjusted vulnerability varies as response assets fluctuate between available and assigned. The development of the agent characteristics for both vulnerability and resiliency requires quantification of the interdependencies of the environment as well as the interaction among the response agencies in a complex adaptive system. The result of the study is anticipated to be a realistic method of conducting an assessment of hazards through the use of vulnerability and resiliency models and a computer simulation that allows the user to evaluate potential impacts.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-12182005-015952 |
| Date | 13 January 2006 |
| Creators | Johnson, David |
| Contributors | Dr. William Dunn, Glenn Cannon, Esq, Dr. Phyllis Coontz, Dr. Louise K. Comfort |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12182005-015952/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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