Development of a Practical Road Disaster Management System Based on Risk Management Techniques

This is a study on the development of a practical road disaster management system for various natural disasters by applying risk management techniques. Risk is defined here as the product of the likelihood of disastrous event and its consequences. The road facilities targeted are bridges, embankments, tunnels, slopes, and so forth. Various natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and heavy rainfalls are included in the analysis. Both direct and indirect damages are assumed in the present study. The former includes human damage and the restoration cost of damaged facilities, while the latter includes economic loss as­ sociated with traffic detouring. Particular emphasis is put on rating the risks to various road facilities due to different natural disasters by using a common index. Based on the proposed system, a case study was per­ formed on a 110­km section of a national highway running along the Pacific coastline of Japan. This section of the highway comprises various kinds of road facilities, and the area where the highway passes through has high seismicity and has suffered from typhoons and resultant slope disasters. The results of the case study are presented through a risk curve, risk register table, and risk treatment plan, which are readily applicable to road disaster management.