Research to Help Prevent Transportation Disasters

Prof. Elise Miller-Hooks (civil engineering) has won a $361,626 National Science Foundation grant for "Resilience in Rail-Based Intermodal Transportation Systems: Performance Measurement and Decision Support."

The work will provide performance measurement, preparedness planning and operational decision-making tools for infrastructure managers and intermodal system operators of rail-based passenger and freight transport systems. Her research addresses both the prevention and reaction to the effects of disasters, such as last summer's Metro accident outside of Washington, D.C.

From the research proposal abstract: "This research effort recognizes that the post-disaster performance of transportation networks depends not only on the inherent capability of the system to absorb externally induced changes, but also on the actions that can be taken in the immediate aftermath of the disaster to preserve or restore system performance. Identification of the appropriate pre-event preparatory and post-disaster recovery actions and related investment allocation decisions can play a crucial role in lessening ensuing post-disaster economic and societal loss."

Published May 18, 2010