Journal of Natural Disaster Science

OPTIMUM RESTORATION PROCESS OF A HIERARCHICALLY SEPARATED CITY GAS SYSTEM DURING A POST-EARTHQUAKE PERIOD

Shigeru NODA
Associate Professor, Department of Social Systems Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori

(Received 16 September 1992 and in revised form 23 February 1993)

Abstract

A technique for simulating the post-earthquake restoration process for a hierarchically separated city gas supply system has been developed by considering optimization of the restoration process. A new method of restoration planning for medium- and /or low-pressure pipelines and blocks is proposed which ensures that the network characteristics of the system will be effectively utilized. A restoration algorithm that uses the PERT/leveling method was applied to develop a realistic resource allocation. When manpower is allocated in accordance with this new restoration strategy, restoration work proceeds smoothly from the medium-pressure to the low-pressure network and greatly affects the time taken to complete the restoration.

Key words

city gas system, hierarchically separated network, earthquake disaster, restoration strategy, resource allocation, PERT