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Original Articles

A proposed spatial index to prioritize damaged buildings for allocating USAR operations

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 791-809 | Received 04 Nov 2016, Accepted 02 Mar 2017, Published online: 22 Mar 2017
 

Abstract

A spatial index using fuzzy hierarchical analysis (FAHP) is proposed in this study for prioritizing damaged buildings in the allocation of search and rescue operations after the earthquake disaster. The relevant prioritization criteria have been identified through literature review and interviews with 22 relief managers; the relative importance of these criteria and sub criteria has been computed using the FAHP method. The GIS layers equivalent to the selected criteria were prepared and integrated with one another after normalization in the GIS platform. The proposed method to prioritize the damaged buildings was implemented in the city of Varzeghan in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. The obtained priority map, with five prioritization classes, is presented. Single-parameter sensitivity analysis method identifies the criteria ‘hazardous facilities’, ‘degree of building blockage’ and ‘chance of survival’ as the most effective criteria for prioritizing damaged buildings.

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