Design and Simulation of Earthquake Relief & Rescue Operation Queuing Model with the Aid of Geographic Information System (GIS)

Over the time، mankind has encountered irrecoverable damages created by earthquakes. On the other hand، policy makers have always struggled against disaster management and its challenges. One of these issues is the relief and rescue operation after the earthquake. The aim of this research is to simulate a model that could balance between the number of rescue groups and their operational efficiency. Thus، considering the popularity of the operation research methods، especially the queuing theory method for relief & rescue operations، by applying the principles of queuing theory، the relief & rescue queuing model was simulated. Additionally، by utilizing the entrapped occupants'' survival rate model based on the type of building structure، an essential factor for the analysis of our queuing model was developed within the framework of the geographic information system (GIS). Considering the entrapped occupants life span parameter which was achieved by the survival rate model in the first step and also by applying other parameters such as the number of servers (Rescue Groups)، number of customers (injured occupants) and service time، which have been achieved from the applying queuing theory، the output of our simulated model was analyzed. The results demonstrate the fact that the combination of GIS techniques and queuing theory method is، in fact، an appropriate means of allocation for earthquake rescue & relief teams within the operation area.