Assessing the Vulnerability of Kermanshah Building Blocks in Earthquake and Site Selection for the Temporary Housing of the Vulnerable Population

The risk of natural hazards, particularly earthquakes, is a highly significant concern in urban environments. In this research, the initial phase entails estimating the vulnerability map of the building blocks in Kermanshah metropolis, as well as determining the number of individuals at risk during an earthquake. Subsequently, the research identifies and introduces safe zones or suitable locations for accommodating the vulnerable population during such seismic events. For the first part, the vulnerability map was obtained using maps of distance from faults, the structural integrity of the buildings, the strength of the building blocks, and the size of the infrastructure. A fuzzy inference system was utilized. Thus, the high-risk blocks were determined, and their population was estimated. In the second part of the research, distance maps derived from rivers, faults, high-voltage power lines, electric substations, fuel stations, roads, hospitals, fire stations, and police stations were used. These generated maps have then undergone fuzzification, and the weight of the criteria employed has been assessed using the fuzzy hierarchical analysis process (FAHP). Subsequently, by applying the weight associated with each criterion to the corresponding map and merging the resultant maps, maps depicting the suitability for temporal settlement of the vulnerable population during an earthquake were obtained. Finally, the most optimal inner-city and outer-city sites for individuals' lodging amid an earthquake have been chosen. Moreover, certain locations inside the suggested sites and their capacity were assessed. The field research revealed that the selected sites involve the expected conditions for settlement after the earthquake.