Route Disruption Analysis

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project is to analyze the major highway routes in and through Kentucky to determine the potential liabilities associated with disruption of these routes. Particular attention will be focused on critical infrastructure elements, such as bridges. The analysis will assess the availability of convenient by-pass routes and the anticipated impacts (economic, environmental, and others) of a disruption. One outcome would be a recommendation of which critical infrastructure elements merit additional surveillance and/or protection. BACKGROUND: In today society, transportation has become a vital component of our economy, our national defense, our emergency response systems, and our day-to-day life. Disruption of major highway systems can have serious social, health, economic, security, and environmental consequences. Disruption of highway systems can result from natural or manmade causes, and it may be intentional or unintentional. Examples of the wide-ranging causes of highway disruption include weather, natural disasters, vehicle crashes, hazardous material spills, barge impacts with bridge piers, and acts of terrorism. FY 2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The research team developed a set of criteria to assess the impact of route disruption and identified potential data sources for each of the significance of the impact of route disruption. The study advisory committee approved the methodology and criteria set with minor revision. The Interstate inventory data was obtained and items that are related to the criteria are being added as additional attributes. Particularly, the detour route for each Interstate segment will be identified and incorporated with the Interstate layer in a GIS environment. FY 2007 PROPOSED WORK: All data items required by the risk assessment of route disruption will be processed. The impact of route disruption will be evaluated according to the criteria defined and the significance of each segment, in terms of the route disruption impact, will be obtained. A final report documenting the research fmding and the recommendations will be prepared. PROJECTED COST THROUGH FY 2006: PROGRAMMED COST FY 2007: TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $91,000 $30,000 $130,000