Proposing a Method to Analyze Slope Displacement Using the Distance Image Data of Depth Camera

Sediment disasters have occurred with higher frequencies in recent years because of local heavy rains caused by line-shaped precipitation systems and torrential rains accompanying large typhoons. Since rescue operators are constantly under physical risk at disaster sites, there is a need for technologies to predict the occurrence of secondary disasters. The authors research the measurement of slope displacements by focusing on a depth camera that is readily deployable, can be easily set up, and enables monitoring of an extensive area but does not require expert knowledge to carry out measurements. In this process, we confirmed the difficulty of measuring slope changes preceding failure when the depth camera (DC) is set at a distance because of the large measurement errors caused by the limited depth resolution and poor measurement conditions under rainfall. In this study, we propose a new method for analyzing depth image data obtained by a depth camera and verify its validity for displacement measurements. After comparing the previous and proposed methods, we could confirm that the latter enables one to detect slope changes from minute deformations. When compared with the results of extensometers that directly measured the slope, we found that the results displayed similar tendencies of increase. Therefore, by measuring displacements preceding a slope failure using a depth camera and analyzing the depth image data acquired using the proposed method, we found that it is possible to detect minute changes that precede slope failures.

Theoretical Description of the Hydrodynamic Process after Barrier Lake Formation and Emergency Responses Implementation

Barrier lakes are secondary disasters with associated landslides and debris flow that can cause serious damage to the downstream populations and areas. Existing studies are lacking in comprehensive descriptions of the rescue process, where the main channel streamflow varies and topographic erosion develops, as well as engineering disposal performs. This paper aimed to theoretically investigate the formation and emergency responses to barrier lakes using on-the-spot investigation and calculus theory. The results showed that the formation of a barrier lake led to a sudden variation in the flow-change rate (normal to infinite). However, after implementing emergency measures, this rate returned to normal. The whole rescue process could be regarded as the accumulation of disposal effects. Volume changes in the main streams were expressed by a differential equation of the lake surface area and water level variations. In addition, a corresponding theoretical description of flow discharges was also given when engineering measures such as the excavation of diversion channels and engineering blasting were adopted. Specifically, the theoretical expressions of flow discharge were given respectively in the developing stage and breach stable stage after the excavation of diversion channels. The flow discharge through certain sections was also described theoretically when engineering blasting was chosen to widen and deepen the cross-section of the diversion channels. Overall, this paper mathematicizes and theorizes the existing emergency measures, which helps to better understand their implementation principles and application requirements.

Robust Design of Relief Distribution Networks Considering Uncertainty

In the post-disaster response phase, an efficient relief distribution strategy plays a vital role in alleviating suffering in disaster-stricken areas, which sometimes becomes challenging in humanitarian logistics. Most governments pre-located the relief goods at the pre-determined warehouses against possible disasters. Those goods must be shipped to the relief distribution centers (RDCs) to be further distributed to the victims in impacted areas upon the disasters. Secondary disasters can occur due to the first disaster and can occur relatively close in time and location, resulting in more suffering and making the relief distribution activities more challenging. The needs of additional RDCs must be determined as well in response to the secondary disasters. A robust optimization model is proposed to hedge against uncertainties in RDCs’ capacity and relief demand. Its objective is to minimize the sum of transportation cost, additional RDC cost, and shortage of commodities. The computational results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The sensitivity analysis gives an insight to the decision-makers.

Medical Provision of the Population within an Outbreak of a Traumatic Defeat an Earthquake: A Fundamental Tool of the Staged Health Risk Management

The most destructive and unpredictable disasters around the world are determined earthquakes. Various consequences are reported as possible negative effects and therewithal health-related of them. The identification and classification of the different types of health risk factors is an initial goal in an uncomplicated earthquake setting and a fundamental tool to a good understanding and effective organization of the health care system (HCS) in case of complicated medical situation. The health care system works at high tension with considerable difficulties due to the calamity of a large magnitude outbreak of a traumatic defeat such as an earthquake. In conditions of the worst-case earthquake scenario with the subsequent provoked multi-secondary disasters and with multi-secondary risk factors possibilities to take accurate solutions is a real challenge for the health risk manager. They are available critically low resource constraints. Two main critical points are formed. On the one hand the description of a structure of mass victim and achievement high quality medical triage in complicated setting due to earthquakes is a conceptual medical stage of health risk management. On the other hand it is a main step of medical provision of the population and a step of risk reduction strategy.

Analysis of Site Selection and Design Example of Spoil Ground

As an auxiliary project of engineering construction, spoil ground is often not given enough attention. Unreasonable spoiled materials not only have negative impacts on the local natural environment, but also generate the risk of secondary disasters. The selection and design of spoil ground is an important part of earthwork. And thus it is necessary to select the site of spoil ground reasonably and carefully and carry out detailed design of spoil, protection and flood drainage. First of all, the basic selection principles of spoil ground were discussed in this paper. Then, combined with the spoil ground design of the Heat and Power Cogeneration Power Workshop Project in Zhenfeng County's Coal, Electricity and Metallurgical Integration Industrial Park, the author presented elaboration of the technical key points of site selection, slope stability, blocking engineering and flood drainage system of large-scale spoil ground. The analysis in this paper can be used as a reference for similar spoil ground design.

Outbreak of Traumatic Defeat Earthquakes: Health Consequences and Medical Provision of the Population

Earthquakes are described as the most destructive and unpredictable disasters around the world. Many types of consequences are presented as possible negative effects including health-related of them. Identifying and categorizing the various health risk factors is an initial goal in an uncomplicated earthquake setting. Effective organization of the health care system (HCS) in case of complicated medical situation due to earthquakes and tsunamis is a serious challenge. The healthcare system operates at high speed with considerable difficulties in the event of a large magnitude outbreak of a traumatic defeat an earthquake. Possibilities to take adequate solutions in conditions of the worst-case earthquake scenario with the subsequent provoked multi-secondary disasters as tsunamis and with multi-secondary risk factors are highly motivating for the medical community with critically low resource constraints. On the one hand the analysis of the structure of mass victim and medical triage in a complicated scene due to earthquakes is a difficult process. On the other hand medical provision of the population in highly destructive earthquakes is limited by time.

Indicators for Post-Disaster Search and Rescue Efficiency Developed Using Progressive Death Tolls

Search and rescue (SAR) is often the focus during the post-disaster response phase. It is operated under the principle of the “golden 72 h”; however, the actual efficiency of each operation lacks a standard for review. On the basis of continuously updated death toll data during the SAR cases of 51 earthquakes and 10 rainfall-induced disasters, this study developed indicators corresponding to various death tolls for reviewing the time costs and the progress of different stages of SAR. Through analysis of the established indicators, the results showed that said indicators are capable of evaluating the efficiency of SAR. These indicators also revealed that earthquake cases, with or without serious secondary disasters (e.g., tsunamis), significantly affected SAR efficiency. The regression results showed that the SAR efficiency of rainfall-induced disasters is much lower than that of earthquake disasters. Additionally, it was shown that the first casualty reports are typically late and that SAR works last a long time, highlighting the difficulty and possible delay of SAR works during rainfall-induced disasters. Previous studies and analyses might have been able to make subjective descriptions of each SAR operation; however, this study quantitatively indicates the difference between actual and expected efficiency under specific death tolls.

A Comprehensive Assessment Approach for Water-Soil Environmental Risk during Railway Construction in Ecological Fragile Region Based on AHP and MEA

With China’s government facilitating railway projects, more railway lines inevitably pass through ecological fragile regions (EFRs). Railway construction activities in EFRs might cause detrimental impacts on the local water-soil environment (WSE), which is the basis of the local ecological system that if destroyed can induce secondary disasters. Studies on the WSE risk (WSER) during railway construction in EFRs are limited. As such, this study aims to offer preliminary insight into the WSER assessment of railway construction in EFRs. WSERs were identified firstly based on the literature review and field surveys, and thus a risk index framework for WSER assessment including 5 categories of WSERs and 16 second-order risks was established. Then a comprehensive quantitative assessment method was developed by integrating analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and matter-element analysis (MEA) to assess the overall WSERs of railway construction in EFRs. A case (i.e., the Mingan subproject of Hefei-Fuzhou railway) was selected to demonstrate and validate the developed approach. Results show that the proposed assessment approach can be applied to evaluate the WSERs during railway construction. In addition, the case study demonstrates that the risk of construction methods should be the key focus. Findings from this study enrich the knowledge body of sustainable railways and guide the project managers to conduct practical WSER assessment of railway construction.