Improved Security and Management of Underground Infrastructure Systems: Lessons Learned from September 11, 2001

世贸中心塔楼的倒塌和周围建筑物的破坏伴随着地下水分配，电力，天然气，蒸汽，废水输送，电信和运输系统的破坏。这项研究旨在调查和模拟复杂的系统响应，涉及地下设施，往往被视为理所当然或忽视的综合应急规划。了解和记录地下基础设施在极端事件中的表现是提高城市公用事业和交通网络弹性的必要步骤。这项研究将努力扩展所获得的知识，以了解地下基础设施的相互依赖性，并提高其在未来极端事件中的安全性。除了调查纽约的综合系统响应外，该研究还将比较世贸中心强烈局部损坏的影响与加州大地震期间受分布式损坏影响的基础设施系统性能。极端事件期间的反应将与纽约以前严重事故的影响进行比较。涉及三项活动：1）数据收集和与系统管理人员的访谈; 2）比较分析; 3）评估相互依存关系的方法。其中一些工作已经开始。评估内容包括建议如何制定评估损害的方法、最易受损害的地区以及发生连锁损害的可能性。最终，将寻求一种方法，使工业过程控制中使用的风险管理技术适应民用基础设施管理人员的决策支持系统。

The collapse of the WTC Towers and destruction of surrounding buildings were accompanied by damage to underground water distribution, electric power, natural gas, steam, wastewater conveyance, telecommunication, and transportation systems. This research aims to investigate and model complex system response, involving underground facilities that are often taken for granted or overlooked in comprehensive emergency planning. Understanding and documenting how underground infrastructure performs during extreme events is a necessary step for increasing the resilience of urban utility and transportation networks. This research will strive to extend the knowledge gained to understand the interdependencies of underground infrastructure and improve their security in future extreme events. In addition to investigating integrated system response in New York, the research will compare the effects of intense localized damage at WTC with infrastructure system performance affected by distributed damage during major California earthquakes. Response during extreme events will be compared with the effects of previous severe accidents in New York. Three activities are involved: 1) data collection and interviews with system managers; 2) comparative analysis; and 3) methodology for assessing interdependencies. Some of this work has already begun. Deliverables include recommendations for developing a methodology to evaluate the damage, areas of greatest vulnerability, and the possibilities of cascading damage. Eventually, a methodology will be sought that adapts risk management techniques used in industrial process control to decision support systems for civil infrastructure managers.