Quantifying the Seismic Resilience of the Transportation Network in the Lower Mainland, BC

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In anticipation of a major earthquake in Metro Vancouver and given the nature of local commuter and commercial traffic, with over 900,000 daily vehicle trips across several river crossings and over 678 km of major roads, this research project will examine the seismic resilience of the transportation network in the Lower Mainland, BC, in partnership with local, regional, and federal partners. Earthquake activity in the Lower Mainland affects not only the immediate area where the physical impacts of an earthquake are experienced but has wider effects because the region's transportation network is critical to the supply chain and trade provincially, federally and internationally. This project will develop a living network analysis model of the multi-modal transportation system (i.e., modes that rely on road infrastructure) that examines the effects of a major earthquake. Developing a network analysis model that can be subjected to a wide range of earthquake scenarios to evaluate the response of critical structural components (e.g., bridges, retaining walls, etc.), interdependent infrastructure, and impacts on pathways and travel times will be a novel endeavour for the region. Specifically, the new technical knowledge gained through this project will be used (1) to identify interdependencies and develop policy recommendations for enhancing regional seismic resilience, (2) to prioritize rehabilitation efforts of key structural components, and (3) to computationally test the effectiveness of current emergency procedures. Further, the team of partners for this work will use the results of the study to improve societal seismic resilience by (1) reducing traffic disruptions for commuters, (2) working to ensure reliable movement of goods and resilience of the supply chain, and (3) improving recovery time through emergency planning. Improving plans for the movement of people across the region in the event of an earthquake emergency will contribute to a more resilient society.