Optimal route risk-based algorithm for hazardous material transport in Kuwait

Abstract

Risk analysis of dangerous goods' routing indemnifies the safety of surrounding environment and population. For such a purpose, a risk/cost based algorithm was adopted to fit the available data of the State of Kuwait. Such algorithm identified the available alternative routes with their rankings for dangerous goods' transportation. Regulations of dangerous goods' transport that were set by various Kuwait's ministries were reviewed. Each aspect of the risk/cost based algorithm examined and reshaped in accordance to the available data and regulations. Incident probability, incident consequence, and risk assessment were used as the algorithm's main criteria. Gasoline transport by Kuwaiti National Petroleum Company (KNPC) was selected as a case study. The risk associated with a number of proposed routes was investigated. Consequently, an incident simulation scenario was developed by ALOHA toolset (a dispersion model software). This was based on the collected data that include climate properties, type of dangerous materials, topography, and type of release. The developed model was embedded in a GIS environment to generate impact zones based on both the dispersion model and the emergency response guide recommendations. The resulted impact zones had assisted in analyzing the population exposure estimations as well as in the sensitive and emergency facilities' proximity considerations. The results showed the best route choice for the studied case.