A bi-level emergency evacuation traffic optimization model for urban evacuation problem

Abstract

This paper introduces a pioneering bi-level emergency evacuation traffic optimization model (BEETOM), crafted to expedite the evacuation process within urban road networks. The innovative upper-level model offers simultaneous optimization of evacuation departure times and routes, while the lower-level model focuses on refining traffic signal timing to mitigate delays and queue formation across intersections. To enhance the model's computational efficiency, a distributed solving algorithm is introduced, marking a significant stride in optimization technology. Implemented in two evacuation case studies, the BEETOM model showcases its profound impact by reducing total evacuation time by 6% to 20%. More impressively, it achieves a substantial decrease in both the average travel time and delays experienced by evacuees during evacuation, ranging from 7% to an astonishing 60%. This remarkable efficacy underscores the model's capability to devise highly effective evacuation strategies, particularly valuable for managing large-scale emergencies or terrorist incidents in urban settings. The BEETOM model stands as a significant contribution to urban emergency management, offering a strategic tool to significantly enhance evacuation efficiency and safety.