Simulations and Modeling

Models, Simulations, Conceptual Frameworks:

Miles, S. and Chang, S.E. Simulation Model of Urban Disaster Recovery and Resilience: Implementation for the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, MCEER-07-0014, September 7, 2007, 130 pages, $25.00.

This report describes a computer-based model of urban disaster recovery. The model simulates the recovery dynamics of households, businesses, neighborhoods, and the community as a whole following a disaster. The model was applied to the City of Los Angeles for the 1994 Northridge earthquake, using detailed data on the conditions and effects of the earthquake for testing and calibration purposes. Results indicated favorable performance in certain aspects of the model and identified areas where further refinements were needed. Examples of “what-if” explorations are provided to illustrate the types of analyses that can be conducted with this model. The report concludes with a discussion of potential applications, advances, limitations, and priorities for further research. The first-generation of this model was described in a previous MCEER report, “Urban Disaster Recovery: A Framework and Simulation Model,” by Scott B. Miles and Stephanie E. Chang, MCEER-03-0005.

NOTE: In late Feb. 2008, the staff at MCEER ran three searches of their collection for this project; key words were Disaster Recovery; Recovery and Public Policy; and Recovery Literature. For more details, contact either Claire B. Rubin at this site, or go direction to the MCEER center (http://mceer.buffalo.edu/ ) and request a newer search.