MUNICIPAL: A decision technology for the restoration of critical infrastructures

Abstract

This paper describes the decision technology MUNICIPAL (Multi-Network Interdependent Critical Infrastructure Program for the Analysis of Lifelines). This technology supports decision makers in the restoration of critical infrastructure systems after an extreme event. MUNICIPAL consists of four components: a vulnerability simulator which predicts damage to infrastructure components given a specific disaster scenario, an optimization module which produces a restoration plan given a damage scenario, a GIS interface to visualize and manipulate the data, and a database structured to support the data needs and integration of the other three modules. A case study was developed with the emergency management department of New Hanover County, North Carolina, to assess the technology with respect to the impact of a hurricane.