Search and rescue in collapsed structures: engineering and social science aspects

Area of Science:

• Social Science
• Engineering
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Factors influencing trapped victim behavior include human, physical, socioeconomic, and circumstantial elements.
• Most research on structural collapse focuses on earthquake-induced damage.
• Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations involve structural engineers, specialized training, and safety protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate social science and engineering perspectives in search and rescue (SAR) for collapsed buildings.
• To enhance understanding of victim behavior and structural collapse dynamics.
• To explore the utility of computational simulation in USAR training.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of victim behavior factors in structural collapse.
• Overview of USAR engineering aspects, including roles, training, and procedures in the United States.
• Discussion of computational simulation for linking social science and engineering in USAR.

Main Results:

• Identified key factors influencing trapped victim behavior.
• Detailed the engineering components of USAR operations.
• Presented a preliminary computational simulation tool for USAR training.

Conclusions:

• Integrating social science and engineering knowledge is crucial for effective SAR.
• Computational simulation offers a valuable tool for enhancing USAR team preparedness and understanding collapse mechanics.
• Further development of simulation tools can improve SAR strategies in collapsed building scenarios.