Underground Pipeline Leakage Risk Assessment in an Urban City.

Area of Science:

• Urban safety engineering
• Risk assessment methodologies
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Underground pipeline leaks pose significant risks in populated urban environments.
• Accurate identification of high-risk zones is crucial for mitigating potential damage.
• Existing risk assessment methods may not fully capture the complexities of urban pipeline networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified risk assessment model for underground pipeline leakages.
• To create detailed risk maps for a major urban city.
• To provide actionable data for urban disaster management planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized risk assessment software (ALOHA) for hazard analysis.
• Employed geography information systems (SuperGIS and Surfer) for spatial mapping.
• Assessed risks including vapor diffusion, thermal radiation, and explosion overpressure.

Main Results:

• Generated comprehensive risk maps identifying potential underground pipeline leakage zones.
• Quantified risks associated with different leakage scenarios.
• Provided a simplified risk value for practical application.

Conclusions:

• The developed risk mapping approach effectively identifies critical areas for underground pipeline safety.
• Results offer valuable insights for disaster management agencies in urban settings.
• This methodology enhances preparedness and response strategies for pipeline incidents.