NAME OF RESEARCH PROJECT: Mitigation of the Impacts of Tornadoes in Canada
FUNDING AGENCY: University Funding
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Samanthi Walawe Durage
LEVEL OF THE PROJECT: PhD
SUPERVISOR AND CO-SUPERVISORS: Dr. S.C. Wirasinghe, Dr. J.Y. Ruwanpura
START DATE: January 2010
END DATE: December 2012 (Expected)
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT:
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms with rotating columns of high velocity winds
capable of creating incredible amount of damage and significant numbers of fatalities
and injuries. The main focus of this research is to study, analyze, model, simulate and
propose improvements to plans and systems to mitigate the impacts of tornadoes in
Canada considering the process from tornado detection to evacuation. The sequence of
activities in the process of tornado detection, warning, decision making communication
and evacuation is identified and a network is developed taking the City of Calgary as the
case study area. Modeling the sequence of activities is carried out using the network
modeling approach. The network is simulated using the DSSS template of the Simphony
software with proper time distributions for activities. Based on the results of the model
analysis, policy implications are provided to improve the tornado warning and
communication system in Canada.
PUBLICATIONS:
Conference papers (full paper published)
1.
Durage, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Wirasinghe, S.C., Preliminary Analysis of the
Decision-Making and Communication Network for Tornado Warning and
Evacuation in Canada, WFEO Committee on Disaster Risk Management Panel
Session, World Engineers’ Convention (WEC2011), Geneva, Switzerland,
September 4-9, 2011,pp. 50 -60.
Conference papers (full paper published -peer reviewed)
1.
Durage, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Wirasinghe, S.C., Application of Network
Modeling for Fire Fighting Operations Response Time Minimization,
Proceedings of the International Conference on Building Resilience,
International Institute for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction (IIIRR),
Kandalama, Sri Lanka, July 19 – 21, 2011, 11 pages.
Conference presentations
1.
Durage, S.W., Wirasinghe, S.C., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Evacuation Strategies for
Tornadoes, Three-University Annual Conference, Lake Louise, Canada, July 79, 2011.
Conference abstracts
Durage, S.W., Ruwanpura, J.Y., Wirasinghe, S.C., A Preliminary Network on Tornado
Warning for Alberta, Proceedings of the International Conference on Disaster
Management, International Institute for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction
(IIIRR), Hawaii, USA, November 15-16, 2010, pp 2.