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Improving Post-Disaster Recovery: Decision Support for Debris Disposal Operations

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dc.contributor.authorFetter, Garyen
dc.contributor.committeechairRakes, Terry R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberZobel, Christopher W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRagsdale, Cliff T.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRees, Loren P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMatheson, Lance A.en
dc.contributor.departmentBusiness (Management Science)en
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-06T15:42:04Zen
dc.date.adate2010-05-07en
dc.date.available2017-04-06T15:42:04Zen
dc.date.issued2010-03-31en
dc.date.rdate2016-09-30en
dc.date.sdate2010-04-16en
dc.description.abstractDisaster debris cleanup operations are commonly organized into two phases. During the first phase, the objective is to clear debris from evacuation and other important pathways to ensure access to the disaster-affected area. Practically, Phase 1 activities largely consist of pushing fallen trees, vehicles, and other debris blocking streets and highways to the curb. These activities begin immediately once the disaster has passed, with the goal of completion usually within 24 to 72 hours. In Phase 2 of debris removal, which is the focus of this study, completion can take months or years. Activities in this phase include organizing and managing curbside debris collection, reduction, recycling, and disposal operations (FEMA 2007). This dissertation research investigates methods for improving post-disaster debris cleanup operations—one of the most important and costly aspects of the least researched area of disaster operations management (Altay and Green 2006). The first objective is to identify the unique nature of the disaster debris cleanup problem and the important decisions faced by disaster debris coordinators. The second goal is to present three research projects that develop methods for assisting disaster management coordinators with debris cleanup operations. In the first project, which is the topic of Chapter 3, a facility location model is developed for addressing the problem of opening temporary disposal and storage reduction facilities, which are needed to ensure efficient and effective cleanup operations. In the second project, which is the topic of Chapter 4, a multiple objective mixed-integer linear programming model is developed to address the problem of assigning debris cleanup resources across the disaster-affected area at the onset of debris cleanup operations. The third project and the focus of Chapter 5 addresses the problem of equitably controlling ongoing cleanup operations in real-time. A self-balancing CUSUM statistical process control chart is developed to assist disaster management coordinators with equitably allocating cleanup resources as information becomes available in real-time. All of the models in this dissertation are evaluated using data from debris cleanup operations in Chesapeake, Virginia, completed after Hurricane Isabel in 2003.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-04162010-144827en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04162010-144827/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/77041en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectemergency managementen
dc.subjectstatistical process controlen
dc.subjectfacility locationen
dc.subjectdisaster debrisen
dc.subjectmultiple objective decision makingen
dc.subjectdisaster managementen
dc.titleImproving Post-Disaster Recovery: Decision Support for Debris Disposal Operationsen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineBusiness (Management Science)en
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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