title: Passenger rail security, planning, and resilience: application of network, plume, and economic simulation models as decision support tools.
abstract: We built three simulation models that can assist rail transit planners and operators to evaluate high and low probability rail-centered hazard events that could lead to serious consequences for rail-centered networks and their surrounding regions. Our key objective is to provide these models to users who, through planning with these models, can prevent events or more effectively react to them. The first of the three models is an industrial systems simulation tool that closely replicates rail passenger traffic flows between New York Penn Station and Trenton, New Jersey. Second, we built and used a line source plume model to trace chemical plumes released by a slow-moving freight train that could impact rail passengers, as well as people in surrounding areas. Third, we crafted an economic simulation model that estimates the regional economic consequences of a variety of rail-related hazard events through the year 2020. Each model can work independently of the others. However, used together they help provide a coherent story about what could happen and set the stage for planning that should make rail-centered transport systems more resistant and resilient to hazard events. We highlight the limitations and opportunities presented by using these models individually or in sequence.
authors.affiliation: EJ Bloustein School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lioy
authors.forename: Birnur
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozbas
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantell
authors.forename: Sastry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isukapalli
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahr
authors.forename: Tayfur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altiok
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bober
authors.forename: Clifton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacy
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lowrie
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rovito
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D018803:Models, Economic; D009515:New Jersey; D009519:New York City; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011890:Railroads; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012637:Security Measures
keywords: Passenger rail risk; resilience; simulation