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Impacts of high-intensity storms on urban transportation: applying traffic flow control methodologies for quantifying the effects
Mitsakis, E.; Stamos, I.; Diakakis, M. & Salanova Grau, J.M.
Abstract
Urban flooding is becoming increasingly
destructive in the Mediterranean region as more and more
urban infrastructure and socioeconomic activities are
exposed to flood risk. The metropolitan area of Athens,
Greece, is no exception to this flood-prone regime, presenting
a rich record of flood events during the last century.
On February 22, 2013, a high-intensity storm that lasted
7 h hit Athens, severely impacting the transportation sector,
hindering vehicle circulation and the overall performance
of the road network. This paper studies the
impacts of high-intensity storms in urban areas by examining
the effects of the February 2013 Athens storm and the
resultant flood event. Its novelty lies in the impacts quantification
approach, applying cutting-edge traffic flow
control methodologies in the form of macroscopic fundamental
diagrams. It quantifies the storm’s impacts on
vehicular traffic in terms of operational disruptions during
the event, by analyzing various traffic-related indicators,
such as travel time, delays, speed drop and re-routing of
vehicles, using data from the Athens traffic management
center and urban freight vehicle fleets. Results show
increased travel times, significant changes in routing and
substantial speed drops, highlighting the disruptive effects
of the flooding event on traffic. The importance of developing
a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the
effects of such events in urban areas is particularly high,
considering the context of the changing climate and the
increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather
events.
Keywords
Flooding; Urban transportation; Urban freight transport; Climate change; Extreme weather events; Traffic flow control
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