Mapping Accessibility in the Historic Urban Center of Bucharest for Earthquake Hazard Response

Abstract. Planning for post-disaster accessibility is essential in providing emergency and other services to protect life and property in the impacted areas in the aftermath of such events. Careful planning is especially critical in congested historic districts where narrow streets and at-risk structures are more common or prevail. One of the more common methods of measuring accessibility, the use of isochrones, may be particularly inappropriate in congested historic areas. Bucharest, Romania, is a city with such an older historic core of buildings and narrower streets. Furthermore, Bucharest ranks behind only Istanbul among large European cities in terms of seismic risk. The city experienced earthquakes of magnitude greater than 7.0 in 1940 and 1970. Both earthquakes had their epicenter in the Vrancea Mountains of central Romania and less than 200 kilometers from Bucharest. With a relative periodicity of 45 to 50 years for earthquakes of such magnitude, there is a clear need for earthquake hazard planning that incorporates comprehensive hazard awareness, including an improved understanding of and mapping for accessibility, particularly in areas with greater potential for building collapse. This paper provides an examination of simulated accessibility for central Bucharest through the use of mapping and GIS technologies. The finding is that accessibility will be substantially compromised by anticipated building collapse. Therefore, policy makers and planners need to more fully understand and appreciate the serious implications of this compromised accessibility in planning for emergency services and disaster recovery activities.