Chapter 19: A Simulation-Based Approach for Decision-Making in Earthquake Crisis Management

Crisis-management organizations in each city usually identify suitable locations for people to use as shelters in times of crisis. For this purpose, the impact of earthquakes on urban infrastructure was investigated by designing a network structure. By implementing the network structure designed in the simulation system, the number of relief goods required during an earthquake was calculated with a 93% confidence interval. In the next step, the classified criteria for evaluating relief centers in crises (information layers) were evaluated. The weights of the criteria were calculated using a pairwise comparison matrix obtained from GIS evaluation using the entropy method, and the research options prioritized using the TOPSIS method. Relief centers were prioritized in terms of allocation of relief goods, considering the new criteria, and using the opinion of experts and GIS. Best-worst and PROMETHEE methods were used to weight the criteria and prioritize the options. The results of the evaluation of relief centers showed that stadiums, universities, and sports centers are better places to shelter in times of an earthquake crisis. Also, wasteland and parks have a higher priority than sports complexes in receiving relief goods.