DESIGNING SAFE SYSTEMS: USING SYSTEM DYNAMICS TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEXITY

All geographical regions are subject to devastation and disruption from natural disasters. Optimizing safety requires understanding the natural and social systems involved in disasters, communicating clearly with decision makers that affect those systems, and identifying potentially effective interventions for consideration. The application of system dynamics modeling, a metatheoretical and methodological approach of systems theory, helps to accomplish all three. After a brief reference to systems' current place in hazards research and practice, the usefulness and types of systems models, including causal loop diagrams and stock and flow diagrams, are discussed. The methodological specification of system dynamics modeling is explained, along with the general modeling process. Conclusions are advanced with a discussion of the application of system dynamics modeling in hazards work and its place in designing safe systems.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15276988
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Gillespie, D F
  • Robards, K J
  • Cho, Soojin
• Publication Date: 2004-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 82-88
• Serial:
  • Natural Hazards Review
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1527-6988
  • EISSN: 1527-6996
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/nhrefo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Disaster relief; Disasters and emergency operations; Dynamic models; Hazards; Methodology; Safety; Stakeholders; Systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00972673
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 1 2004 12:00AM