An evolutionary multi-objective optimization approach to disaster waste management: A case study of Istanbul, Turkey

Disasters can lead to a high risk of casualties and structural damages. Destructive disasters, such as earthquakes, may cause a great amount of disaster waste to be controlled. Reusing and recycling materials in the debris can decrease the need for re-construction resources. These reusable or recyclable materials can be processed in temporary storage sites like the ones suggested by the United Nations and the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines on disaster waste management. The objective of this paper is to build a framework for determining the locations of temporary storage facilities, and includes planning for the collection and transportation of disaster waste in order to manage it in an environmentally sustainable way. In this study, a multi-objective optimization model is developed and solved with an evolutionary elitist multi-objective optimization algorithm (NSGA-II). As a city prone to high earthquake damage, Istanbul has been selected for the illustration of the proposed framework. The objectives of the model are cost minimization and minimization of risk from hazardous waste exposure. The study integrates disaster loss estimation methods with post-disaster waste management. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.