The CaSSandra Project: Computing Safe and EfficientRoutes with GIS

Summary Large amounts of dangerous goods are kept constantly on the move in Europe because of their significant impact on economic growth and to support quality of life. According to available statistics [3], road transportation accounts for the movement of the major part of dangerous goods within Europe (58% in 2002). The access to a well built and distributed road infrastructure gives higher exibility and door to door capabilities [7]. Consequently, transport purchasers perceive this transportation mode as highly effective and economically advantageous. However, the same factors stated above oblige material ows to travel through highly-populated areas or highly-traficed road segments. As a consequence the exposure of civilians to accident risks increases drastically [3]. History shows that accidents which take place during the transportation of hazardous material can have the same magnitude as those occurring in industrial plants [13]. Possible consequences may include fatality of human beings or ecological disaster if the cargo is dispersed in water catchment areas [8],[6]. The ramifications on private stakeholders may include delayed shipment, undelivered shipment, wasted cargo and higher transportation costs (i.e. bridge collapse) [8],[2]. Dangerous goods or hazardous materials (hazmat) are any solid, liquid or gas substances that can have harmful effects for living organisms, property or environment [11]. Laws and regulations for the transportation of dangerous goods in Europe are first collected by the United Na tions Economic Commission for Europe, UNECE and then extended to all transportation means (road, rail, sea and air) through specific organizations. The transportation of dangerous goods over European roads is regulated by the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Roads (ADR) that is enforced in Sweden by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA)[11]. The SRSA publishes yearly dangerous goods recommended and restricted road segments. Recommended roads are classified as primary, for throughway traffic and secondary, for local transportation from and to the primary network. The restricted roads are road tunnels and segments in proximity of water catchment areas [10].