Heavy rainfall-induced disaster-mitigation system for railways based on precipitation forecast data

Abstract

A system to mitigate disasters due to localized heavy rain has been newly developed to improve railway operational safety. The developed system contains five components: (1) downloading of precipitation forecast data taking into consideration weather radar data, (2) runoff and inundation analysis, (3) large-scale landslide analysis, (4) train operation analysis to prevent trains from approaching inundated areas or areas affected by large-scale landslides, and (5) output mapping using a GIS. This system provides the railway engineers with a time-dependent hazard map and train operating information ahead of a disaster, and enables them to make a decision on when and where they should stop and resume train operations.