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The Effects of Organizational Mindfulness on Covid-19 Crisis Management and Business Survival: Case Study of Health Tourism SMEs in Iran
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Najmi, Manouchehr (Supervisor) ; Tasavori, Misagh (Supervisor)
Abstract
In the world of today, the high rate of change, instability and uncertainty leave organizations under the constant effect of crises and unforeseen events. The prediction, prevention and control of crises alongside sustained performance and stability are now vital to the survival of organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic has created innumerable challenges for many businesses in Iran, including Small and Midsize Enterprises involved with health tourism, and has placed their subsistence at risk. The concept of Organizational mindfulness can help organizations avert crises and unexpected incidents, while rapidly bringing such events under control and mitigating the associated damage, should they...
Reinsurance Performance Evaluation and Capacity Exploration of Insurance Industry in Catastrophe risk
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Zamani, Shiva (Supervisor)
Abstract
In this research we study the capacity on insurance industry to respond to catastrophe risk. For this purpose we use insurance factory data from 1383 to 1394 and based on variables such as fire premium, loss, payment and financial data during the period. Estimations were made based on two cases: using raw data and detrend it. The result in both cases indicate that the insurance industry does not have the sufficient capacity to respond to potential loss caused by natural disaster
Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment of Structural Walls Using Image Processing and Machine Learning Techniques
,
Ph.D. Dissertation
Sharif University of Technology
;
Mohtasham Dolatshahi, Kiarash
(Supervisor)
Abstract
The main objective of this research is to use the visual features of damage in evaluating the post-earthquake status of the damaged structures. Structural health monitoring, as a comprehensive approach, includes methods for identifying the damaged structures, estimating damage location, measuring damage extent, and methods for reconstructing and repairing structures. The present study is specifically focused on the second and third stages of structural health monitoring, including “estimating the location of damage” and “measuring the extent of damage”. Various methods for evaluating the condition of earthquake-damaged structures are available in technical literature; one of the most common...
Modeling and Evaluation of the Role of Authorities in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Seismic Vulnerability Reduction Policies
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Kashani, Hamed (Supervisor)
Abstract
The purpose of study is the modeling and evaluation of the role of authorities in enhancing the effectiveness of seismic vulnerability reduction policies. Seismic vulnerability reduction of infrastructures depends on the measures that must be taken before a disaster occurrence. In addition to increasing disaster preparedness, an important part of the pre-disaster measures is taken to increase the robustness of the infrastructure. In some cases, measures to reduce the vulnerability of infrastructure, such as the resilience of residential buildings, require the coordinated role’s implementation of relevant organizations. Evidence shows that in many cases, policies to reduce the vulnerability...
Traffic Demand Management after Earthquakes in Urban Areas
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Poorzahedy, Hossein (Supervisor)
Abstract
Throughout history, natural and unnatural disasters have caused great financial and human losses to human beings. Although these incidents are sometimes unpredictable and inevitable, with proper management, the casualties can be reduced. To optimally manage disaster response operations, it is essential to understand people’s vehicular movements in chaotic situations. This can be achieved by examining previous earthquakes. In the post-earthquake conditions, as the network experiences sudden and heavy loading, not only the debris falling on the roads but also the traffic congestion caused by the scared people will cause the links to close, and this will disrupt the relief and rescue...
Modeling of the Flood-induced Failure of Community Infrastructure Systems with Emphasis on Food Supply Chain
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Kashani, Hamed (Supervisor)
Abstract
This study provides a probabilistic framework for assessing and quantifying flood damage to infrastructure. This framework models the state of the community's infrastructure after the occurrence of possible floods in five steps. The first step is to model the hazard using a set of models that determine the characteristics of potential floods. The second step is to model and estimate the damage to community buildings and infrastructure. In the third step, infrastructure serviceability is modeled. The infrastructures that are modeled in this study are water distribution network, power network, transportation networks and industrial facilities for processing agricultural products. In the fourth...
Vibration-based Structural Damage State Identification by Image-based Two-dimentional Convolutional Neural Network
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Mohtasham Dolatshahi, Keyarash (Supervisor)
Abstract
This paper proposes a novel image-based two-dimensional convolutional neural network for identifying damage level of the structures after an earthquake. The acceleration of the structure is the input data that is converted into an image, and the corresponding damage level is the output of the network. The superiority of the proposed method in comparison to the signal-based one-dimensional convolutional neural network method is the incorporation of the high and low frequency of the input data into the kernel of the convolution. Rows of the input image show short period high frequency of the signal and the column represent long duration and low frequency of the response time history...
Modeling Interdependent Infrastructure Systems Using Bayesian Network for Emergency Management
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Mahsoli, Mogtaba (Supervisor)
Abstract
This thesis proposes a probabilistic framework to increase situational awareness about serviceability of infrastructure systems, and extend and distribution of losses in the posthazard state of communities. Maintaining situational awareness is the first and foremost step in prioritizing search and rescue operations and organizing resources. This is a challenging task due to the uncertainties that exist in infrastructure systems’ performance after occurrence of a hazardous event. These uncertainties gradually diminish as further information is received. Therefore, a probabilistic framework is the necessary element for disaster management. This framework must be able to update initial beliefs...
A Hybrid BIM and BN-based Model to Improve the Resiliency of Hospitals' Utility Systems in Disasters
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Alvanchi, Amin (Supervisor)
Abstract
The growing number of disasters in recent years has become a significant threat to hospital buildings' resilience and preparedness. Besides, the stochastic nature of these disasters and the complexity of the hospital building systems exacerbate the difficulty of making appropriate decisions during and after disasters. To address the issue, this research proposes a novel model that utilizes the capabilities of Bayesian Networks (BNs) and Building Information Modeling (BIM). This model helps decision-makers in hospitals and medical centers measure various effects of disasters on utility systems and analyze the consequences of their decisions. The capabilities of the proposed model are tested...
Simulation of the Operations and Interactions of Agencies Responsible for the Post-Disaster Response and Recovery of the Community
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Kashani, Hamed (Supervisor)An Efficient Algorithm to Solve the Joint Road Reopening and Emergency Relief Problem after a Severe Earthquake in Urban Areas
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Poorzahedi, Hossein (Supervisor)
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to solve the problem of allocating relief teams to reopen damaged roads and remove debris from damaged areas after the earthquake for large cities. In the deteriorated areas of large metropolises, severe earthquakes may damage links, which causes some nodes to separate from the network. In this research, by using an Ant System meta-heuristic algorithm, a joint problem of damaged link restoration and demolished zone debries removal problem for search and rescue of the trapped population in an earthquake is solved. Ant System parameters are calibrated, and sensitivity analyses are done for the number of relief teams, earthquake intensity. The results of 1000...
A Machine Learning Model for Simplified Damage and Loss Assessment of the Buildings After an Earthquake
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Mohtasham Dolatshahi, Kiarash (Supervisor)
Abstract
This study presents a Machine Learning framework for post-earthquake structural damage state and economic loss estimation. The framework is proposed to rapidly determine whether a structure is safe or unsafe to be occupied following a seismic event, to predict the detailed structural response, and finally to evaluate the economic loss of the buildings. An extensive database is developed by analyzing twelve low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) under 44 scaled ground motion records through incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) to train the Machine Learning algorithms. Machine Learning algorithms are employed to classify the structural damage state of the buildings...
Online Safety Analysis Algorithm for Post-Disaster Inspections Using Image Processing
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Bakhshi, Ali (Supervisor)
Abstract
Structural safety evaluation is an indispensable part of every post-disaster investigation, which should be conducted by inspection teams consisting of experienced structural engineers and trained inspectors. A complete evaluation takes up to three stages of assessment, to quantify and measure the magnitude of damage before proposing an overhaul resolution. According to the current codes of conduct, much of this complex and time-consuming process, especially in the first two stages, is left to the human judgment. To achieve a more uniform and in depth inspection, a new algorithm is presented to limit the arbitrary nature of the human opinion in damage evaluation, using properties of the...
Optimal Enhancement of Community Resilience through Prioritization of Recovery Operations for Interdependent Infrastructures
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Mahsuli, Mojtaba (Supervisor)
Abstract
In this study, community resilience after a disaster is optimally enhanced for interdependent infrastructures through prioritization of recovery operations considering limited resources. Optimal enhancement of community resilience can be performed at two levels: Pre-disaster and Post-disaster. In the pre-disaster level, resilience enhancement is achieved through optimization of long-term decision making that includes optimized allocation of resources to retrofit of buildings. However, in the post-disaster response and recovery period, allocating resources to retrofit or backup systems is infeasible. Therefore, in the post-disaster level considered in this study, resilience enhancement is...
Post-disaster Resilience of Transportation Network using Route Diversity Factor
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Nasiri, Habibollah (Supervisor)
Abstract
Natural hazards such as earthquake take many lives each year and cause significant damages to infrastructures such as transportation networks. Whether after occurrence of a natural disaster like storm in order to evacuate, or after an abrupt event such as earthquake in order to provide emergency measures, a transportation network should maintain its functionality and performance in an acceptable degree and should recover in an effectively short period of time. In this study, the link or the set of links which their removal causes significant damage to the transportation network are identified. A specific index (N-Q index) has been used to describe the performance of the network. In addition,...
Developing a Methodology for Evaluating the Vulnerability of Urban Transportation Networks after an Earthquake
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Nassiri, Habibollah (Supervisor)
Abstract
Natural disasters, earthquakes in particular, claim many human lives and damage major lifelines such as transportation networks. Transportation networks play an important role in various stages of response to disasters, such as evacuation, search, rescue and reconstruction missions. Hence, special attention must be paid to transportation networks in any disaster management system. Hence, in order to reduce the impacts of earthquakes on denser cities and metropolitan areas, analysis of the resiliency and vulnerability of critical infrastructures such as transportation network, can be used as an effective strategy.The resiliency and vulnerability of transportation network have attract a lot...
Road Opening and Emergency Relief Since the Time of Severe Earthquake Occurence
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Poorzahedy, Hossein (Supervisor)
Abstract
The abstract is the most important section of the thesis because many readers limit most of their reading to abstracts, saving in-depth reading for specific theses. It should give the reader a "preview" of what's to come. The abstract should emphasize new and important aspects of the study or observations. The purpose of the abstract is to allow researchers to decide whether or not to read the whole thesis. The abstract is what researchers read first to decide if the thesis is important, interesting, and it allows them to assess the relevance of a thesis to their own research, without having to read the entire thesis. Thus, it is crucial that the abstract both summarize succinctly the key...
A Framework to Assess Effect of Interdependent Infrastructures' Disruption on Operation of Hospital during Natural Disasters
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Haj Kazem Kashani, Hamed (Supervisor)
Abstract
In earthquake-prone communities, the post-earthquake functionality of hospitals is crucial. Hospitals can dramatically reduce earthquake casualties if they can remain functional and retain service continuity. A variety of earthquake-induced problems such as damage to hospital components, unavailability of medical staff, disruption in medicine supply, and failure of supporting infrastructure systems can negatively affect the functionality of a hospital. Hospital administrators and facility managers require appropriate tools to assess the effect of these problems on hospital functionality. This research presents a probabilistic framework to assess the functionality of hospitals following...
Post-Earthquake Travel Demand Evaluation
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Samimi, Amir (Supervisor)
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate post-earthquake travel behavior in Tehran. After a horrible disaster, like earthquake, people’s travel behavior may change substantially in comparison with normal condition. If people’s travel behavior can be predicted after an earthquake, then authorities can manage travels for emergency medical services in a more efficient way, so the casualties are profoundly diminished. To collect a formation, a questionnaire about socio-economic characteristics of people and their post-earthquake travel behavior was designed. According to the obtained results, time of occurrence and severity of the earthquake are of the utmost importance. So if the earthquake occurs...
Traffic Management Immediately after a Severe Earthquake
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Pourzahedi, Hossein (Supervisor)
Abstract
Natural disasters have been with the earth, and felt critical as far back as human history. These incidents are inevitable, but their effects may be controlled. One important problem after a disastrous earthquake is the management of people’s vehicular movements in a chaotic situation. This study is an endeavor to envisage what would possibly happen after such an incident, and how could we possibly control or manage the traffic in such an occasion. We start with the analysis of the online reports of similar past incidents, and try to picture how people react to these events. We try to identify the trip purposes that have been shown to be pursued, and the respective origins and destinations....