Integrated vulnerability assessment of transport networks in the Seoul capital area, Korea

Abstract

Although transport networks provide crucial infrastructure for mobility and accessibility in modern society, they are quite vulnerable to intended attacks, such as that in London in 2005, as well as natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes. Consequently, it is important to assess the vulnerability of transport networks in order to increase their resilience and to provide travellers with a more reliable transport service. As all transport networks are highly interdependent and have a deep impact on each other’s travel times, thus when assessing the vulnerability of transport networks, the relationships between different modes and total social travel costs should be considered.
This work assessed the integrated vulnerability of the whole transport networks in the Seoul Capital Area (SCA) of Korea, using the concept of total social travel costs (TSTC). TSTC was calculated by all travellers’ travel time costs in the SCA as well as operating costs, road traffic accident costs, environmental impact costs, and parking costs, assuming a disruptive event on each section of the Seoul Metropolitan Railway Systems (SMRS). It was found that the 1st Incheon transport axis produced the biggest increase in TSTC, equivalent to a 3.8% increase compared with the TSTC of normal operation.
This work identified travellers’ preferred choices when a disruptive event on the SMRS occurs, reflecting these choices in the revision of the normal origin/destination data, so that TSTC can be evaluated. An online survey of 1,415 respondents showed that 32% of travellers wanted to use the bus while 27% chose the car as their alternative transport mode for a disruptive situation on the SRMS.
This work suggests management strategies that can enhance the resilience of transport networks in the SCA. Using these management strategies, operators of the SMRS can respond efficiently to a disruptive event, while government can address the problem of relatively weak transport axes. In addition, travellers can recognise their potential alternatives when they cannot use their normal modes or primary routes. The management strategies were distilled from 19 interviews with experts from the operators of the SMRS, central and local governments of Korea, and professors or researchers in the field of transport networks.

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ORCID for Jonathan Preston: orcid.org/0000-0002-6866-049X

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