Optimizing the planning of remote construction sites to minimize the consequences of explosive attacks

Remote construction sites, such as oil production facilities and military forward operating bases, are often located in hostile areas that are vulnerable to the threat of explosive attacks. These attacks produce devastating and far-reaching consequences. From 2011-2015, explosive attacks targeting facilities and infrastructure resulted in more than 45,000 casualties and $73 billion in direct economic losses worldwide. Furthermore, the post-traumatic stress disorder rate among victims of explosive attacks is reported to be as high as 40%. To minimize the consequences of explosive attacks, site layout planners of remote construction sites utilize three primary protection measures that are designed to: (i) increase the standoff distances between site facilities and the potential location of an explosive device; (ii) construct perimeter walls to mitigate blast loads on facilities; and (iii) harden facilities to withstand blast loads. The integration of these protection measures increases construction costs and they can be challenging to implement when site space is limited. Accordingly, designers need to identify an optimum combination of these protection measures that minimizes the aforementioned explosive attack consequences while minimizing site construction costs. The main goal of this research study is to develop novel models for optimizing the planning of remote construction sites that provide the capability of minimizing facility destruction levels and consequences resulting from explosive attacks. To accomplish this goal, the research objectives of this study are to: (1) develop an innovative blast effects assessment model capable of efficiently quantifying and visualizing blast effects on facilities behind blast walls; (2) develop an original multi-objective facility protection model for optimizing the site layout and selection of perimeter blast walls and building materials in order to minimize facility destruction levels from explosive attacks while minimizing site construction costs; and (3) develop a novel multi-objective optimization model for the layout and security planning of remote construction sites that provides the capability of simultaneously minimizing the consequences of an explosive attack and the construction costs of remote sites. The performance of the developed optimization models was analyzed using case studies of hypothetical remote construction sites. The results of analyzing these case studies illustrated the novel and distinctive capabilities of the developed models in enabling designers to search for and select optimum design configurations based on the mission of the remote construction site. These capabilities will result in the construction of cost-effective, secure sites that will reduce the risks to site personnel and facilities from the devastating effects of an explosive attack