Development of an interpretive structural model of factors in emergency materials support

Earthquake emergency materials support is crucial to the efficiency of earthquake emergency response and at the same time, provides the material basis for emergency rescue to carry out smoothly. This paper identifies the related factors in earthquake emergency materials support firstly, using literature review as the research basis. Further an interpretive structural modeling (ISM) technique has been used to develop a structural model to obtain a proper hierarchy and interrelationship among these factors. This model will allow clear visualization of these factors´ hierarchy relationships and help to prioritize the factors which require different strategies respectively to improve the whole emergency materials support system. The relationship hierarchy serves as a useful reference for further enhancing the ability of emergency material supplies and improving the systems of emergency materials support.