GIS-Based Emergency Management Scenario for Urban Petroleum Storage Tanks

Petroleum storage facilities in the middle of a city, neighboring residential and educational community are a serious risk. This paper presents GIS-based scenario for petroleum storage tank explosion, in a mid of a large city. The scenario investigates data requirements, modeling approach and highlights a wide range of emergency management issues. The paper stresses on the limitations that emergency managers may face using GIS for similar scenarios. It was concluded that as a result of cost/benefit analysis it might not be feasible moving large petroleum storage facilities to the outskirts of cities, given the factor of rapid urbanization. However, emergency managers must realize that mitigation policies for a potential disaster triggered by an oil terminal explosion need to focus on better safety standards and constant training of staff to ensure the quality of terminal operations.