Making a Case for Better Models and Information Sharing of the Transportation Impacts around Points of Dispensing during a Biological Event

摘要

Points of dispensing (PODs) are locations that distribute medicine to populations during a public health biological event. Underestimated demand may lead to insufficient parking capacity and network congestion, causing distribution delays. A customized travel demand model provided a preliminary analysis of traffic impacts, using measures of effectiveness for the transportation network and POD operations. The case study modeled an aerosolized anthrax release in Wilmington, Delaware. Results indicated that although PODs did not significantly impact the surrounding network, localized congestion, and large delays may occur at PODs depending on patient assignment, parking availability, and traffic management. Analysis underscored the need to model interactions between POD operations and the transportation network, revealed gaps in understanding of how patients will respond to biological events, and highlighted the need for parking management and mechanisms for sharing information about PODs. The objective of this paper is to address these issues through new and existing technologies.