How Many Backyards. Estimating Population at Risk from Moving and Handling Hazardous Materials

摘要

This paper briefly describes a procedure recently developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to estimate population along transportation routes. The procedure derives a geographic distribution of population for 1-minute by 1-minute grid cells, and then overlays the cells with a transportation route. The computer-based procedure then estimates the population within any specified distances of any rail, highway, barge, or air route in the lower 48 states. These population counts can be used in estimates and comparisons of the risks of alternative transportation routes and modes. Planned improvements to the procedure will enhance its usefulness in analyzing the risks of transporting a variety of hazardous fuels, chemicals, munitions, and radioactive materials. (ERA citation 11:009104)