Safe routing on the emergency evacuation route for critical situations

Objective: Prioritizing citizen safety in urban design is a crucial consideration that should be addressed before a city's initial development. However, due to the long-established nature of cities in our country, this has not been feasible, necessitating defensive measures for existing cities. The metropolis of Hamedan holds particular significance due to its geographical location and its status as the provincial capital, where major administrative and strategic centers are concentrated. Consequently, it remains vulnerable to political and military threats. This study aims to examine and evaluate the routes in Hamedan, identifying safe pathways during potential attacks by applying passive defense principles and requirements. The goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens during crises (such as invasions) and emergency evacuations.
Research Methodology: This study is applied research and falls under descriptive-analytical research. The required data were collected through documentary methods, including library resources, observations, and field studies. For this purpose, 30 experts were selected, and the data were assessed and weighted using statistical analysis and SPSS software. The routes were then analyzed using GIS software.
Findings: The results indicate that Hamedan has three main exit routes and seven secondary exit routes. The city center has a high population density, while the northern part of the city has sufficient green and open spaces. In contrast, the central, southern, and southwestern areas lack adequate open and green spaces. To reduce traffic under normal conditions, underpasses and bridges have been constructed at intersections along the city's middle ring road. Medical service centers and hospitals are not well-distributed, with most located in the central areas. While there are no hazardous zones along the routes, the collapse of high-rise buildings during enemy attacks could block pathways and endanger citizens' safety.
Conclusion: The findings reveal that Hamedan's routes were not designed according to passive defense principles and contain numerous critical junctures. Hazardous points along the routes could disrupt emergency evacuations and compromise citizen safety. To address these issues, several recommendations have been proposed.