Testing connectivity to safe locations after a Disaster using drones

In this thesis, we develop a model in order to evaluate post-disaster infrastructure using drones. The study focuses on optimizing drone routes for assessing the connectivity of population centers to safe locations. The routes consist of elements that may fail including bridges, viaducts and road segments. We solve the resulting model using Simulated Annealing approach. With the right parameter settings, the method provides reasonable results in terms of speed and efficiency in completing the assessments. The research explores scenarios involving drones with varied battery constraints and assesses single-route efficiency. In order to assess the effectiveness of the Simulated Annealing approach, we compare the results with Local Search by considering practical constraints like battery life and recharging needs. This study introduces a relevant framework to disaster management and emergency response strategies, offering a scalable framework for rapid infrastructure evaluation in crisis situations.