An improved 3D Dijkstra algorithm of evacuation route considering tailings dam failure

Tailings dam is the place where tailings are accumulated, once a failure occurs, it will cause irreversible huge harm to downstream residents and the environment. However, in the field of environment and safety, few scholars have conducted comprehensive studies on the inundation area of tailings dam break and the evacuation of personnel after dam break. In this paper, we adopt the Finite Volume Method and Turbulence Model to simulate the debris flow evolution after the tailings dam break in Fuchonggou, Anhui province, China. Then we calculate the extent of dam break inundation and put forward the evacuation route of people downstream. Considering the road factors, the 2D evacuation is improved to the 3D-environment resident evacuation for reaching the optimal evacuation route method and the best shelters under tailings dam break. The results show that once the tailings dam was to fail, it would cause damage to the downstream area of about 3.21 km². And this improved 3D Dijkstra optimization algorithm can save a maximum of 11.83% of evacuation time. Through the analysis of the inundation extent and the speed of pedestrians, all residents can be guaranteed to survive if the alert time is 434 s ahead of. Considering the actual evacuation effects, the study can also assess the best locations for shelters in the inundated areas and provides corresponding suggestions for urban road reconstruction. This work makes a pioneering comprehensive study on the inundation area of tailings dam break and the personnel evacuation, and proves that under the premise of advance prediction and accurate early warning, the people in the inundation area can be evacuated to the shelter in the shortest time, thus reducing the loss of residents’ life in emergency situations.