Robust decision making for future train maintenance: Illustrating the abilities of decision making under deep uncertainty within the train maintenance context

This research has illustrated the abilities of incorporating robust decision making within train maintenance. Both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance processes of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) have been examined, after which exploratory modeling and analysis enabled developing valuable insights for decision makers. Scenario analysis through...

The influence of national culture on response be­haviour during an evacuation: An agent-based approach

Accidents in buildings happen frequently and if people are not evacuated in time, this can have major consequences. The behaviour of building occupants is one of the most critical determinants herein. <br/>Evacuation behaviour consists of two phases: the response phase and the evacuation movement phase. During the response phase, a building...

Early Action against drought induced food insecurity: An agent-based exploratory modelling study comparing different cash transfer policies to minimize household food insecurity in Kenya

One of the substantial causes for food insecurity in an area is drought. Drought is a very insidious disaster. Unlike rapid onset disasters, like an earthquake or flood, it increases its grasp over an area over time. The longer the drought lasts, the more an area is destroyed leaving devastating effects that can last many years. The impacts of...

A quantitative analysis of user participation in demand response in a future electricity network: An agent-based exploratory modelling study of price- and incentive-based interventions

In the future, the energy supply will primarily consist of energy from renewables, which makes energy producers and grid operators fear that grid security and reliability could be threatened. On top of a more fluctuating supply, energy demand is also expected to increase in the coming years, especially if heating will be electrical when gas is...

Compound risk: when sudden-onset disasters coincide with COVID-19: Balancing the livelihood and the COVID-19 trajectory of rural communities in developing countries

During the battle against COVID-19, sudden-onset disasters keep happening. These two consecutive events are different in nature and sometimes ask for counter-productive policy interventions: where the epidemic can be contained by ensuring social distancing practices, reducing the number of contacts, and offering hygienic conditions, the response...

The Impact of the Thermal Transition in the Built Environment on Gasunie's Infrastructure

The residential built environment in the Netherlands is on the verge of a transition of its thermal system. The Climate Agreement has suggested that municipalities will have to play a leading role in transitioning their neighborhoods' currently natural gas-driven heating systems towards sustainable alternatives. But changing the thermal systems...

Impact of Migration and Urbanization on Cities: an Agent-Based Model on the effects of Migration on the city of The Hague

Migrants are moving in great numbers towards urban areas as a result of urbanization and drivers such as political-, economical- and climate crises. The influx of new people brings new challenges for cities and municipalities to provide for a suitable environment for new and existing citizens whilst preventing adverse effects to occur. Current...

Impact and response to local dynamics for climate adaptation investments: An agent-based modelling study combined with top-down climate scenarios to explore interventions for climate adaptation in developing countries, applied to the Dutch Development Bank’s cocoa investments in Ghana

Development Finance Institutions have been established to provide finance for long-term economic development in low and middle-income countries. However, these investments are exposed to climate-related risks. This means that Development Finance Institutions need to explore climate adaptation interventions, particularly in view of the fact that...

Creating a bias in inspection data: Exploring the medium- to long-term effects of data-driven risk-based regulation

Monitoring organisations are currently in a transition phase towards risk-based inspections using data models and algorithms in order to increase their efficiency and transparancy. The use of data by monitoring organisations has several benefits, but can at the same time have negative effects in the medium- to long-term. This study explores...