Abstract:
Low-visibility weather is one of the most significant meteorological disasters affecting the safe operation of expressways and risk zoning can provide a scientific basis for disaster prevention and mitigation.Based on visibility data from national meteorological stations and traffic meteorological stations near expressways in Hubei Province from 2019 to 2021,low-visibility weather traffic control data in Hubei Province,and annual passenger and freight transportation volumes from various cities,the TOPSIS method was employed to calculate the assessment indicators and scores for low-visibility weather disasters; ArcGIS software was used to create a risk zoning map for low-visibility weather disasters on expressways in Hubei Province; and the risk levels of different expressway sections were analyzed.The results show that low-visibility weather on expressways in Hubei Province exhibits significant temporal variations,with frequent occurrences in winter and spring,and relatively fewer occurrences in autumn and summer.During winter,when low-visibility weather is most concentrated,high-risk areas include most expressway sections in Enshi Prefecture and large parts of central and northern Hubei Province.The comprehensive risk levels of low-visibility weather disasters on expressways in Hubei Province are classified into five levels,among which areas with moderate risk and above account for approximately two-thirds of the total.Regions with very high-risk levels are mainly located in most parts of Enshi Prefecture (except Badong and Hefeng),the areas around Xiangyang,Suizhou,Jingmen,and Shashi in Jingzhou,as well as the central and southern parts of Wuhan.