Methods for evaluation of life loss induced by dam failure

An introduction was given to the general situation about life loss induced by dam failure at home and abroad.Four important influencing factors,including population at risk,severity of flood,warning time,and public's awareness of severity of dam failure events,were analyzed.Some methods for evaluation of life loss currently used at home and abroad were discussed in detail,which included Dekay McClelland method,Graham method,RESCDAM method(i.e.simplified Graham method),Assaf method,and the method developed by researchers of Utah State University,and the trends of their development were briefly assessed.Furthermore,it is suggested that the research on the method in China should begin with the investigation of life loss induced by dam failure,and be followed with a study of empirical formulas for evaluation of life loss,and finally,the method for reliability analysis of the evaluated result should be studied.