A dynamic multi-objective location–routing model for relief logistic planning under uncertainty on demand, travel time, and cost parameters

Abstract

Managers recognize that a strong relation prevails between the location of facilities; the allocation of suppliers, vehicles, and customers to the facilities; and in the design of routes around the facilities. To integrate strategic, tactical, and operational decisions, a multi-objective dynamic stochastic programming model is proposed for a humanitarian relief logistics problem where decisions are reached for pre- and post-disaster. The model features three objectives: minimizing the maximum amount of shortages among the affected areas in all periods, the total travel time, and sum pre- and post-disaster costs. The first objective pursues fairness—expending the best effort to ensure relief commodity delivery to all demand points—whereas the two other objectives pursue the efficiency goal. The proposed model is solved as a single-objective mixed-integer programming model applying the e-constraint method. A case study is presented to illustrate the potential applicability of our model for disaster planning of earthquake scenarios in the megacity of Tehran. The findings demonstrate that the proposed model can benefit making decisions on facility location, resource allocation, and routing decisions in cases of disaster relief efforts.