A Spatial Modeling Framework for Siting Critical Supply Infrastructures*

Abstract

Since the launch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2002, research needs have been established in the areas of disaster preparedness and critical infrastructure protection. Disaster preparedness seeks to lessen the adverse effects of catastrophes by planning in advance and instituting a proper response. Critical infrastructures are those entities deemed necessary for society to function correctly and thus require protection. Recent studies have used location models to aid in the management of many of these crucial establishments, but few efforts have modeled where to geographically site a future critical supply facility. Furthermore, no research has explored a multihazards approach for siting critical supply facilities and the explicitly spatial factors that make a potential target vulnerable to attack. In this article, we propose a strategic multiobjective modeling framework for siting critical supply facilities that incorporates explicitly spatial disaster preparedness directives and critical infrastructure protection demands. We detail the spatial data requirements and modeling assumptions and present results from an application involving the placement of critical vaccine stores in Orlando, Florida.