An optimization approach for disaster relief network design under uncertainty and disruption with sustainability considerations

Zahra Desi-Nezhad,Mohammad Hossein Dehghani Sadrabadi,Fatemeh Sabouhi

doi:10.1051/ro/2022021

Abstract

Human-made, natural, and unexpected disasters always cause human and financial losses to communities. Disaster management is a framework with proven performance to reduce the damage caused by disaster and supply chain disruptions. Transferring the injured people from affected areas to hospitals at the minimum possible time is a crucial goal in times of disaster. This paper develops a two-stage stochastic programming model to transport the injured people from affected areas to hospitals in the incidence of multiple disruptions at transportation links and facilities under uncertainties. Herein, economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability are considered, while simultaneous disruptions are managed to minimize the adverse impacts of the disasters. We aim to determine optimal locations to establish transfer points and flows between the relief network nodes with sustainability considerations. Ultimately, a case study in District 12 of Tehran, Iran is conducted to ensure the proposed model’s validity and performance. Various sensitivity analyses are also implemented to ensure the model’s effectiveness. The results indicate that disruptions in facilities and transportation links lead to increased relief time, hence has the most significant negative impact on relief operations.

Highlights

Human-made, natural, and unpredictable disasters always cause financial and human losses
The most important priority of disaster management decision-makers is to carry out rescue operations in the minimum possible time because relief time directly affects the severity of injuries and the death rate
This study addresses a mixed-integer linear programming model for locating transfer points (TPs) under disruption and uncertainties considering sustainability considerations

Summary

Introduction

Human-made, natural, and unpredictable disasters always cause financial and human losses. The supply chain, as a large and broad part of disaster management, is tasked with providing and distributing necessary supplies (food, water, medicine, and shelter), the evacuation of healthy people from the disaster area, relief, rescue, temporary treatment, and temporary resettlement of the survivors, and activities of reconstruction [1,2,3]. A main goal is to transport wounded people from affected areas (AAs) to hospitals at the lowest possible time. Reducing relief and transportation time in disaster incidences is of vital importance and can be achieved using transfer points (TPs). The TPs must be wisely located to transport the injured people at the minimum time and facilitate the relief operations. Due to the lack of resources, relief products, and

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Results

Conclusion