Development and evaluation of an integrated emergency response facility location model

Jae-Dong Hong,Ki-Young Jeong,Yuanchang Xie

doi:10.3926/jiem.415

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose and compare the performance of the “two” robust mathematical models, the Robust Integer Facility Location (RIFL) and the Robust Continuous Facility Location (RCFL) models, to solve the emergency response facility and transportation problems in terms of the total logistics cost and robustness. Design/methodology/approach: The emergency response facilities include distribution warehouses (DWH) where relief goods are stored, commodity distribution points (CDP), and neighborhood locations. Authors propose two robust models: the Robust Integer Facility Location (RIFL) model where the demand of a CDP is covered by a main DWH or a backup CDP; the Robust Continuous Facility Location (RCFL) model where that of a CDP is covered by multiple DWHs. The performance of these models is compared with each other and to the Regular Facility Location (RFL) model where a CDP is covered by one main DWH. The case studies with multiple scenarios are analyzed. Findings: The results illustrate that the RFL outperforms others under normal conditions while the RCFL outperforms others under the emergency conditions. Overall, the total logistics cost and robustness level of the RCFL outperforms those of other models while the performance of RFL and RIFL is mixed between the cost and robustness index. Originality/value: Two new emergency distribution approaches are modeled, and evaluated using case studies. In addition to the total logistics cost, the robustness index is uniquely presented and applied. The proposed models and robustness concept are hoped to shed light to the future works in the field of disaster logistics management.

Highlights

After emergency events such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks, it is critical through emergency response facilities to distribute for rapid recovery emergency supplies to the affected areas in a timely and efficient manner
The emergency response facilities considered in this paper include distribution warehouses (DWHs), where emergency relief goods are stored, intermediate response facilities termed Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), sometimes referred to as break of bulk points (BOBs), where emergency relief goods can be sent to the affected area in a timely manner for rapid recovery, and neighborhood locations in need of relief goods
Contrary to the one-stage model developed by Horner and Downs and which optimized the location of BOBs only, we develop a two-stage integrated facility location model that simultaneously optimizes the locations of DWHs and BOBs

Summary

Introduction

After emergency events such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks, it is critical through emergency response facilities to distribute for rapid recovery emergency supplies to the affected areas in a timely and efficient manner. The emergency response facilities considered in this paper include distribution warehouses (DWHs), where emergency relief goods are stored, intermediate response facilities termed Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), sometimes referred to as break of bulk points (BOBs), where emergency relief goods can be sent to the affected area in a timely manner for rapid recovery, and neighborhood locations in need of relief goods. It is very likely that some emergency response facilities may be damaged or completed destroyed and cannot provide the expected services When this happens, the demands of the affected areas will have to be satisfied by other facilities much farther away than the initially assigned facilities. The demands of the affected areas will have to be satisfied by other facilities much farther away than the initially assigned facilities This obviously will increase the distribution cost and time of relief goods.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion