Robust Optimization Solution to Emergency Mobile Facility Fleet Size and Location

Abstract

Allocation of emergency mobile facility is the key problem of the emergency response system, which affects the cost and the satisfaction of services for emergency so as to rapidly respond to disasters, contagions, etc. In order to seek a reasonable fleet size and locations of emergency mobile facilities, we propose a two-stage programming model with the objective function of minimizing the total cost. With uncertain characteristics of emergency event, the model conforms to the requirement for noninterruptible service and tries to satisfy all emergency demands. For overcoming the computational difficulty of emergency mobile facility fleet size and location problem, a robust optimization approach and modified ant colony algorithm are employed to obtain solutions. The illustrative example shows that the model can provide a reasonable solution to the determination of the fleet size and locations of emergency mobile facilities and that the risk recognition factor of the model can further guide decision-making.