A Literature Study of Emergency Material Dispatch Models and Optimisation in the Context of Natural Disasters

Abstract

The recurrent occurrence of natural disasters has brought into sharp focus the urgent need for the expedient distribution of emergency materials. In the aftermath of a disaster, the swift and precise distribution of essential emergency supplies is of the utmost importance in ensuring the basic survival needs of the affected population are met, minimising the impact of the disaster and maintaining social stability. In order to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress in the field of emergency supplies dispatching after natural disasters, we employ the knowledge graph analysis software VOSviewer to investigate the optimisation issues pertaining to the emergency supplies dispatching model, taking into account the inherent uncertainty, from a multi-objective standpoint and across a range of algorithms. A total of 375 literature sources were included in the China Knowledge Network database for review. The research objectives, methods and conclusions of the representative literature on hot spots at home and abroad were subjected to analysis. The review examines the research objectives, methodologies and conclusions of the most prominent literature on the subject, both domestic and international, and analyses the current status of research on the scheduling of emergency materials in the context of natural disasters. By synthesising these findings, we aim to identify gaps in existing research and suggest directions for future endeavours to promote a more resilient and effective emergency management system that can respond rapidly to the ever-changing needs of disaster-affected communities.