Multi-period hub location problem: a review

Abstract

In hub-and-spoke systems, due to the changes in the input parameters affecting the system over time, transportation system providers should make the right and timely decisions about hub facilities. For this reason, multi-period hub location problems are especially important. This paper presents a comprehensive review of multi-period hub location problems from 1990 up to the most recent published studies. First, we study the developed models based on some characteristics: type of planning horizon (continuous-time and discrete-time), capacity constraints (uncapacitated, capacitated, and modular), type of problem (median and covering), type of services (single-level and hierarchical), number of commodities and modes, type of hub facility (mobile and virtual), type of assignment (single and multiple), and type of parameters (deterministic and uncertain). Also, practical applications of the models are investigated. Then, we survey the proposed solution methods and real-life case studies. Finally, future suggestions are presented for researchers.