Military Resource Allocation as a Set Covering Problem

Abstract

Fixed location resource allocation modeled as a set covering problem is a classic integer program.  This framework has been widely applied to emergency service resource allocation, and this paper extends this approach to military resource allocation.  Using military air medical evacuation resource allocation in Afghanistan as a proof of concept, a methodology is presented that could easily extend to other operational environments and other military resource allocation problems.  Unique contributions include clustering of enemy activity reports to support demand signal analysis and consideration of set covering requirements for varying demand signal density.