A robust stochastic Casualty Collection Points location problem

Morteza Alizadeh, Mehdi Amiri-Aref, Navonil Mustafee and Sumohon Matilal

European Journal of Operational Research, 2019, vol. 279, issue 3, 965-983

Abstract: In this paper, a Casualty Collection Points (CCPs) location problem is formulated as a two-stage robust stochastic optimization model in an uncertain environment. In this modelling approach, the network design decisions are integrated with the multi-period response operational decisions where the number of casualties with different levels of injuries coming from the affected areas is uncertain. Furthermore, the transportation capacity for the evacuation of casualties to CCPs and hospitals is also uncertain. To solve this complex problem, a robust sample average approximation method with the feasibility restoration technique is proposed, and its efficiency is examined through a statistical validation procedure. We then evaluate the proposed methodology in the backdrop of a hypothetical case of Bhopal gas tragedy (with the same hazard propagation profile) at the present day. We also report the solution robustness and model robustness of 144 instances of the case-study to show the proficiency of our proposed solution approach. Results analysis reveals that our modelling approach enables the decision makers to design a humanitarian logistic network in which not only the proximity and accessibility to CCPs are improved, but also the number of lives lost is decreased. Moreover, it is shown that the proposed robust stochastic optimization approach converges rapidly and more efficiently. We hope that our methodology will encourage urban city planners to pre-identify CCP locations, and, in the event of a disaster, help them decide on the subset of these CCPs that could be rapidly mobilised for disaster response.

Keywords: Humanitarian logistics; Casualty Collection Points; Stochastic programming; Robust optimization; OR in disaster relief (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037722171930493X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:279:y:2019:i:3:p:965-983

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2019.06.018

Access Statistics for this article

European Journal of Operational Research is currently edited by Roman Slowinski, Jesus Artalejo, Jean-Charles. Billaut, Robert Dyson and Lorenzo Peccati

More articles in European Journal of Operational Research from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().