A simple search heuristic for the MCLP: Application to the location of ambulance bases in a rural region

B. Adenso-Díaz and F. Rodríguez

Omega, 1997, vol. 25, issue 2, 181-187

Abstract: In the location of ambulance bases for medical assistance, an adequate time of response must be guaranteed for each area in the region covered, incurring the minimum operating costs. Several linear models (such as the maximal covering location problem, MCLP) have been developed for designing these emergency systems which guarantee a certain cover whilst minimising determined costs. The computational difficulty involved in resolving large scale problems occasionally means trying to offer solutions using metaheuristics. This article presents the solution to the problem of locating ambulance bases in the province of Leøn (Spain), using the tabu search metaheuristic, which in its simplest version already offers good results, and which makes it a tool to be kept very much in mind when a rapid solution is needed to such problems.

Keywords: location; ambulance; service; emergency; medical; service; location; tabu; search (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305-0483(96)00058-8
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:jomega:v:25:y:1997:i:2:p:181-187

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/supportfaq.cws_home/regional
https://shop.elsevie ... _01_ooc_1&version=01

Access Statistics for this article

Omega is currently edited by B. Lev

More articles in Omega from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().