Locating an Ambulance on the Amherst Campus of the State University of New York at Buffalo

Yolanda M. Carson and Rajan Batta
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Yolanda M. Carson: Motorola Inc., Elma, New York 14059
Rajan Batta: Department of Industrial Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260

Interfaces, 1990, vol. 20, issue 5, 43-49

Abstract: We used past call-data statistics and a network representation of the Amherst Campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo to find a dynamic positioning strategy for the campus ambulance. As measure of performance we used the system-wide average response time to a call. We solved one-median problems on several network “states” to determine optimal locations for the ambulance. To conclude our research effort, we validated the model. Models are not truth—the 30-percent savings predicted by our model evaporated during the test, which gave us a mere six-percent savings. This seemingly odd result is explained by the “elbow” relationship between travel time and travel distance, a relationship empirically postulated by the RAND fire project team in 1979.

Keywords: facilities/equipment planning: location; health care: ambulance service (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1990
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orinte:v:20:y:1990:i:5:p:43-49

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