Title: Hierarchical structure modelling in uncertain emergency location-routing problem using combined genetic algorithm and simulated annealing

Authors: Bijan Nahavandi; Mahdi Homayounfar; Amir Daneshvar; Mohammad Shokouhifar

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Faculty of Management, Electronic Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Emergency Location Routing Problem (ELRP) is a strategic issue in healthcare systems. In this paper, a two-objective mathematical model is presented for the ELRP. The first objective is to maximise the provided services to demand nodes, assuming proper emergency facilities' operation, while the second objective is to maximise the reliability of the facility system to respond the patient's demands even if some facilities fail to operate. To achieve this purpose, a backup system with hybrid ambulance-helicopter transportation system is developed for the situations where the primary system cannot properly serve the patients. The failure probability of the emergency facilities is analysed via robust optimisation. To solve the NP-hard ELRP problem, a balanced exploration-exploitation metaheuristic algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Simulated Annealing (SA), named GASA, is proposed. Research findings by comparison of the GASA simulation results with a commercial solver demonstrate the higher efficiency of the proposed method.

Keywords: emergency location routing problem; backup facilities; robust optimisation; genetic algorithm; simulated annealing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2022.123466

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2022 Vol.68 No.2, pp.150 - 163

Received: 08 Mar 2021
Accepted: 14 Jun 2021
Published online: 22 Jun 2022 *

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