2994. Optimizing Emergency Grocery Store Selection for Crisis Food Supply
Invited abstract in session TD-39: Sustainable & Resilient Digital Twins, stream Sustainable & Resilient Systems and Infrastructures.
Tuesday, 14:30-16:00Room: Newlyn LG.01
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Sandra Rudeloff
|
| Kühne Logistics University | |
| 2. | Alex Duan
|
| Kühne Logistics University | |
| 3. | Hanno Friedrich
|
| Kühne Logistics University |
Abstract
Ensuring food supply during crises, such as prolonged power outages or pandemics, is a critical aspect of emergency management. Grocery stores serve as natural distribution points because people already rely on them for food in daily life, and they have the necessary logistical infrastructure. However, with limited resources - such as emergency power generators - authorities must strategically select a subset of stores to remain operational. This research formulates a mathematical optimization problem to minimize the population-weighted distance between open stores and the population, ensuring access to essential food supplies. The problem includes key constraints: the maximum number of operational stores due to resource limitations, store capacity to meet demand, and retail chain diversity to enhance supply chain resilience. These constraints are informed by qualitative insights from workshops and interviews with municipal authorities, ministries, and retail stakeholders. The model is applied to Lower Saxony, Germany, providing a case study on how these constraints shape emergency food supply planning at the regional level. This research offers a tool for policymakers to enhance food crisis preparedness and response strategies.
Keywords
- Disaster and Crisis Management
- Decision Support Systems
- Location
Status: accepted
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