EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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1780. Equitable location-allocation in multistage humanitarian settings applied to Brazilian disasters

Invited abstract in session TC-21: Efficiency, equity and fairness in humanitarian operations, stream OR in Humanitarian Operations (HOpe).

Tuesday, 12:30-14:00
Room: 49 (building: 116)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Jie Bao
Business School, University of Edinburgh
2. Douglas Alem
Business School, University of Edinburgh
3. Aakil Caunhye
The University of Edinburgh

Abstract

This research develops a novel three-stage stochastic location-allocation model for a preparedness-response disaster relief problem within a scenario-based stochastic programming setting. In the mainstream academic literature, preparedness-response activities are commonly represented within a two-stage stochastic programming framework assuming there is a single moment when all uncertain parameters are revealed. Grounded on practical disaster operations, our approach considers two moments within the disaster timeline in which different related uncertain parameters are unveiled: victims’ needs and donation. The main rationale is to represent practical disaster aftermath situations in which right after the disaster strikes a given region, victims’ needs become known and donation campaigns start collecting relief items. The precise and available donation amount is finally revealed when the donation campaign ends and it is very much dependent on the victims’ needs. In this three-stage model, the initial stage involves facility location decisions about establishing distribution centres and relief prepositioning, while the next two stages involve last-mile distribution decisions about prepositioned and donated supplies. And we fully account for deprivation costs arising from unmet victims’ needs in our modelling. Our results are based on real disasters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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