EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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3797. Capacitated Mobile Facility Location Problem with Mobile Demand: Efficient Relief Aid Provision to En Route Refugees

Contributed abstract in session TA-21: Humanitarian aid provision and disposal, stream OR in Humanitarian Operations (HOpe).

Tuesday, 8:30-10:00
Room: 49 (building: 116)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Dilek Gunnec
Industrial Engineering, Ozyegin University
2. Amirreza Pashapour
IEOM, KOC University
3. Sibel Salman
Industrial Engineering, Koc University
4. Eda Yücel
Industrial Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology

Abstract

Forced displacement entails relief aid distribution efforts among en route refugees to alleviate their migration hardships. This study aims to assist humanitarian organizations in cost-efficiently optimizing logistics of mobile facilities to deliver relief aid to transiting refugees in a multi-period setting. The problem, referred to as the Capacitated Mobile Facility Location Problem with Mobile Demands (CMFLP-MD), involves refugee groups following specific paths and receiving aid at least once every fixed number of consecutive periods. The overall costs associated with capacitated mobile facilities are minimized. We formulate a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model and propose two solution methods: an accelerated Benders decomposition approach and a matheuristic algorithm relying on an enhanced fix-and-optimize agenda. We evaluate our methodologies using realistic instances based on the 2018 Honduras migration crisis. Numerical results reveal that the accelerated Benders decomposition excels MILP with a 46% run time improvement on average while acquiring solutions at least as good as the MILP. Our matheuristic acquires high-quality solutions with a 2.4% average gap compared to best-incumbents rapidly. Sensitivity analysis highlights the managerial advantages of implementing CMFLP-MD solutions.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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