A method for designing centralized emergency supply to respond to large-scale natural disasters

This paper proposes a method for designing a seamless centralized emergency supply network by integrating three sub-networks (shelter network, medical network, and distribution network) to support emergency logistics operations in response to large-scale natural disasters. The proposed method primarily involves three stage multi-objective (travel distance minimization, operational cost minimization, and psychological cost minimization), mixed-integer linear programming models. The three sub-networks are designed using the proposed programming models. The distinctive features of the proposed method are as follows. (1) The proposed method is demand-driven. The order of the designed sub-networks is shelter, medical, and distribution, with the connections of the latter networks based on the arrangements for the former. (2) The objective functions of three stage programming models include not only traditional objectives such as minimizing total travel distance and operational cost, which supply-side members focus on, but also minimizing the psychological cost experienced by demand-side members. Model tests are conducted to demonstrate that the superiority of a centralized emergency supply network designed by the proposed method over a decentralized one, especially with regard to distribution network design. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.