Context-Based Decision and Optimization: The Case of the Maximal Coverage Location Problem

Every decision problem, understood as the need to take the best decision in some sense, leads to an optimization problem. There is a need to consider the context where each decision is made because it directly affects the underlying decision/optimization model with obvious implications in the change of the optimal solutions. In this contribution this topic is further explored using the problem of locating emergency services (ambulances) in a set of available locations. A number of different contexts are considered and how they can be defined from an operational point of view is shown. The results obtained allowed to show how the best solutions of the problem may change. Even using this simple example, we can conclude that the role of the context in decision/optimization problems and the need to properly define it should not be underestimated.