A Realistic Case Study in Adaptive Disaster Response

To assess the applicability of models that optimize the routes of emergency fleet vehicles in disaster response, it is essential to validate the results by applying the model to a real-life case study. To this end, this paper presents a realistic case study to illustrate the effectiveness of dynamic emergency vehicle routing models in producing optimal routing solutions for large-scale, realistic, and complex disaster scenarios. The objective of this study is to collaborate with a local governmental entity that is responsible for maintaining information on all vehicles and routes in the area of interest. This collaboration includes obtaining data and information on the types, sizes and initial locations of the emergency fleet vehicles, locations in need of aid and rescue, types of aid needed, and locations of road closures and hazards. This paper leverages the aforementioned data to evaluate the applicability of dynamic emergency vehicle routing models, aiming to advance the field of emergency fleet routing through the application of a realistic and adaptive approach. This approach reoptimizes the routes of emergency fleet vehicles based on real-time updates regarding road conditions and other evolving factors, ensuring the most efficient deployment of resources in high-stakes scenarios. The findings underline the significance of utilizing an evaluation framework to assess the performance of routing models by examining how well they account for critical real-world factors in realistic situations. Results show that the model evaluated is a practical tool for disaster management, enhancing response times while accounting for the unpredictable nature of emergency situations.