Post-Earthquake Casualty Transport Optimization
Salih Özçelik, Halim KazanDisasters are one of the deadliest problems faced by humans in their struggle to survive in nature throughout history. This study was carried out for the optimization of the casualty transport process after the earthquake, which is one of the most powerful disaster types today. This study, in which what needs to be done in the post-earthquake response phase is planned, it is aimed to design a logistics network that will ensure that the patients who survive the earthquake with severe injuries are treated as soon as possible. For the problem’s resolution in this way, a two-stage solution model is recommended. The proposed mathematical model is first solved using a mixed integer programming approach. The outputs of the mathematical model were simulated using the new patient selection procedure in the second stage. Thanks to the proposed model, it has been determined which ambulances to transport the patients to which hospital and preferences that will minimize the total time have been formed. Finally, the developed new mathematical model and patient selection method were tested with earthquake forecast data for the Tuzla District of Istanbul Province. After conducting a baseline study, the model’s sensitivity to changes in parameters and constraints under various scenarios was assessed (scenario 2, scenario 3). Sensitivity analysis results showed improvements in total transport times with additional hospital setup and ambulance allocation.