BRIGE: Towards the Design and Operations of Effective Relief Distribution Networks

该奖项的研究目标是提高救济分配网络的性能。为了实现这一目标，有三个研究目标是有针对性的：1-表征和理解的资源，规则和管理救济分配网络的设计和运营的过程。2-探索强大的建模和解决方案的方法，占不确定性的问题，预先定位应急物资。3-研究如何使用动态随机优化来实现应急物资的有效实时分配。解决预先定位问题的一个关键因素是在整合长期决策和战术决策的同时考虑到不确定性。这最终导致了大规模的问题。因此，一个两阶段的随机规划模型将被开发。然后，将开发一种基于禁忌搜索的方法，该方法结合了基于禁忌搜索的元启发式。对于实时配送问题，将采用结合邻域搜索和快速在线策略的滚动时域方法，如果成功，本研究的结果将有助于提高灾前准备和灾后响应能力。这将有助于在发生灾害时拯救生命和减轻民众的痛苦。所提出的建模和解决方案方法也可用于解决其他动态易中断系统，例如在战场或商业易中断供应链中部署部队和设备。该奖项还将扩大代表性不足的群体在工程领域的参与。少数民族本科STEM学生将被引入决策科学和系统工程研究。此外，还将举办研讨会，促进学生与积极榜样的互动。最后，将开展外联活动，鼓励初中和高中学生在系统工程和决策科学领域接受高等教育。

The research goal of this BRIGE award is to enhance the performance of relief distribution networks. To achieve this goal, three research objectives are targeted: 1- Characterize and understand the resources, the rules and the processes that govern the design and operations of relief distribution networks. 2- Explore robust modeling and solution approaches that account for uncertainty in the problem of prepositioning emergency supplies. 3- Investigate the use of dynamic-stochastic optimization for an effective real-time distribution of emergency supplies. A key element in tackling the prepositioning problem is to account for uncertainty while integrating long-term and tactical decisions. This ultimately leads to large scale problems. Thus, a two stage stochastic programming model will be developed. Then, a scenario-based approach that combines a meta-heuristic based on tabu search will be developed. For the real-time distribution problem, a rolling-time horizon approach that integrates neighborhood search procedures and fast on-line strategies will be adopted.If successful, the results of this research will contribute to the improvement of both pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster responsiveness. This will help save lives and mitigate population suffering in case of disasters. The proposed modeling and solution approaches can also be used to tackle other dynamic disruption-prone systems such as the deployment of troops and equipment in a battlefield or commercial disruption-prone supply chains. The award will also broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in engineering. Minority undergraduate STEM students will be introduced to research in decision sciences and system engineering. In addition, seminars will be organized to promote the interaction of students with positive role-models. Finally, outreach activities will be conducted to encourage middle and high school students to pursue higher education in the fields of system engineering and decision sciences.