Providing an optimization model for Debris clearance problem During Disaster Response Phase

The purpose of response phase after a disaster is to reduce mortality by accessing affected areas in order to transport relief items and search and rescue activities as soon as possible. Debris caused by the disaster blocks the roads and prevents emergency aid teams to access the disaster affected regions. Deciding which roads to clean in order to transport relief items is crucial to diminish the negative effect of a disaster on human health. In this paper we developed a mixed integer mathematical model for the debris clearance problem considering multi-depot and multi-vehicle. The aim of our model is to minimize the maximum walk of the vehicles. For decreasing the computational time, we developed a two-phase heuristic based on simulated annealing. Validity and applicability of the proposed model and solution algorithm is tested and analysed in a region of Tehran, Iran. The results of this experiment underlie the importance of multi-depot and considering a comprehensive plan for the debris removal problem in the response phase.