Robust Multi-Period Maximum Coverage Drone Facility Location Problem Considering Coverage Reliability

This study proposes a multi-period facility location formulation to maximize coverage while meeting reliability constraint. The constraint is chance limiting the probability of failure maintain desired service standard, commonly followed by emergency medical services and fire departments. Further, uncertainties in probabilities are incorporated utilizing robust optimization using polyhedral uncertainty sets, which results compact mixed-integer linear program. A case Portland, OR metropolitan area analyzed for employing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones deliver defibrillators region combat out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. In context this study, multiple periods represent with different wind speed direction distributions. show that extending formulation, rather than average information single period, particularly beneficial when either response time short not accounted for. Accounting decision-making improves significantly also reducing variability simulated coverage, especially times longer. Going from single-period deterministic boosts values 57%, on average. effect considering distance-based equity metric explored.