Optimizing the Transportation System’s Response Capabilities

For the purposes of post-disaster response and recovery we view the transportation system as a network whose nodes are transportation hubs and whose links correspond to various transportation modes. We focus on: (a) transport resources (e.g., first responders, supplies) from “depots” to nodes in need, and (b) evacuating people. Regarding (a), we present a Cooperative Receding Horizon (CRH) methodology whereby, rather than trying to plan out vehicle trajectories over a long time horizon, we only consider states reached at the end of a limited time window. The controller can hedge against uncertainty and react to emerging events. Regarding (b), we present techniques suitable for networks operating in regimes where nodes are accumulating entities (e.g., people) and the objective is to “empty” the network by transporting them to specific destinations. Our policies provide guarantees on worst case delay and enable cooperation among evacuation vehicles.