Cluster analysis is a useful technique in multivariate statistical analysis. Different types of hierarchical cluster analysis and K-means have been used for data analysis in previous studies. However, the K-means algorithm can be improved using some metaheuristics algorithms. In this study, we propose simulated annealing based algorithm for K-means in the clustering analysis which we refer it a...

There exist various service systems that have hierarchical structure. In hierarchical service networks, facilities at different levels provide different types of services. For example, in health care systems, general centers provide low-level services such as primary health care services, while the specialized hospitals provide high-level services. Because of demand congestion in service networ...

this paper proposes a new mathematical model for designing and planning postal parcels carriage and postal networks. the objective of postal network designing is to determine the location, size and connection between the postal stations in a city, province or country. in this paper, a kind of multiple locations-allocations hub problem with limited capacity in collecting, distributing and broadc...

In general, any system may be at risk in a case of losing the critical facilities by natural disasters or terrorist attacks. This paper focuses on identifying the critical facilities and planning to reduce the effect of this event. A three-level model is suggested in the form of a defender-attacker-defender. It is assumed that the facilities are hierarchical and capable of nesting. Also, the at...

In this study a hierarchical hub location problem with two layers is considered. The first layer includes small hubs and the second one includes a star-shaped network central hub. The considered case is a cargo delivery network where there is hierarchy between hubs. All the hubs and links are capacitated and there are three kinds of commodities for each of which there is a special kind of vehic...