An optimization model for scheduling emergency operations with multiple teams

Post-disaster emergency operations are often chaotic and complex. In most cases, efficiently assigning and scheduling multiple teams of resources are essential for quick and effective disaster relief. Our ongoing research has identified numerous heuristics and mathematical models for resource scheduling, of which only few incorporate synchronization and optimization of multi-team resource scheduling contexts. This paper presents a novel mixed integer linear programming model to minimize the relief operation completion times required for all incidents by optimally assigning and scheduling various teams of non-expendable resources. Key parameters of the model include: number of incidents, severity level of each incident, number relief teams of non-expendable resources, type and capability of relief teams, resource requirements at each incident, travel times, process times and release times. Our primary evaluation of the model considered a case study simulation of resource scheduling for some hypothetical fire emergency operations in a central district of Melbourne metropolitan area. The results are encouraging for practical applications in potential emergency operation management.