Interactive Spatial Decision-Support System for Multiobjective Hazardous Materials Location-Routing Problems

Abstract

Hazardous materials (hazmat) logistics management has received increased attention in the past two decades. Important decisions in such management include the selection of sites for hazmat processing and storage, the selection of transportation routes from sources to processing facilities, and the determination of quantities of hazmat shipped over these routes. These decisions are frequently based on multiple criteria (e.g., cost, risk, equity). A personal computer–based, interactive spatial decision-support system was designed to assist decision makers with such problems. Although presented within the framework of a hazmat problem, the system’s components can be modified to analyse any multiobjective location, routing, or location-routing problem.