Title: Drone transportation cost analysis for emergency medical products

Authors: Sushil Raj Poudel; Sudipta Chowdhury; Mohammad Marufuzzaman; Linkan Bian; Manas Mudbari; Gaurav Pradhan

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA ' Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs Mansfield, CT, USA ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA ' Signalmaven, Inc., 592 59th St., Oakland, CA 94609, USA ' School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

Abstract: A faster mode of transportation that carries emergency medical supplies such as blood bags is consequential to saving lives. Although different road vehicles (e.g., ambulances) are used for this, with increasing rate of congestion, it is becoming increasingly challenging to perform this task on time. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the applicability of drones in transporting emergency medical products and investigate how different parameters (technical and environmental) that affect the drone flight, contribute to the cost of transportation. A number of 'to-be scenarios' have been generated by varying different parameters. Similarly, a case study has been conducted to illustrate the use of different drones on different operational conditions. The outcomes of this study have the potential to help concerned officials make decisions on the feasibility of using drones in transporting emergency medical products, assist policy makers on policy decisions, and contribute to saving the life of victims of traffic accidents.

Keywords: drone; transportation; cost analysis; emergency medical products.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBCRM.2019.100416

International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 2019 Vol.9 No.3, pp.251 - 282

Received: 09 Aug 2018
Accepted: 23 Oct 2018
Published online: 28 Jun 2019 *

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