Title: Developing heuristic algorithms for optimisation of location-allocation of fuel-distribution network

Authors: Jafar Bagherinejad; Maryam Mirzaei

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran ' Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Alzahra, Vanak Square, Vanak Street, 1993893973, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to determine the optimal locations for the construction of refuelling stations for vehicles in urban distribution networks including paths and intersections. The objective is to maximise the covered demands with certain number of facilities. For this purpose, mathematical modelling of location-allocation based on the maximal coverage is developed. Considering the service capacity constraint for refuelling stations is one of the innovations of this research. Changing the approach from the node-based to path-based for demands and facility location makes a new way to the location problems of this field. The proposed algorithms have been approved by solving a numerical example. The overall findings show that in the maximal covering of demands, the third heuristic algorithm is better than others based on the fewer number of determined stations.

Keywords: refuelling location model; heuristic algorithm; maximal covering; path-based approach; service capacity constraint.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2018.088562

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2018 Vol.28 No.1, pp.99 - 116

Received: 01 Nov 2014
Accepted: 01 Nov 2015
Published online: 12 Dec 2017 *

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