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A multi-period and bi-objective approach for locating ambulances: a case study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Charles Paulino de Oliveira
  • Elisangela Martins de Sá
  • Flávio Vinícius Cruzeiro Martins

Abstract

This study applies a covering facility location problem in the emergency medical service (EMS) of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It is proposed a deterministic and a stochastic multi-period model, which allows ambulances to move among bases in different periods to raise the system coverage. The proposed models handle the decisions of base locations and ambulance allocation/relocation. This paper also proposes a bi-objective approach aiming to minimise the number of bases and maximise the coverage of demands, which is solved using the ϵ-constraint method. Results show that coverage levels increased when scenarios change from static to multi-period. Also, since the multi-period model solutions result in installing a larger number of bases, the bi-objective approach shows to be a powerful tool for the decision-maker to analyse the trade-off between the operational challenges of increasing the number of bases and the increase of coverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Paulino de Oliveira & Elisangela Martins de Sá & Flávio Vinícius Cruzeiro Martins, 2026. "A multi-period and bi-objective approach for locating ambulances: a case study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil," International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 53(4), pages 502-521.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijlsma:v:53:y:2026:i:4:p:502-521
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