Selective Routing Problems for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment: Models and Solution Methods

The increasing number and effects of disasters in recent years have led to an increasing number of Operations Research studies that focus on improving pre- and post-disaster humanitarian operations. This project focuses on the process of rapid post-disaster needs assessment operations and develops mathematical models and solution methods to support site selection and routing decisions of post-disaster needs assessment teams. The project will contribute to the practice by developing tools for humanitarian organizations to carry out post-disaster needs assessment operations and also fill an important gap in the literature by characterizing and modeling needs assessment operations.