NOTICE OF MAScSEMINAR PRESENTATION
CANDIDATE: Bofei Li
DEGREE SOUGHT: MASc
DATE: 3/12/2025
TIME: 3:30PM
PLACE: Room 2101 CEI
TITLE: Optimization of Emergency Resource Allocation in Natural Disasters: A Dynamic Programming Approach
Abstract
In sudden natural disasters, relief organizations must swiftly and efficiently allocate scarce resources to maximize rescue outcomes. Disaster relief is complicated by uncertainties such as the frequency and scope of events, infrastructure damage, and the rapid deterioration of survivors’ health. Consequently, rescue decision-making must account for these uncertainties to ensure that resource distribution is timely, effective, and equitable. Moreover, research indicates that survivors' distress can trigger negative emotional responses, further reducing emergency logistics efficiency. Thus, the extent of human suffering is a critical factor in designing relief systems.
This study implements a dynamic programming approach to optimize the sequence of rescue decisions for fair and efficient resource allocation. The model quantifies key metrics:
• Deprivation Cost (DC): An economic indicator of human suffering.
• Accessibility Cost (AC): A measure of rescue operation effectiveness.
• Terminal Penalty Cost (TPC): An indicator of allocation fairness.
By quantifying these metrics, the model aims to enhance rescue decision-making, facilitate scientific resource distribution, improve relief efficiency, and mitigate secondary disaster impacts in uncertain environments.