A model for the efficient assignment of emergency response employees

Abstract

This paper is about analysing and improving the emergency response system to gas leaks of a utility company in central Pennsylvania. We use the past thirty months' gas leak data in each county to specify which employee should report to the location at nights, on weekends, and on holidays. This determination is based on distances between his/her home and the incident. The company requires the response time to be shorter than 45 minutes. In this paper, we focus on mathematical modeling for assigning employees to the three counties of interest. Specifically, we use the center-of-gravity method and linear programming to accomplish these assignments. The recommendation of the model is validated by the results of its successful implementation.

Keywords::

• emergency response
• assignment method
• center of gravity
• business analytics

JEL Classification::

• C02
• C61
• H12

Acknowledgements

The author like to thank the referees for their very valuable and constructive suggestions