Research on multi-objective hierarchical site selection coverage of fire station

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Urban Planning
• Emergency Management

Background:

• Fire station location is critical for public safety and property protection.
• Site selection problems require optimization for effective emergency response.
• Existing models often lack a hierarchical approach to emergency coverage networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-objective model for optimal fire station siting.
• To establish a hierarchical emergency coverage network considering fire risk.
• To balance maximum fire risk coverage with minimum construction costs.

Main Methods:

• A three-level hierarchical network model was developed for demand areas and fire stations.
• A multi-objective location model was formulated using a coverage attenuation function.
• The epsilon constraint method and a tailored genetic algorithm were employed for optimization.

Main Results:

• Retaining existing fire stations lowers costs but may compromise high-risk area coverage.
• Increasing the number of new fire stations enhances service coverage.
• Sensitivity analysis revealed parameter effects on maximum fire risk coverage.

Conclusions:

• A compromise coordinated siting scheme with hierarchical fire stations can be achieved.
• The model provides decision support for optimal fire station configurations.
• This approach enhances emergency response planning and resource allocation.