A model is presented for locating emergency response capability on a road network. The process is treated as a minimum set covering problem, in which a minimum acceptable level of response is assigned to all nodes on the network. The demand for response capability at these nodes is a function of the potential for dangerous goods spills and the associated risks to nearby population and property. Response capability represents a general measure of the ability of the emergency response system to serve the needs of a specific location, and could reflect any number of actual response facilities, such as fire stations. The model is applied to a rural road network in south-western ontario for a given distribution of risks associated with dangerous goods spills. Each assignment of emergency response capability on the road network is assessed in terms of changes in external service standards and location policies. The model can be applied iteratively to increasingly more detailed representations of the same network.
Abstract