Fuzzy logic based algorithms for maximum covering location problems

  • Authors:

  • Vladan Batanović;Dobrila Petrović;Radivoj Petrović

  • Affiliations:

  • Mihajlo Pupin Institute, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, P.O. Box 15, Serbia;Control Theory and Applications Centre (CTAC), Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK;Mihajlo Pupin Institute, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, P.O. Box 15, Serbia

  • Venue:
  • Information Sciences: an International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

This paper concerns a class of maximum covering location problems in networks in uncertain environments. It is assumed that (a) relative weights of demand nodes are either deterministic or imprecise, described by linguistic expressions and (b) potential facility site locations are limited to network nodes. The concept of coverage is extended to include a degree of node coverage which means that the borders between the subset of covered demand nodes and the subset of uncovered demand nodes are inexact. The acceptable service distance/travelling times from a facility site to demand nodes are modelled by fuzzy sets. Three new algorithms for choosing the best facility locations are developed which assume that (1) demands at all nodes are equally important, (2) relative weights of demand at nodes are deterministic and (3) weights of demand at nodes are imprecise and described by linguistic terms, respectively. The algorithms are based on searching among potential facility nodes by applying comparison operations on discrete fuzzy sets. It is shown how to extend the proposed algorithms from one-site to multi-site covering problems. Illustrative examples of selecting locations for logistics centres in a distribution company are given.