An optimization approach for ambulance location and the districting of the response segments on highways

In this paper we present a method to optimize the configuration and operation of emergency medical systems on highways. Different from the approaches studied in the previous papers, the present method can support two combined configuration decisions: the location of ambulance bases along the highway and the districting of the response segments. For example, this method can be used to make decisions regarding the optimal location and coverage areas of ambulances in order to minimize mean user response time or remedy an imbalance in ambulance workloads within the system. The approach is based on embedding a well-known spatially distributed queueing model (hypercube model) into a hybrid genetic algorithm to optimize the decisions involved. To illustrate the application of the proposed method, we utilize two case studies on Brazilian highways and validate the findings via a discrete event simulation model.