Fuzzy disaster relief planning with credibility measures

Abstract

We propose a disaster relief planning model that can handle unclear information while maximizing the credibility of the relief organizations in the most cost efficient way. Considering the uncertainty and incompleteness of the disaster data, we propose a novel non-linear fuzzy credibility measure based on the timely arrival of the relief items. By using fuzzy linear programming, theoretical performance of the relief effort is optimized for the desired level of credibility and more effective asset utilization is provided. The applicability of the model is justified with real data to demonstrate its use for organizations to establish accountable and more credible status in the eyes of donor countries and vulnerable communities. © Izmir University of Economics, Turkey, 2010.