IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIAL OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE ROUTING FOR BLOOD DISTRIBUTION IN EMERGENCY REQUESTS

Janani DEWMINI


Department of Transport Management & Logistics Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka)
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4849-5079

W Madushan FERNANDO

madushanfernando69@gmail.com
University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4505-980X

Izabela Iwa NIELSEN


Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Denmark)

Grzegorz BOCEWICZ


Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland (Poland)

Amila THIBBOTUWAWA


Center for Supply Chain, Operations and Logistics Optimization, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka)

Zbigniew BANASZAK


Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7219-3903

Abstract

This study is focusing on identifying the potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) routing for blood distribution in emergency requests in Sri Lanka compared to existing transportation modes. Capacitated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Routing Problem was used as the methodology to find the optimal distribution plan between blood banks directing emergency requests. The developed UAV routing model was tested for different instances to compare the results. Finally, the proposed distribution process via UAVs was compared with the current distribution process for the objective function set up in the model and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including energy consumption savings and operational cost savings. The average percentage of distribution time re-duction, energy consumption cost reduction, and operational cost per day reduction utilizing UAVs were determined to be 58.57%, 96.35%, and 61.20%, respectively, for the instances tested using the model highlighting the potential of UAVs. Therefore, the deficiencies in Sri Lanka's present blood delivery system can be addressed using UAVs' potential for time, cost, and energy savings. The ability to save time through the deployment of UAVs to the fleet during emergency situations plays a crucial role in preventing the loss of human lives.


Keywords:

unmanned aerial vehicle, vehicle routing problem, blood distribution, emergency requests

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Published
2023-12-31

Cited by

DEWMINI, J., FERNANDO, W. M., NIELSEN, I. I., BOCEWICZ, G., THIBBOTUWAWA, A., & BANASZAK, Z. (2023). IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIAL OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE ROUTING FOR BLOOD DISTRIBUTION IN EMERGENCY REQUESTS. Applied Computer Science, 19(4), 68–87. https://doi.org/10.35784/acs-2023-36

Authors

Janani DEWMINI 

Department of Transport Management & Logistics Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4849-5079

Authors

W Madushan FERNANDO 
madushanfernando69@gmail.com
University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4505-980X

Authors

Izabela Iwa NIELSEN 

Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark Denmark

Authors

Grzegorz BOCEWICZ 

Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland Poland

Authors

Amila THIBBOTUWAWA 

Center for Supply Chain, Operations and Logistics Optimization, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

Authors

Zbigniew BANASZAK 

Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7219-3903

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