Planning Tank-Truck Hazardous Materials Shipments In Intercity Road Transportation Networks

This study proposes an integrated approach to plan tank-truck shipments of hazardous materials in intercity road networks. Considering the conventional damage and the diffusion of volatile toxicants separately, we define the risk indicators of tank-truck hazardous materials transportation. Moreover, we study the network consisting of a local distribution sub-network and a long-distance transportation sub-network. They can be implemented by a capacitated p-hub location model and a bi-level programming model. Furthermore, an exact algorithm and an improved imperialist competitive algorithm are developed to solve the bi-level programming model, respectively. Besides, there is a case study completed in a local region of East China. The numerical results demonstrate the research advantages in method innovation and engineering operation. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.