Haoxin Fu

The Physical Internet (PI) provides a solution for coping with the continuous rise in urban logistical demands by exploring same-level and cross-level paths. This research suggests a PI-based urban logistical distribution model based on PI distribution that minimizes transportation costs. It also intends to maintain the integrity of the logistical transportation process. This proposed model enhances the flexibility of goods operation and reduces the global cost of logistics’ distribution using an interconnected and open PI logistics distribution mode. This model also explores the functional aspects of the operational problems of city logistical systems and relates to optimization problems. These functionalities are realized by the hierarchical functional structure and are characterized by different cost specifications. The proposed framework provides better integration and cooperation between city logistics warehouses and higher utilization level of logistical infrastructure. The experimental results show that the distribution cost of the PI logistics model is significantly better than that of a traditional logistics model. The elastic and cost advantages grow relatively as the infrastructure for distribution scales up and interruptions from emergencies occur.

Compared with the traditional operation mode of emergency vehicles, the mobile emergency vehicle is regarded as a new type of emergency facility carrier with the features of variable locations, flexible mobility, and intelligent decision-making. It can provide an effective solution to reasonably respond to the uncertain risks of sudden disasters. Focusing on meeting the maximum demand for materials and services in disaster areas, this paper proposes a scheduling model of mobile emergency vehicles with dual uncertainty of path and demand. The model, solved by an integer-coding hybrid genetic algorithm, aims to obtain minimum mobile emergency scheduling cost and time by transforming the multi-objective problem into a single-objective problem. The “5.12” Wenchuan earthquake is used as an example to validate the model and solving method. The results show that the model can reduce the impact of uncertain risks and improve the scientific logic of emergency strategies and deployments based on the actual crisis scenario. It benefits from introducing mobile emergency vehicles and optimizing their scheduling process.