A multi-model deployment planning problem

Abstract

This report considers a multi-modal deployment planning problem in which movement requirements are allowed to originate from (supply) centers, ground transported to (sea or air) ports of embarkation, and, upon arrival at (sea or air) ports of debarkation, ground transported again to (demand) centers or destinations. This sequence of movements involves all three modes of transportation: air, land, and sea. We formulate this deployment problem as an integer program which has a columnar structure and allows for many different objectives. The complexity of this program along with optimality properties for its solutions are discussed. A heuristic solution procedure is also proposed.