Authors : Anastasios Karaganis and Angelos Mimis
Abstract: This study discusses a methodology for solving the problem of finding the optimum location of a number of facilities entering an existing network. The locational optimization problem is approached with a continuous model and the facilities are considered to be point-like. The methodology proposed solves these problems by using Voronoi diagrams to define the catchment area and minimize the average distance travelled by the users. The approach is implemented by loose coupling between the Directed Tabu Search algorithm for continuous non-linear optimization with constraints and the Geographical Information system where the cost function is evaluated. Two different case studies are illustrated. In the first, where point-like facilities are used by independent users, two new post offices are inserted in a sub region of Athens where a number of post offices are already in use and gave an improvement of 40% in the cost function. In the second case, facilities operate in a hierarchical network comprising by bank branches and automated teller machines of a private Greek bank. A new bank branch location was examined and compared with the insertion of an Automated Teller Machine and provided an improvement of 25.6 and 12.8%, respectively.
Anastasios Karaganis and Angelos Mimis, 2011. A Geographical Information System Framework for Evaluating the Optimum Location of Point-Like Facilities. Asian Journal of Information Technology, 10: 129-135.