TITLE:
A Mathematical Optimization Model for Locating Telecenters
AUTHORS:
Morteza Tabatabaie Shourijeh, Mohammad Kermanshah, Amir Reza Mamdoohi, Ardeshir Faghri, Khaled Hamad
KEYWORDS:
Location; Telecommuting; Telecenter; Multi-Objective Optimization; Fuzzy Goal Programming; Accessibility Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Applied Mathematics,
Vol.3 No.3,
March
27,
2012
ABSTRACT: Telecommuting is a Transportation Demand Management strategy to partially or completely replace the daily commute with telecommunication technologies. Research has revealed that telecommuting can be effectively done from special places provided for this purpose called telecenters. In telecenter-based telecommuting, trip lengths are shortened due to change in the location of work places. Thus suitable locations of telecenters play an important role in increasing the beneficial impacts of telecommuting in the transportation systems. In this research, a mathematical optimization model for finding optimal location and capacity of telecenters is proposed. This model is a bi-objective linear program, and a Fuzzy Goal Programming method with a preemptive structure is used to solve it. Telecommuting demand is classified into three groups of telecommuters and a priority structure that assigns the higher priority class to the closer telecenters is also incorporated into the model. The proposed model is implemented in a case study of finding optimal location of telecenters for government employees in Tehran (capital of Iran) metropolitan area. The base model is solved and its sensitivity to different parameters has been analyzed based on which, an optimal model is selected. The solution of this model is an optimal pattern for distribution of telecommuting capacities and yields the most system-wide benefits from implementation of telecommuting.