Locating search and rescue stations in the Aegean and Western Mediterranean regions of Turkey

The service of present Search and Rescue (SAR) stations in the Aegean and the Western Mediterranean regions of Turkey are not sufficient to meet the demands of the Turkish Air Force. This article gives an outline about the study of seeking optimum locations of new SAR stations. The number of SAR stations required to cover all areas of operation becomes a very decisive element in finding the optimal coverage of the operation area by these stations. The problem of finding the optimum SAR locations can be modeled as a maximal covering location problem (MCLP). Additional constraints are added to set standards on various issues in the regions. Main emphasis is given to finding the minimum number of SAR locations that achieves maximum coverage in the operation area. The model is coded and solved with an optimization software (LINGO 5). The solution shows the location of SAR stations and the total coverage in the area based on the operational capacity of SAR units. Several scenarios are examined and the results are then analyzed and presented.

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