Research Information System
22nd International Multidisciplinary Modeling & Simulation Multiconference (I3M 2025), Fas, Morocco, 17 - 19 September 2025, vol.274, pp.130-138, (Full Text)
In
recent years, there has been significant interest in disasters, which are
increasingly felt more severely due to global warming, affecting populations,
the environment, infrastructure, and the economy. This has led to a global
focus on the comprehensive planning of activities before, during, and after
disasters, resulting in support for various research studies and projects. To
reduce humanitarian impact and protect public safety and welfare from natural
and man-made disasters, it is crucial to maintain a strong focus on disaster
management practices. Delivering
essential relief items to multiple locations in disaster-prone areas poses a
significant challenge because of logistical issues in the last-mile of transportation,
which hinder the efficient transportation of first responders and their
equipment. Blocked roads, difficult terrain, and adverse weather conditions are
challenging factors faced by first and secondary responders (e.g. firefighters,
emergency medical services, rescue teams) when responding to emergencies. The
crucial contribution of first responders to crisis management is evident in
their life-saving efforts during disasters. Hence, designing highly efficient
first-response task units for disaster operations has the potential to substantially
decrease operational time, leading to a consequent reduction in casualties.
Simulation practices enable the investigation of diverse crisis-handling
strategies and enhance decision-making, ultimately reducing losses. Agent-based
models (ABMs) play a crucial role in this process by allowing the modeling and
simulation of complex systems, with a particular focus on individual behaviors,
objectives, and interactions that occur in real-life cases. Within the same
environment, researchers can introduce various relief and response scenarios.
This paper reviews current literature by exploring ABMs that address first
responders.