A multi-criteria simulation-optimization coupling approach for effective emergency response in marine oil spill accidents

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 469; p. 133832
• Main Authors: Ye, Xudong, Zhang, Baiyu, Lee, Kenneth, Storesund, Rune, Song, Xing, Kang, Qiao, Li, Pu, Chen, Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.05.2024
• Subjects: algorithms; case studies; Emergency response system; Multi-criteria decision-making; Oil spill responses; oil spills; oils; Particle swarm optimization; Resource allocation; system optimization; Oil spill responses; Emergency response system; Particle swarm optimization; Multi-criteria decision-making; Resource allocation
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133832

Effective marine oil spill responses are vital to reduce environmental, societal, and economic damage. This study developed a Multi-Criteria Emergency Response System (MC-ERS) to comprehensively evaluate response efficiency, operational costs, and environmental losses. The proposed system integrates dynamic multiphase simulation of oil weathering and oil cleanup processes and further provides effective planning for multi-stage resource allocation through system optimization. The developed weight-sum model improved the performance of response operations by reducing the complexity of multi-criteria decision-making. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was chosen as the foundational optimization algorithm due to its efficiency in rapid convergence and suitability for complex problems. From extensive comparisons of PSO variants across benchmark functions and inertia strategies, the C-PSO algorithm was developed, demonstrating enhanced optimization performance for MC-ERS. The developed modelling system performance was demonstrated and evaluated through a representative case study. The optimization plan coordinated resource allocation from onshore warehouses to harbors and spill sites, balancing oil recovery efficiency, costs, and ecological losses. Optimized results indicate an oil recovery of up to 76.50% in five days. Additionally, the system cuts costs by 3.45% and environmental losses by 15.75%. The findings enhance the efficiency of marine oil spill emergency response and provide support for such incidents. [Display omitted] •The developed emergency response system is for managing marine oil spill incidents.•Efficiency, cost, and environmental loss linked to the spill response are considered.•Developed optimization algorithms simplify multi-criteria decision-making.•A spill case evaluated the system's performance with response modelling.