Dynamic Optimization Methods of Emergency Resources Deployment Based on Markov Decision Process for Wenchuan Earthquake

Effective disaster response planning covers three activities: (1) development of a realistic damage simulation model, (2) a method to rapidly assess actual damage, and (3) models to allocate limited rescue resources to damaged areas in an optimal way. The emergency resources deployment is a hardcore of emergency management. After the happening of the public emergency, it is important to study how to deliver the emergency resources to scene quickly. Consequently, this article studies the dynamic optimal process of emergency resources deployment planning, making use of Markov decision processes, and wants to discover the optimal deployment planning to guarantee the timeliness. The results of the cases analysis prove that the dynamic optimal method of emergency resources deployment planning, based on Markov decision processes, is available. And we can make important decision about the emergency resources deployment by this method in the future.