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The Location-Routing Problem (LRP) becomes a more intricate subject when the limits of capacities of vehicles and warehouses are considered, which is an NP-hard problem. Moreover, as the number of vehicles increases, the solution to LRP is exacerbated because of the complexity of transportation and the combination of routes. To solve the problem, this paper proposed a Discrete Assembly Combination-Delivery (DACA) strategy based on, the Binary Equilibrium Optimizer (BiEO) algorithm, in addition, this paper also proposes a mixed-integer linear programming model for the problem of this paper. Our primary objective is to address both the route optimization problem and the assembly group sum problem concurrently. Our BiEO algorithm was designed as discrete in decision space to meet the requirements of the LRP represented by the DACA strategy catering to the multi-vehicle LRP scenario. The efficacy of the BiEO algorithm with the DACA strategy is demonstrated. through empirical analysis utilizing authentic data from Changchun City, China, Remarkably, the experiments reveal that the BiEO algorithm outperforms conventional methods, specifically GA, PSO, and DE algorithms, resulting in reduced costs. Notably, the results show the DACA strategy enables the simultaneous optimization of the LRP and the vehicle routing problem (VRP), ultimately leading to cost reduction. This innovative algorithm proficiently tackles both the assembly group sum and route optimization problems intrinsic to multi-level LRP instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organization's sustainability performance is influenced by its suppliers' sustainability performance. This relationship makes sustainable supplier development a strategic competitive option for a buyer or focal organization. When considering sustainable supplier development practices (SSDPs) adoption, organizations have to balance and consider their limited financial resources and operational constraints. It becomes necessary to both select the best SSDPs set and investment allocation among the selected SSDP set such that the organization can maximize overall sustainability performance level. In this paper, an integrated formal modeling methodology using DEMATEL, the NK model, and multi-objective linear programming model is used support this objective. The proposed methodology is evaluated in a practical sustainable supply chain field study of an equipment manufacturing company in China. Through case study, we found that the interdependency among SSDPs must be considered in SSDPs selection and investment allocation problem. Theoretical, managerial and methodology implications, conclusions, and directions for future research are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drone-supported last-mile humanitarian logistics applications play a crucial role in the rapid and efficient delivery of essential relief items, such as medicine, blood, and vaccines, during disaster and emergency situations. This paper explores a novel drone-supported relief facility location problem (DSRFLP) aimed at establishing an effective drone-supported last-mile humanitarian logistics system. The problem involves making joint decisions for both pre-disaster and post-disaster phases while considering the characteristics of drone-based delivery operations and uncertain demands. In the pre-disaster phase, we make the decisions regarding the locations of drone-supported relief facilities, inventory prepositioning of relief items, assignment of drones to the opened facilities, and allocation of drones to disaster demand sites. In the post-disaster phase, we make decisions related to delivery quantities. To tackle the challenge of incomplete demand distribution information in chaotic disaster environments, we establish a distributionally robust optimisation (DRO) model to handle the uncertainty of demands. This model adopts worst-case mean Conditional Value-at-Risk as the risk measurement, reflecting the risk-averse attitude of humanitarian organisers. In this paper, three ambiguity sets (box, ellipsoidal, and polyhedral) are considered to describe the ambiguity distributions of demands. To overcome the computational challenge, we reformulate the DRO model under three ambiguity sets into two mixed-integer linear programming models and one second-order cone programming model, which can be efficiently solved by off-the-shelf solvers. Furthermore, we validate our proposed DRO model through a small-scale example and a large-scale case study based on the Lushan earthquake in China. The computational outcomes underscore the superior performance of the proposed DRO model to mitigate the impact arising from incomplete probability distributions. We propose managerial implications and insights to support the decision-making of humanitarian organisations based on the experimental results. Finally, we propose two extended models to incorporate multiple relief items and equity constraints in priority settings and conduct numerical experiments to adapt to various real-world disaster scenarios. • A drone-supported relief facility location problem is proposed. • A risk-averse distributionally robust optimisation model is established. • Three ambiguity sets are designed to describe the incomplete distribution of demand. • The equivalent computationally tractable reformulations are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy quota trading is critical to both energy conservation and the achievement of dual-carbon goals. However, little remains to be done on total factor productivity and economic potential for Chinese industry. The purpose of this paper is to counterfactually model and explore the effects of energy quota trading on total factor productivity and economic potential in industrial sector. We propose a command-controlled DEA model and an energy quota trading DEA model through non-parametric linear programming based on two policy strategies of energy consumption control. We then assess total factor productivity and its growth sources for 35 two-digit industrial sector in China, as well as examine economic potential and optimal path forecasts for carbon peaking. The results show that total factor productivity and economic potential for energy quota trading are higher than those for command-controlled energy policy. Energy-saving effect can be achieved for energy quota trading because the total energy input is lower. Additionally, the sources of productivity growth differ in timing. The average economic potential and total factor productivity of different industries differ due to the heterogeneity of the production conditions and scale of development of individual market players. Moreover, the catch-up emission reduction path with an increase of 8% in output and 4.76% in energy consumption is the optimal carbon peaking path under energy quota trading. Our findings shed valuable light on China's efforts to expand energy quota trading for high-quality development in the context of carbon peaking. • Propose a command-controlled DEA model and an energy quota trading DEA model. • Assess TFP and its growth sources for industrial sector in China. • Compare the impact of different energy policies on economic potential and TFP. • Estimate the energy saving and emission reduction potential of energy quota trading. • Examine the optimal energy-saving and emission-reduction path forecasts for carbon peaking.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability is a prerequisite for community integrated energy systems to provide consumers with uninterrupted high-quality energy supply. However, it is still challenging to consider reliability in the planning of community integrated energy systems due to the complexity of energy conversion relationships. Conventional reliability-constrained planning methods usually form a bi-level optimization problem in which the planning scheme optimization and reliability index calculation are separated into two subproblems. In this paper, a novel reliability-constrained planning method for community integrated energy systems is proposed. First, the fault incidence matrices are employed to construct the analytic reliability evaluation model of community integrated energy system. Then, the reliability evaluation model is linearized and explicitly integrated into the planning model, forming a mixed-integer linear programming model. This model can be efficiently solved by mathematical optimization algorithms while effectively balancing the operation cost and reliability at the planning stage. Case studies are conducted based on a practical community integrated energy system in North China to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. • The reliability calculation is transformed into inequality constraints for planning. • The reliability-constrained planning is a mixed-integer linear programming model. • Challenge posed by complex energy conversion relationships in planning is addressed. • Optimal configuration is efficiently obtained considering economy and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient cross-regional allocation of hydropower is critical for the low-carbon energy transition. However, co-optimizing bidding curves for different regional markets presents significant challenges for hydropower producers, due to the complex interplay of bidding strategies, multiple factors that contribute to uncertainty, and the diversity of regional markets. This paper proposes a novel bi-level model to optimize the bidding curves of cascade hydropower plants for multi-regional electricity markets with detailed modeling of their spatio-temporal correlations. The proposed model can adapt to regional markets with varying information transparency by employing a flexible approach to market modeling. A modified interval programming method is proposed to address the multiple uncertainties in the bidding, which mitigates the excessive conservatism inherent in traditional interval programming while preserving its robustness to the distribution estimation error. To efficiently solve the mathematical model, the complex nonlinear dependencies among interval variables are first eliminated through Taylor expansion and a modified multi-dimensional interpolation method. Subsequently, the order relation of interval and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions are utilized to reformulate the proposed model into a tractable mixed-integer linear programming model. Numerical tests conducted on a real cascade hydropower system located in China validate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]