Operations Research methodologies in Advanced Air Mobility and their potential applications in Emergency Medical Services

Abstract

Recent and important progress in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles indicates that soon, these vehicles could transport people and cargo in urban and rural areas. Advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles such as eVTOL aircraft have the potential to serve as an alternative to traditional modes of transportation. In addition, AAM vehicles can also be used to support healthcare operations. For example, they can be used to provide emergency medical services (EMS) in areas with limited access to ground transportation. This thesis explores the use of operations research techniques to solve important planning problems in AAM operations while considering the unique features of this new technology. This work addresses (i) the aircraft scheduling problem at vertiports, (ii) the vertiport selection problem for EMS, and (iii) the simultaneous vertiport selection and eVTOL distribution problem for EMS. To tackle these problems, various operations research techniques are employed including optimization, heuristics, and simulation models. Data analytics techniques, such as clustering algorithms, are also integrated into the research. The performance of the proposed solution procedures is evaluated using synthetic data and case studies inspired in data from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand Est regions in France. The main results indicate that using the appropriate tools for scheduling aircraft at vertiports (such as the one presented in this thesis) the operations of vertiports can be efficient. In addition, the results indicate that implementing eVTOL vehicles for aeromedical transportation can provide better access to EMS in remote areas. However, the autonomy of these vehicles remains a critical factor in determining their broader applicability. Overall, this thesis provides insights and methodologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of AAM operations in vertiports and its applicability to EMS.