A metaheuristic approach for location of gas stations in a metropolitan area

The paper presents a metaheuristic model, which is developed to determine the location of gas stations in the state of Kuwait. The variables of this study cover requirements to high demand areas such as commercial areas, businesses as well as safety and environmental factors translated into minimum distances to sensitive entities and receptors. The developed methodology combines GIS with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to weigh and overlay layers of interest on the base map of urban and suburban areas in Kuwait. The output on this process is a suitability map that contains feasible locations for future gas stations sites. Feasible locations are then fed into an optimisation routine to obtain the optimal sites. The methodology includes international and national standards and regulation including minimum allowable distance to existing gas stations, natural gas distributors, fire stations, educational institutions, governmental agencies and ministries, airport, residential areas, commercial areas, industrial areas, road network and others. 199 feasible locations were obtained in the State of Kuwait that abide with all regulation while satisfying demand of businesses and residents. The optimum was obtained from these feasible solutions by using an optimisation routine.