"Optimizing Hub and Spoke Selections for Adaptive Basing in Agile Comba" by Alan Heng

Alan Heng

Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Daniel J. Weeks, PhD

Abstract

Advancing technologies and emerging competitors within the Indo-Pacific region have rendered the use of fixed installations for United States Air Force (USAF) operations less than optimal for generating airpower. The adoption of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) is imperative and emphasizes a hub-and-spoke model. However, the methodology for selection of contingency locations remains undecided. Current selection of optimal sites hinges on an optimization framework, employing either rank-based or mathematical approaches that consider various criteria to assess and quantify each location. These criteria are then addressed through objectives and constraints, forming the basis for an effective decision-making process. This paper introduces two hybrid models utilizing ArcGIS and General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) to pinpoint hub-and-spoke locations. The dataset employed for analysis was created by a previous Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) student, encompassing utility scores for over 500 public airports across the Indo-Pacific region. Results from both hybrid models successfully identified hubs and spokes within specific countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Moreover, the models illustrate the versatility and efficacy of optimization as a tool for site selection. By allowing decision-makers to delineate specific objectives and criteria, the optimization methodology enhances the overall effectiveness of future policy and planning endeavors in the establishment of new operating locations.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-MS-24-M-125

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.

Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.

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