Prof. Qiuhong Zhao
School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, China
Title: ntegrated Wildfire Risk Management: From Proactive Fuel Treatment to Data-Driven Emergency Response Network Design
Abstract:
Wildfire management poses a monumental challenge that requires a holistic strategy. A comprehensive approach integrating both proactive mitigation and robust emergency response is critically needed. This presentation synthesizes two advanced optimization models that address these challenges sequentially, forming a unified "prevention-to-response" framework. Firstly, a proactive fuel treatment plan incorporating prescribed burning and firebreak construction is proposed, which is characterized by a novel optimization model capturing non-linear fire spread and treatment interactions under environmental uncertainty by using a set of simulation-based reachability constraints. Secondly, this study addresses emergency response for wildfire through a distributionally robust optimization model for aviation rescue network design, which utilizes a data-driven uncertainty set based on multi-source data such as meteorology and topography. The model optimizes pre-positioning and dynamic allocation of resources, solved via a column-generation algorithm. In summary, these studies demonstrate the value of simulation-based and data-driven methods for managing wildfire uncertainty across all phases—from proactive mitigation to reactive response. A case study also validates the model's ability to enhance both the timeliness and resilience of firefighting efforts.
Biography:
Professor Zhao Qiuhong is a Professor at the School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing, China. She holds a Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering from Beihang University and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Montreal. Her primary research interests include production and operations management, supply chain management, emergency management, and metaheuristics algorithms.
Professor Zhao has led a wide range of research projects, including key, general, and youth projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, as well as numerous applied research projects commissioned by enterprises and public institutions. To date, she has published over 200 articles in academic journals, such as Computers & Operations Research, European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Production Research, etc. In addition to her research, Professor Zhao serves as Director of the Emergency Management Systems Engineering Committee of the Systems Engineering Society of China and as a Standing Council Member of the China Logistics Society. She also holds several editorial positions, including Associate Editor of Sustainable Operations and Computers, Area Editor of Computers and Industrial Engineering, and editorial board member of the Journal of Beihang University and Systems Engineering — Theory & Practice.