Algorithms·Sep 2026·8 min
Why Fairness Comes Before Distance in Relief Routing
The shortest route is not automatically the best relief plan. When stock is scarce, optimizing distance first can quietly leave an entire region under-served.
Use priorities, not arbitrary weights
The optimizer first maximizes the weakest regional service ratio. Only solutions tied on that measure are compared by balance, and distance becomes the deciding factor after equity is protected.
This order is easy to explain and avoids a fragile weighted sum where a small coefficient change can reverse the intended policy.
Improve routes without breaking equity
The local search redistributes allocation only inside the same region, preserving regional totals exactly. Route moves and 2-opt can then reduce travel while the fairness score stays unchanged.