Solving the probabilistic drone routing problem for searching targets in case of disasters
Résumé
Several major industrial disasters happen each year around the world. One example is the mining dam collapse near Brumadinho in 2019, Brazil: a tide of mud containing water and toxic mining residues rushed down 80 kilometers of valley and killed about 270 people. Several critical issues were observed during the rescue operations. One of the most relevant was the complexity of performing the search for survivors and victims, as the accident prevented access by land vehicles to the affected area. Another limiting factor was the toxic wastes, complicating human interventions. This kind of situation is likely to appear in industrial or technological disasters as, for instance, in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011.