A stochastic multi-objective model for locating electronic charity boxes using chance constrained bounded objective function

This paper introduces a new and practical generalization of the stochastic location problem, with an aim to find the optimal location of electronic charity boxes. In this problem, there exist a set of potential locations and a limited number of e-charity boxes. It is the first time in the literature that "stochastic donation motivation," as a new concept, is introduced into a mathematical model and maximized in one of our objectives in a stochastic bi-objective formulation. To extract the donation motivation at any potential location, a number of criteria are defined including district impact factor, location type impact factor, and pedestrian traffic factor. Next, the motivation score for each potential location is determined using the Evaluation based on the Distance from the Average Solution method (EDAS). In this novel study, the existence of two stochastic parameters, namely the amount of benefit and the pedestrian traffic factor, turns the model into a stochastic multi-objective problem, while the constraints of the problem are defined so as to avoid the cumulation of e-charity boxes in one type of location and one district. Besides, the proposed stochastic location model was based on Chance Constrained Bounded Objective Function. Finally, the proposed model was applied in a real and large-scale example and the results illustrated the effectiveness of the proposed model.