Bi-objective Road and Pipe Network Design for Crude Oil Transport in the Sfax Region in Tunisia

In this paper, we examine a bi-objective road and pipe network design for crude oil transport in the Sfax region in Tunisia. In particular, we search for the minimum spanning trees (MST) that connect the different oil fields with the port of La Skhirra. In the determination of the minimum spanning trees, two objectives are taken into account, i.e. accident risk and construction costs. By using an improved ɛ-constraint resolution technique, the Pareto optimal combinations of risk and cost are found. Results indicate that the network solutions by pipe outperform the solutions by road. When the minimum spanning trees for the two extremes on the Pareto curves, i.e. the cost minimum and risk minimum, are compared, one could note considerable differences in the links that form the MST. This implies that policy makers have an important role in deliberating between costs and risks.