Improving Response Through Advance Operational Planning and Academic Collaboration
Published in OR/MS Today, 2026
In this OR/MS Today article, Louis Luangkesorn discusses the American Red Cross’s ongoing development of doctrine, procedures, and predictive tools for Advance Operational Planning (AOP), which helps anticipate emergency shelter and material resources before complete disaster data is available.
Because developing these models requires extensive resources, the Red Cross established strategic partnerships with academic institutions, including student capstone groups from Carnegie Mellon University (Heinz College) and long-term researchers from Virginia Tech. Dr. Luangkesorn outlines how these collaborations align academic incentives with operational Red Cross needs using accessible cloud platforms, enabling disaster planners to leverage advanced analytics in real-time response environments.