While temporary medical facilities play a critical role in earthquake preparedness and immediate response, they remain underexplored in research on facility location problems. Addressing this gap, we present a decision support system (DSS) designed to assist local municipalities in positioning emergency treatment sites (ETS), which are temporary medical facilities set up near destruction zones to provide immediate care for minor injuries. These temporary sites aim to manage minor injuries (accounting for over 80% of casualties) and alleviate the burden on hospitals immediately after an earthquake.

The proposed DSS integrates a location network characterization with a hybrid simulation/optimization model to determine the number and optimal locations of ETSs. It delivers recommendations within seconds, making it suitable as both an emergency response and a preparedness planning tool. Key components of the DSS include a GIS-based database, a decision engine, and a user-friendly interface.

A preliminary feasibility study conducted with a local municipality demonstrated encouraging results. The mathematical model identified optimal locations for emergency treatment sites, while simulations validated these choices across various destruction scenarios. This collaboration not only strengthens the DSS’s practicality but also lays the groundwork for broader implementation as a scalable solution for improving earthquake response.