The multimode covering location problem

The problem is challenging and intrinsically much harder than its basic version. Nevertheless, it admits a constant factor approximation guarantee, which can be achieved combining two greedy algorithms. To improve the greedy solutions, we have developed a Variable Neighborhood Search approach, based on an exponential-size neighborhood. This algorithm computes good quality solutions in short computational time. The viability of the approach here proposed is also corroborated by a comparison with a Heuristic Concentration algorithm, which is presently the most effective approach to solve large instances of the Maximal Covering Location Problem.