OR Trends and Their Impact on Emerging Technologies
John Birge
(Biography)
Northwestern University
ID: P1
, last change v23
,
Tues
12:00-13:00
, place:HS
Abstract: As we enter the 21st century, technology is advancing at an ever increasing rate. OR has a tremendous opportunity to take part in these advances in many of the most critical technology areas. This talk will focus on those technologies, their challenges, and the value that OR may bring to them. Specific areas will include information technology, biotechnology and health services, networked resources, direct manufacturing, and nanotechnology.
Restructuring in the Gas and Electricity Industries: from Optimisation to Equilibrium Modelling
Yves Smeers
(Biography)
Universite Catholique de Louvain
ID: P2
, last change v23
,
Tues
17:00-17:55
, place:HS
Abstract: The electricity and gas industries are being restructured throughout the world. This does not necessarily ensure intense competition but it certainly changes the environment in which utilities have been operating. This evolution offers new challenges to the application of Operational Research to these sectors. While the optimisation paradigm has been the dominant one in models developed in the traditional regulated industry, market mechanisms need to be taken more and more into account in the new competitive environment. Equilibrium is a key concept developed by economists to explore situations of competition and market structure. Equilibrium is amenable to Operational Research techniques. The talk discusses how the notion of equilibrium can be invoked to transform standard models of the regulated gas and electricity industries into new models aimed at exploring issues of market structure and risk management.
Decision Making Under Uncertainty: Is Sensitivity Analysis of Any Use?
Stein Wallace
(Biography)
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
ID: P3
, last change v23
,
Wed
11:30-12:25
, place:HS
Abstract: In almost all textbooks on operational research and mathematical programming, sensitivity analysis is recommended for analyzing the stability and quality of solutions if the data used in a deterministic model are in fact uncertain. This talk demonstrates why this approach is without basis in theory, and illustrates why the analysis can be arbitrarily bad.
On Doing Well by Doing Good
Gene Woolsey
(Biography)
Colorado School of Mines
ID: P4
, last change v23
,
Wed
16:00-17:00
, place:HS
Abstract: This paper outlines the applied Operations Research Program at the Colorado School of Mines as of June 1999. Now in its twenty-ninth year of operation, the program boasts over 300 graduates scattered all over the world. The program focuses first and foremost on real-world application. All students are required to complete one or more real-world Pro Bono Publico projects in either the public or private sector. Those students who, before or after graduation, have done projects that save in excess of $1,000,000 in one calendar year are awarded a diamond stickpin. At present the students and ex-students in this program have generated verified savings to the public and private sector in excess of $267,614,918.00. Further, we have a placement rate, within six months of graduation, in excess of 98% over twenty-nine years. This talk will tell you how we did it, show you the verification generated, and how you could also.
Transport for a Green future.
David Begg
(Biography)
Robert Gordon University
ID: P5
, last change v24
,
Thur
10:00-10:45
, place:HS
Extra Equipment: 35mm projector
Abstract: The way in which we move people and goods has a major impact on the type of ciry and society we live in. Too much land is devolved to "movement space" and is utilised very inefficiently with an average car occupancy of only 1.2 in our cities. This leave less land for "exchange space". In Los Angeles 80% of space is devoted to movement. Planning and Pricing policies have a significant bearing on demand for travel transport and determining model split. Edinburgh has with the exception of London the lowest percentage of trips to work by car of any UK city, yet is not a P.T.E. area, has no Light Rapid Transit and only 2% journeys to work by rail. It is however, one of the most densly populated cities in the UK, with less urban sprawl and is built on a number of urban villages where accessibility is very good. This demonstrates that planning decisions are even more important that Public Transport provision in determining modal split and sustainability.
Some personal reflections on the legacy of an OR background
David Quarmby
(Biography)
Tourist Authority
ID: P6
, last change v23
,
Thur
(Session 3)
15:15-16:00
, place:M1
Abstract: In this plenary session, David Quarmby reflects on how an analytically and OR- trained mind has helped - and hindered - a long and varied career in general management. He places his experiences in organisations large and small, public and private, alongside the dramatic changes in corporate Britain over the last 25 years - marketisation, privatisation, globalisation, IT-isation and a few other -isations - and offers some tentative conclusions about whether and how you can really make a difference!
© 1999 McKinnon/Archibald/Grothey Edinburgh University. (v26t, html_genr v27, cgi v6) email: Organisers
