Negotiation-Based Capacity Planning With A Learning Mechanism Using Adaptive Neurofuzzy Inference System

In decentralized manufacturing environment with multiple factories that are scattered geographically, the complexity of production systems increases, and capacity planning and allocation of resources have become a significant concern that affects system performances. This study focuses on the development of an integrated framework to allocate limited budget in a multiple-factory environment. We develop a negotiation framework with learning mechanism to allocate autonomously finite budget provided by a headquarter and to facilitate the use of limited manufacturing resources that are scattered over individual factories. The outcome of the experiments shows good prediction of the opponent offers during negotiation, so it enables the reduction of negotiation time

A Tri-level Model of Centralized Transmission and Decentralized Generation Expansion Planning for an Electricity Market: Part I

We develop a tri-level model of transmission and generation expansion planning in a deregulated power market environment. Due to long planning/construction lead times and concerns for network reliability, transmission expansion is considered in the top level as a centralized decision. In the second level, multiple decentralized GENCOs make their own capacity expansion decisions while anticipating a wholesale electricity market equilibrium in the third level. The collection of bi-level games in the lower two levels forms an equilibrium problem with equilibrium constraints (EPEC) that can be approached by either the diagonalization method (DM) or a complementarity problem (CP) reformulation. We propose a hybrid iterative solution algorithm that combines a CP reformulation of the tri-level problem and DM solutions of the EPEC sub-problem

The use of geographical applications for micro-planning school locations : the @SCHOOL app for preschools in Ghent, Belgium

Parallel with the increased use of internet technology, more and more data becomes freely accessible\ However, most of this data is only available in its raw form and centrally managed and thus not legible or applicable for non-professionals. Especially for primary needs such as health care or education, the availability of relevant information for inhabitants is crucial in improving their quality of life. Because education is one of the focal points in regional as well as in local policy, a dataset containing detailed information about school locations and characteristics was compiled on the regional level Flanders. However, this data is centrally owned and not made accessible for the public by a user-friendly tool. Therefore, a geographical application was developed, aimed at improving inhabitants' access to information concerning preschool locations in Ghent (Belgium). The combination of two open source programs (Google Docs and ESRI ArcGIS Online) makes it possible to centrally update the tool and make it available for all internet users in real-time. In the first phase, local authorities as well as civilians are able to request all relevant information (i.e. school name, school address, capacity, Google street view) about the selected nursery school in Ghent by implementing this user-friendly and open source tool. Furthermore, the tool can be used to determine which preschool is closest to a specific address. In the next phase, the dataset used in the application will be extended to contain information concerning all primary schools of the Flemish community. Today, the application is used by different local authorities as a tool for policy support and is available to inhabitants in Ghent in the process of enrolment ('Central Application Register' or CAR). The convenient and intuitive interface makes the tool inclusive for poorly-educated parents or internet illiterates

The Impact of Complexity, Rate of Change and Information Availability on the Production Planning and Control Structure

The organizational theory literature argues that the more uncertain the environment, the more likely the firm’s operational decision structure is decentralized. However, it remains unclear which uncertainty dimensions (i.e. complexity, rate of change and lack of information) impacts the production planning and control structure the most given today’s turbulent manufacturing environments. Based on 206 responses from medium sized Dutch discrete parts manufacturing firms, this study retests the impact of these uncertainty dimensions. This study indicates that each dimension of uncertainty affects the production planning and control structure in a different way. In general, complexity, rate of change and lack of information result in a decentralization of the operational planning and control decision structure, but at the same time a centralization of the customer-order processing decision structure.empirical research method;production planning and control structure;structural equations model;uncertainty

Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan

Climate change is affecting water supply, water management and the health of communities in U.S. cities. Changes in the timing, frequency and intensity of precipitation are placing stress on the built and natural systems that provide fresh water, manage storm water, and treat wastewater. Droughts are shrinking the water supply; heavy rainfall overburdens storm water systems, causing flooding in homes and neighborhoods. Low-income people and communities of color are often the most vulnerable to climate change, living in low-lying areas and lacking the resources to adapt and cope with challenges associated with these patterns.The cumulative impact of climate change on water resources not only leads to a reduction in water quality and the destruction of homes and property, but it can also be a threat to public health, force relocation of communities and cause economic harm.The vision of Kresge's Environment Program is to help communities build resilience in the face of climate change. We believe that cities are central to action on climate change and equity must be a fundamental part of our work in climate adaptation, climate mitigation and building social cohesion

Efficient ICT for efficient smart grids

In this extended abstract the need for efficient and reliable ICT is discussed. Efficiency of ICT not only deals with energy-efficient ICT hardware, but also deals with efficient algorithms, efficient design methods, efficient networking infrastructures, etc. Efficient and reliable ICT is a prerequisite for efficient Smart Grids. Unfortunately, efficiency and reliability have not always received the proper attention in the ICT domain in the past