MULTICRITERIA OPTIMISATION METHODS IN LOGISTICS ON THE EXAMPLE OF WAREHOUSE LOCATION

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to present the warehouse location as one of the key decision problems in logistics, a critical analysis of the centre of gravity method (commonly known and widely used) and to propose the more advanced methods to support the decision process in this area described in the contemporary publications on operational research, such as: AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), Simos’ method and entropy method.Methodology: The above purpose was realised by analysing the literature both from the logistics area, especially from one of its areas of activity which is warehousing and from operational research on the use of methods to support the warehouse location decision-making processes was made.Findings: The article outlines the warehouse location as one of the key decision problems in the area of logistics. It presents centre of gravity approach described in the literature of logistics and shows its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, because the warehouse location is multicriteria decision problem, the more advanced methods from the area of operational research were suggested, such as: AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), Simos’ method and entropy method.Implications: The methods proposed in the article allow to take many criteria into consideration in the warehouse location process and also make it more objective

PROXIMITY BASED MEETING DIAL-IN

A solution is provided that leverages a digital proximity-based mechanism to determine that a meeting is taking place and then to automatically trigger a notification (with a close group of colleagues) so that others may also join the meeting remotely

VISUAL FIDUCIALS FOR PRIVACY AND SECURITY

It can be difficult and time-consuming to maintain personal security and privacy while participating on-line video experiences. Many modifications can be provided post-production but this is unrealistic in the real-time world in which video/camera systems are often utilized. Presented herein is a technique for using a Quick Response (QR) code or other similar encoding mechanism within the field of view of a video/camera solution as a means to provide real-time/in-stream configuration of privacy and security zones. The encoding mechanism would contain all information necessary to define these zones. Once detected within the field of view, these zones would remain in effect until actively disabled

BREAKOUT DIALOG ANALYSIS FOR WEB CONFERENCING APPLICATIONS

Video conferencing applications typically only allow one person to talk at a time. This is perfect for meetings that are presentations, but may not be acceptable for virtual social events (e.g., happy hours ) or brainstorming type meetings where, in the physical world, people naturally break off to have smaller, more intimate meetings to discuss a specific topic. Recent advancements to video conferencing applications have enabled users to create sub-meetings where smaller discussions can take place within a greater meeting. However, these sub-meetings restrict users to only seeing and hearing the participants within that sub-meeting without any context of the other discussions occurring at the same time. Techniques herein may provide for displaying a list of the top words being used in different sub-meetings, which can help users to determine the topics being discussed and decide which sub-meeting they may desire to join

Experimental temperature profiles in timber elements subjected to fire conditions

Safe use of wood for modern structural applications requires a precise definition of the in-depth evolution of temperatures and degradation rates (mass loss rates). A series of experiments have been carried out with the main aim of developing a dependable procedure to obtain well characterized temperature distributions and mass loss rates in wood specimens subjected to radiant energy within magnitudes typical of fires. The measurements have been then compared against the results of a simplified numerical model of the pyrolysis process. The results show a good agreement between the model and the experiments for the initial heating stages. However, the agreement becomes poorer at longer exposure times and increased depths from the exposed surface

Koniunkcja logistyki i optymalizacji

This article attempts to answer the question about the relationship between logistics and optimization. The considerations are focused on definitional issues, historical development of these two concepts and their application in modern business practice. It also identifies areas of neglect in logistic practice and common areas for optimization and logistics, proving that expansion of these areas of the conjunction can contribute to the improvement of logistic applications in practice.Niniejszy artykuł jest próbą odpowiedzi na pytanie o wzajemne relacje między logistyką a optymalizacją. Rozważania koncentrują się wokół zagadnień definicyjnych, aspektów historycznych tych dwu koncepcji oraz ich zastosowania we współczesnej praktyce gospodarczej. Wskazano również na obszary zaniedbań w działaniach logistycznych oraz obszary wspólne dla optymalizacji i logistyki, dowodząc, że powiększanie tych obszarów może przyczynić się do usprawniania stosowania koncepcji logistycznych w praktyce

In-Depth Temperature Profiles in Pyrolyzing Wood

The move towards performance-based design of the fire resistance of structures requires more accurate design methods. An important variable in the fire performance of timber structures is the in-depth temperature distribution, as wood is weakened by an increase of temperature, caused by exposure to high heat fluxes. A proper prediction of temperature profiles in wood structural elements has become an essential part of timber structural design. Current design methods use empirically determined equations for the temperature distribution but these assume constant charring rates, do not account for changes in the heating conditions, and were obtained under poorly defined boundary conditions in fire resistance furnaces. As part of this research project, a series of experimental in-depth temperature measurements were done in wood samples exposed to various intensities of radiant heat fluxes, with clearly defined boundary conditions that allow a proper input for pyrolysis models. The imposed heat fluxes range from 10 kW/cm^2, which generates an almost inert behaviour, to 60 kW/cm^2, where spontaneous flaming is almost immediately observed. Mass loss measurements for all the imposed heat fluxes were also performed. The second part of this project dealt with the modelling of the pyrolysis process, with an emphasis placed on temperature prediction. The main objective was to identify the simplest model that can accurately predict temperature distributions in wood elements exposed to fires. For this, an analysis of the different terms which have been included by several models in the energy equation has been done, by quantifying its magnitude. Five models with different degrees of simplification have been developed. Comparison with the experimental data has shown that a simple and accurate model of temperature profiles must include the rise in the solid sensible heat, the heat transferred by conduction, the heat of moisture evaporation, the heat of pyrolysis reaction and the effect of char oxidation

On the morphological investigation of Pt dispersion and structure of alumina-platinum composites obtained by thermal oxidation of Al-Pt nano thin layers

This article presents the methodology for the Pt/Al and Pt/Al nanolaminates production as well as Pt + Al composites using two magnetrons by preparing the oxide-metal composites through high temperature oxidation of nanofilms deposited by PVD method on a metal substrate. In this article, we described the nanostructures obtained as a result of PVD technology. The applied layers were oxidized at a temperature of 860°C under Ar + O2 for 48 hours. SEM surface analysis of the obtained nanolaminates showed that the base of the oxidized laminates was covered with a fine wafer and whisker structure with an anisotropic growth orientation. Oxidation of composite layers provided the growth of chaotically oriented and mutually penetrable whiskers and small crystals. Analysis of nanolayers by the TEM technique indicated that the growth of oxide crystals leads to the dissipation of Pt particles. The comparison of oxide layers obtained with the Pt/Al system with oxide layers obtained with Pt + Al composite nanofilms indicates that those obtained through the oxidation of nanofilms shows a greater surface development. This is due to the partial covering of Pt particles through the Al layer, which causes a very strong fragmentation of the Pt nanofilms occurring during oxidation. During the oxidation in the entire volume of nanofilms, strong stresses are created that cause numerous nano-cracks, which promotes the expansion of the surface and its high activity