Analytics Now

Letter from the President

2021-02-21T18:31:04-08:00

Operations Research deals with the application of advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions through Mathematics, Statistics, and Computing Science. This is the sixth journal made by Simon Fraser University’s Operations Research undergraduate members and it helps highlight some applications of Operations Research on local and relevant problems.

Preface

2021-02-20T17:46:14-08:00

A Model for Supply Allocation in the City of Vancouver to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

2021-02-20T17:54:55-08:00

This paper aims to outline a supply plan that outfits 25 support hubs in the City of Vancouver with essential food and water supplies in the event of a natural disaster. We propose a model that takes as input the population, population distribution, percentage of the population that requires assistance, number of days to supply, number of cans and bottles per day, Costco weekly capacity constraints, cost of gas per kilometre for the chosen vehicle, and carrying capacity of the chosen vehicle. The model then proposes a supply plan that outfits the hubs with the necessary amount of supplies at the least cost in the least amount of time.

Optimization Model for Network Coverage of SFU Bennett Library

2021-02-21T21:07:35-08:00

In this paper, we consider the problem of optimal WiFi router location for the case of Simon Fraser University’s Bennett Library. We have made it our goal to implement a mathematical model that takes into consideration the level of demand for WIFI on every floor of the library and allocates routers on each respective floor appropriately. Every library floor will be split into 40 sections where each contains a standardized index score between 1 and 5, which represents the demand level of that section. Demand scores will be derived from the amount of space a section has for individuals to be stationary and connected to the WIFI. In order to quantify this value for each section, we will count the number of chairs, tables, couches, and wall-plugs a section contains. Considering these demand scores for every floor, an appropriate allocation of routers can be made in an effort to maximize demand coverage. Moreover, users may set an upper or lower bound for the number of routers that are dispersed on a given floor. All intermediate steps, taken in the construction of this mathematical model, are further explained in the Model Construction section of this paper. Furthermore, our model has been only applied to floors 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 out of the seven existing floors of the library since floors 1 and 7 do not have adequate study spaces. Our results have been subjected to a certain upper-bound of commercial-grade routers, and the allocation of these routers followed a fairly common pattern through all of the floors. All routers were allocated to demand concentrated sections in order to ensure that coverage is maximized. Further insight and information are provided in the Results section of this paper.

Coordinating Primary Care Operating Hours to Reduce Acute Care Visits

2021-02-21T21:27:10-08:00

A challenge primary care providers face in administering care to their local populations to reduce acute care visits for low-complexity issues. The goal of this study is to understand how the operating hours of two clinics, A and B, affect hospital use and to optimize those hours to reduce acute care visits.

Burnaby Mountain Gondola Study

2021-02-21T21:44:16-08:00

Every winter, Vancouver is faced with heavy snowfall which has been resulting in transit de- lays, university closures, missed work and classes. This has especially impacted the students of Simon Fraser University (SFU). Due to its location on the mountain, it receives heavier snowfall compared to the rest of the city. For almost a decade now, TransLink has been trying to address this issue in order to avoid halting normal operations of the university during the snow. A TransLink study conducted in 2011 suggested a 120 million dollar gondola transit line to be built which would connect the mountain to the city when transit is not operational during the snow.

Finding coronavirus-resistant stock portfolios

2021-02-21T21:51:16-08:00

There are more than two million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. In addition to the global health crisis, COVID-19 is causing unprecedented economic destruction as countries take measures to prevent new cases. Over 20 million people are unemployed in the United States alone. The International Monetary Fund forecast for 2020 predicts a 3% decrease in global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the number of goods and services the world makes. Goldman Sachs projects a United States GDP drop of 29% in the first half of 2020. The S&P 500 Index, which tracks the 500 most valuable companies in the United States, lost 34% of its value from the all-time high of February 19 to the recent bottom of March 23. Stock markets around the world lost over 16 trillion US dollars.

Optimizing Course Scheduling for the Operations Research Undergraduate Program at Simon Fraser University

2021-02-21T22:54:18-08:00

Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Department of Mathematics offers an Operations Research (OR) program at the undergraduate level. Multiple 300 and 400 level courses are offered very scarcely, making course planning very tedious. The goal of the model is to create a comprehensive course planner for the program.

Vancouver School Optimization

2021-02-21T23:25:15-08:00

Vancouver has undergone extreme population growth in the last 20 years. Many city services have struggled to keep up with this increase in demand. The Vancouver school system is a prime example of this struggle. Many of the existing schools are showing clear signs of ageing and were not built with today’s needs in mind. This is particularly apparent in the higher density, and typically lower-income, areas of the city. The number of students per classroom has increased, especially in these areas. Larger class sizes have been linked to decreased academic performance, which is further compounded among economically disadvantaged students. Structural changes to the Vancouver school system must be made in order to provide all students with the same standard of education.