What Is Operations Research Essay -- essays research papers

This is an Engineering Research Paper. What is operations research? Operations research is the application of the methods of science to complex problems arising in the direction and management of large systems of men, machines material, and money in industry, business, government and defense. The distinctive approach is to develop a scientific model of the system, incorporating measurements of factors such as chance and risk, with which to predict and compare the outcomes of alternative decisions, strategies or controls. The purpose is to help management determine its policy and actions scientifically. (Ravindran, Phillips and Solberg 1987). How does operations research apply to highway systems inefficiency? Let’s find out! â€Å"Automakers don’t build roads and governments don’t build autos, yet we expect cars and roads to mesh together seamlessly to form a transportation network.† For year’s automakers and regional transportation planners have been working to put information age technology to work solving traffic problems. All over the world people are choosing to travel by automobile because this flexible mode of travel best meets their needs. But grid locked expressways threaten to take the â€Å"mobile† out of â€Å"automobile.† This presentation will try to show reasons why our expressways are so congested, what the Federal Highway Administration proposals are to alleviate congestion and the advantages and disadvantages of these proposals under review. Firstly what are some of the causes of urban highway congestion? Rush hour traffic is one of the leading contributors of highway congestion. It isn’t our imagination. Every year commute times to work take longer and longer. Since 1986 car travel has increased almost 40%, while highway capacity has barley grown. As a result most major interstate routes in Metropolitan areas are jammed during rush hours. Grid locked cost Americans almost the equivalent of $51 billion a year in lost wages and wasted fuel. And the situation is only going to get worse. (Steisand, Betsy. 1996). What causes rush hour traffic? Simply put, at specific times of the day be it in the morning or evening motorists in general are either on their way to work or home. There is such a glut of vehicles on the expressways at this time. They all need to get to their destinations at peak times of the day. It is a simple equation: Too many cars incorp... ...napp. Crain’s Chicago Business. , v 22 no2 (Jan. 11 ’99) p. 13. (4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Moving forward smartly: The role of ITS in the NEXTEA† by: Jeff, Lindley. Public Roads. , Wntr 1997, v60 n3 p57(4). (5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Message in a bottleneck: It’s time to start charging rush hour commuters† by: Betsy, Steisand. U.S News and World Report; Dec 30 1996, v121, n26, p47(2). (6)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fighting road rage† by: William B. Cassidy. Traffic World,v. 251 (Aug. 11 ’97) p. 31. (7)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"For Florida a second chance† by: William C. Vantuono. Railway Age. , v. 196 (Apr. ’95) p. 59-60. (8)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Actual hands-off steering- and other wonders of the modern world† by: Bob, Bryant. Public Roads; Nov-Dec 1997, v61, n3, p32(6). (9)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"91 Express ways do not work well† by: Mackprang, Peter and Harry, Parker. American City and County. , v. 114 no12 (Oct. 1999)p. 6. (10)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Operational models and traffic control in intelligent vehicle systems† by; Zhang, L. Transportation Research PartA: Policy and Practice; (Jan 1997), v31, n1, p64.