scholarly journals Water–Energy–Food Nexus Simulation: An Optimization Approach for Resource Security

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Wicaksono ◽  
Gimoon Jeong ◽  
Doosun Kang
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Sustainable Resource Management ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Optimal Resource

The water–energy–food nexus (WEF nexus) concept is a novel approach to manage limited resources. Since 2011, a number of studies were conducted to develop computer simulation models quantifying the interlinkage among water, energy, and food sectors. Advancing a nationwide WEF nexus simulation model (WEFSiM) previously developed by the authors, this study proposes an optimization module (WEFSiM-opt) to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions concerning sustainable resource management. Both single- and multi-objective optimization modules were developed to maximize the user reliability index (URI) for water, energy, and food sectors by optimizing the priority index and water allocation decisions. In this study, the developed models were implemented in Korea to determine optimal resource allocation and management decisions under a plausible drought scenario. This study suggests that the optimization approach can advance WEF nexus simulation and provide better solutions for managing limited resources. It is anticipated that the proposed WEFSiM-opt can be utilized as a decision support tool for designing resource management plans.

scholarly journals Impact of a Computer-Based Diagnostic Decision Support Tool on the Differential Diagnoses of Medicine Residents

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell J. Feldman ◽  
Edward P. Hoffer ◽  
G. Octo Barnett ◽  
Richard J. Kim ◽  
Kathleen T. Famiglietti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Differential Diagnoses ◽  
First Year ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Diagnostic Decision ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Medical Diagnostic ◽  
Computer Based

Abstract Background Computer-based medical diagnostic decision support systems have been used for decades, initially as stand-alone applications. More recent versions have been tested for their effectiveness in enhancing the diagnostic ability of clinicians. Objective To determine if viewing a rank-ordered list of diagnostic possibilities from a medical diagnostic decision support system improves residents' differential diagnoses or management plans. Method Twenty first-year internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital viewed 3 deidentified case descriptions of real patients. All residents completed a web-based questionnaire, entering the differential diagnosis and management plan before and after seeing the diagnostic decision support system's suggested list of diseases. In all 3 exercises, the actual case diagnosis was first on the system's list. Each resident served as his or her own control (pretest/posttest). Results For all 3 cases, a substantial percentage of residents changed their primary considered diagnosis after reviewing the system's suggested diagnoses, and a number of residents who had not initially listed a “further action” (laboratory test, imaging study, or referral) added or changed their management options after using the system. Many residents (20% to 65% depending on the case) improved their differential diagnosis from before to after viewing the system's suggestions. The average time to complete all 3 cases was 15.4 minutes. Most residents thought that viewing the medical diagnostic decision support system's list of suggestions was helpful. Conclusion Viewing a rank-ordered list of diagnostic possibilities from a diagnostic decision support tool had a significant beneficial effect on the quality of first-year medicine residents' differential diagnoses and management plans.

scholarly journals Site-Scale Integrated Decision Support Tool (i-DSTss) for Stormwater Management

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shojaeizadeh ◽  
Geza ◽  
McCray ◽  
Hogue
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Small Catchment ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
A Site

A site-scale integrated decision support tool (i-DSTss) is developed for selection and sizing of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). The tool has several component modules—hydrology, BMP selection, BMP sizing, and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA)—integrated into a single platform. The hydrology module predicts runoff from small catchment on event and continuous basis using the Green-Ampt and Curve Number methods. The module predicted runoff from a small residential area and a parking lot with R2 value of 0.77 and 0.74, respectively. The BMP selection module recommends a BMP type appropriate for a site based on economic, technical, social and environmental criteria using a multi-criteria optimization approach. The BMP sizing module includes sizing options for green roofs, infiltration-based BMPs, and storage-based BMPs. A mass balance approach is implemented for all types of BMPs. The tool predicted outflow rates from a permeable pavement with R2 value of 0.89. A cost module is included where capital, operation and maintenance, and rehabilitation costs are estimated based on BMP size obtained from the sizing module. The i-DSTss is built on an accessible platform (Microsoft Excel VBA) and can be operated with a basic skillset. The i-DSTss is intended for designers, regulators, and municipalities for quick analysis of scenarios involving interaction among several factors.

scholarly journals A simulation-based decision support tool for integrating site layout and construction planning of tunneling projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
SeyedReza RazaviAlavi ◽  
Simaan AbouRizk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Construction Planning ◽  
Construction Operations ◽  
Layout Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Site Layout ◽  
Boring Machines

Purpose Integrating construction and site layout planning in mechanized tunnel infrastructure projects is essential due to the mutual impacts of construction planning and site layout decisions. Simulation can incorporate site layout planning and construction planning of tunneling projects in a unified environment. However, simulation adoption by industry practitioners has remained relatively limited due to the special skills required for building and using simulation models. Therefore, this paper aims to create a simple-to-use simulation tool that supports site layout and construction operation planning of tunneling projects. This tool intends to promote the simulation application in site layout planning. Design/methodology/approach The current paper proposes simulation as a decision support tool (DST) to provide an integrated environment for modeling tunnel construction operations, site layout and capturing the mutual impacts. A special purpose simulation (SPS) tool was customized and developed for typical mechanized tunneling projects, by tunnel boring machines, to facilitate building the model and allow access to users with limited simulation knowledge. Findings The results show that the developed SPS tool is of great assistance to construction industry practitioners to analyze a variety of site layout and construction plan scenarios and make informed decisions based on its comprehensive and intuitive outputs. Originality/value The main contribution of this research is to promote simulation application in site layout planning of tunneling projects through the development of a simple-to-use tool, which has sufficient details for site layout planning and constraints. The developed DST enables planners to make decisions simultaneously on the site layout, other construction planning variables and identify the most efficient plan.

scholarly journals Integrated clinical decision support : assessing opportunities and outcomes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Timothy A. Green
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Inpatient Setting ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Novel Approach

Medical calculators play an important role as a component of specific clinical decision support (CDS) systems that synthesize measurable evidence and can introduce new medical guidelines and standards. Understanding the features of calculators is important for calculator adoption and clinical acceptance. Some medical calculators can fulfill the role of CDS for Meaningful Use purposes. However, there are barriers for clinicians to use medical calculators in practice. This research presents a novel classification system for medical calculators and explores clinician use and perceived usefulness of medical calculators. Additionally, we examine the effects of an EHR integrated decision support tool on management of pain in an inpatient setting. Metadata on 766 medical calculators implemented online were collected, analyzed, and categorized by their input types, method of presenting results, and advisory nature of those results. Reference rate, publication year, and availability of references were collected. We surveyed a population of resident and attending physicians at a medium-sized academic medical center to discover the prevalence of medical calculator use, how they were accessed, and what factors might influence their use, for example, EMR integration. We also conducted a retrospective evaluation of an EHR integrated CDS module focused on pain management, leveraging a novel approach to digital workflow evaluation within the EHR, focusing on patient-centric outcome measurements.

Substance Flow Analysis of Lead for Sustainable Resource Management and Pollution Control

2014 ◽  
Vol 878 ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Sheng Qu ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
Shui Wang ◽  
Wen Bo Wan ◽  
An Juan Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Pollution Prevention ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Substance Flow Analysis ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Sustainable Resource Management ◽  
Substance Flow

As the biggest producer and the second largest consumer of lead in the world, China is facing serious conflict between rapid economic development and environmental deterioration caused by lead pollution. Our analysis results show that lead poisoning accidents increased sharply since 2005, and there is growing concern that children remain at risk from lead exposure. Accordingly, sustainable resource management and pollution control of lead is of great significance. As the first step, substance flow analysis (abbreviated as SFA) models of lead flows in both economic subsystem and environmental subsystem are established by using top-down approach in this study. Then the situation of production, consumption and emission of lead resources can be revealed. This study provides the most detailed depiction of lead flows within a regional level, and it is essentially important for the future analysis and management of lead resource. Furthermore, environmental simulation models, risk assessment models, Crystalball software and GIS tool are proposed to be integrated on the same platform to recognize the pollution situation, corresponding population risk and major exposure pathways in the study region. This new perspective extends the traditional method of substance flow analysis of lead, not only important for the improvement of lead resource efficiency, but also supporting the pollution prevention policy making.

scholarly journals Simulation-Optimization Approach for Multi-Period Facility Location Problems with Forecasted and Random Demands in a Last-Mile Logistics Application

Algorithms ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Markus Rabe ◽  
Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu ◽  
Jorge Chicaiza-Vaca ◽  
Rafael D. Tordecilla
Keyword(s):  
Facility Location ◽  
Simulation Optimization ◽  
Facility Location Problem ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Flow Diagram ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Last Mile

The introduction of automated parcel locker (APL) systems is one possible approach to improve urban logistics (UL) activities. Based on the city of Dortmund as case study, we propose a simulation-optimization approach integrating a system dynamics simulation model (SDSM) with a multi-period capacitated facility location problem (CFLP). We propose this integrated model as a decision support tool for future APL implementations as a last-mile distribution scheme. First, we built a causal-loop and stock-flow diagram to show main components and interdependencies of the APL systems. Then, we formulated a multi-period CFLP model to determine the optimal number of APLs for each period. Finally, we used a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the costs and reliability level with random demands. We evaluate three e-shopper rate scenarios with the SDSM, and then analyze ten detailed demand configurations based on the results for the middle-size scenario with our CFLP model. After 36 months, the number of APLs increases from 99 to 165 with the growing demand, and stabilizes in all configurations from month 24. A middle-demand configuration, which has total costs of about 750,000€, already locates a suitable number of APLs. If the budget is lower, our approach offers alternatives for decision-makers.

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