NETWORK OPTIMISATION MODELS WITH APPLICATIONS: [First Edition] Part 4 of © KiUkA Books © [OR/MS] Series

by Venant R.N. Mutabihirwa

Consider the problems involving highway connecting two cities is to be constructed such that it interconnects and economically benefits a given number of villages between the two cities. Given the distances between the villages and the cities, the interconnection of the villages and the cities by the highway is to be such that the overall distance covered is minimised.The preparation of lunch on Wednesdays by students living together involve the tasks preparation of the stove [PS], cooking of ‘papa’ [CP], cooking of stew [CS], dishing and taking lunch [TL] and washing of dishes [WD]. They have determined that tasks CP and PS cannot start until task PS is complete while task TL can only start when tasks CP and CS are complete. Given the time duration of the tasks, they would like to schedule the tasks in such a way that the overall time taken in preparing and taking their lunch is minimised.The solutions to such problems [referred to as network optimisation problems] are profoundly catered for through network optimisation models and techniques [epistemologically referred to as Network Analysis]; discussed in this part 4 of the © KiUkA Books © [Operations Research] Series.

The approach used to the development of the subject matter in the book focuses on Operations Research modelling rather than mathematical-graph-theory approach to network optimisation models, with four distinct features in the approach. First the epistemological formation of Network Analysis as a sub-discipline of Operations Research has been explicitly introduced and emphasised throughout the book. Second a clear distinction is made between for example a network [as a graph-theory tool in network optimisation] and the network optimisation problem represented by the network. Third emphasis has been made in differentiating the network optimisation models from the network optimisation problems solved through the respective models. Fourth data and decision making are underscored as the underpinnings of the application of the models in solving the optimisation problems.

As in other books in the series the presentation format in the series is optimised for costs minimisation. And the writing style is deliberately chosen to make the book virtually lecture Network Analysis to the reader. Further the following the eBook version, the versatile Kindle-Create bookmarks for easy topics/tables/figures reference.The paragraphs are numbered and itemised (the lawyers’ style) for easy cross reference of concepts throughout the book; thereby eliminating the need for hyperlinks (whose use in this case would not be optimal).The subject matter exposition is in such a way that the reader enjoys the knowledge and its applications without fear of numbers, mathematical formulae and figures. After all Operations Research techniques deal with facts and not numbers nor figures!The main topics covered are as
1: FOUNDATION CONCEPTS IN NETWORK ANALYSIS
1.1: EPISTEMOLOGICAL FORMATION OF NETWORK OPTIMISATION
1.2: NETWORKS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
1.3: NEOPAMETS AND NETWORK OPTIMISATION PROBLEMS
2: PROJECT-MANAGEMENT OPTIMISATION FRAMEWORKS I
2.1: ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND PROJECTS
2.2: CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS (CPA) FRAMEWORKS
2.3: LINEAR OPTIMISATION MODELS FOR PROJECTS
3: PROJECT-MANAGEMENT OPTIMISATION FRAMEWORKS II
3.1: ACTIVITY COSTS AND PROJECT CRASHING
3.2: PROJECT EVALUATION AND REVIEW TECHNIQUES (PERT) FRAMEWORKS
3.3: LINEAR OPTIMISATION MODELS FOR PROJECT CRASHING
4: OPTIMAL-INTERCONNECTIONS OPTIMISATION FRAMEWORKS
4.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2023