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Decision support system model to evaluate performance of elevators in hospitals and alleviate overcrowding in the elevators is presented.

An exhibit at the San Francisco Exploratorium is used to discuss problem solving and illustrate optimization. The solution is discussed in detail. (MNS)

The traditional star plot has been a longstanding means of presenting multivariate data. Its early-days use can be traced back to "star symbol plot" of automobile data for large rays to represent favorable characteristics. Another pioneering use in clinical data is a graphical way of summarizing patient's evolving responses. Since the early 1970s and with the coined name of Kiviat plot or graph, wide-spread use in visualizing computer and program performance has become industrial standard among software engineers. It is ever more so in the modern advance of computer graphics, transformed into popular evaluation tools such as 2/3-D Kiviat graph and 3-D Kiviat tube. Its importance amidst forward technological strides remains largely in its ease of visualization, qualitatively on the basis of the shape of a star plot. In recent years we have staged a series of studies, by focusing of its analysis and topology, resulting in usefulness in the following extensions. First, a (canonical) star plot topology for high-dimensional data visualization is applied to data records of, specifically, multi-attribute dichotomies. Our project on data analysis of on-line auction markets provides such generic sample usage for dimensions identified in constructing a multi-attribute dichotomy to help discern relative empirical advantages to buyers and sellers. The second stage, of data and optimization modeling aspects, bases on the deeper observation that the areas of the plot for the two parts of a dichotomy may be used quantitatively as an aggregate measure of their relative dominance. An optimization GP model is developed to determine a topology ? the geometry and the arrangement of dimensions ? that maximizes the resolution of this measure with respect to a given set of reference dichotomies. The outcome of this modeling phase is what we call an MRT (or Maximum Resolution Topology), that in the sense of maximally discriminating its dichotomy of a set of multi-attribute data records, it is an overall best representation (accompanied by an "optimized" visualization). The third stage is the coding of MRT construction integrated into a spreadsheetstyle decision support system (MRT-DSS). Its ease of use has been promising and robust for diverse applications. Samples of these will conclude the paper as illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Star Plot approach to high-dimensional data visualization is applied to multi-attribute dichotomies. It is observed that the areas of the plot for the two parts of a dichotomy may be used as an aggregate measure of their relative dominance. An optimization model is developed to determine a topology (or weighted configuration of the attributes) that maximizes the resolution of this measure with respect to a given set of reference dichotomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a model for the generation of daily work duties of airside crew (being bus drivers) at the Hong Kong International Airport. The results can be adopted as a good crew schedule, in the sense that it is both feasible, satisfying requirements of various work conditions, and "optimal' in minimizing overtime shifts. It is formulated as a goal programme, specifically designed to cater for the manpower planning issues to handle frequent changes of flight schedules by flexibility in work patterns of driver duties. Illustrative results from an actual case study are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]