Planning Approach Research Articles

Surgical planning in HTO – alternative approaches to the Fujisawa gold-standard

Background Presurgical planning of the correction angle plays a decisive role in a high tibial osteotomy, affecting the loading situation in the knee affected by osteoarthritis. The planning approach by Fujisawa et al. aims to adjust the weight-bearing line to achieve an optimal knee joint load distribution. While this method is accessible, it may not fully consider the complexity of individual dynamic knee-loading profiles. This review aims to disclose existing alternative HTO planning methods that do not follow Fujisawa's standard. Methods PubMed, Web of Science and CENTRAL databases were screened, focusing on HTO research in combination with alternative planning approaches. Results Eight out of 828 studies were included, with seven simulation studies based on finite element analysis and multi-body dynamics. The planning approaches incorporated gradual degrees of realignment parameters (weight-bearing line shift, medial proximal tibial angle, hip-knee-ankle, knee joint line orientation), simulating their effect on knee kinematics, contact force/stress, Von Mises and shear stress. Two studies proposed implementing individual correction magnitudes derived from preoperatively predicted knee adduction moments. Conclusion Most planning methods depend on static alignment assessments, neglecting an adequate loading-depending profile. They are confined to their conceptual phases, making the associated planning methods unviable for current clinical use.

EXODONTIA DE TERCEIROS MOLARES INFERIORES: DESAFIOS E COMPLEXIDADES CIRÚRGICAS

Third molar extraction is one of the procedures within the dental clinic that causes people the most fear, despite being performed frequently. The incidence of complications can still be considered high. The anatomical position of these dental elements is one of the main reasons for complications during their removal, due to the proximity of important anatomical structures. Therefore, the use of radiographic examinations to evaluate the positioning of third molars is essential so that it is possible to visualize ways to conduct the surgery safely. The aim of this work is to review, according to the bibliographic literature, the risks of complications during extraction of lower 3rd molars. For this, a search was carried out in the literature, in the following databases: Pubmed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scielo and Google Scholar, using the descriptors: “Nonerupted tooth”, “Third Molar” and “Oral Surgery ”. The established inclusion criteria include articles that address the defined theme and that are available for full reading, in Portuguese and English, published in the last 10 years. The exclusion criteria were articles that deviate from the proposed topic, repeated articles and incomplete research. The present work is expected to acquire information to better perform surgeries on third molars according to their clinical condition, presenting ideal approaches for diagnosis and surgical planning and emphasizing the care necessary to avoid surgical complications. Keywords: Tooth Unerupted. Third Molar. Oral Surgery.

Teachers learning: understanding continuous professional development in Panama

ABSTRACT Many references to coaching, feedback and reflection, collaboration, and monitoring can be found as an essential component of effective teacher continuing professional development (CPD) in various contexts (Desimone 2009, Avalos 2011, Orr et al. 2012, Psychoyos 2012, Kourany 2017, Darling-Hammond et al. 2017, De León 2017); however, the results of surveys, interviews, and documentary research conducted in 2020 and 2021 suggest that these characteristics seldom appear to be part of the existing CPD in Panama. We analysed interview transcripts using inductive and deductive manual coding methods. The study highlights Panamanian teachers’ desire for innovative CPD focused on pedagogical approaches and subject-specific techniques tailored to regional educational needs and with a school-driven planning approach. Teachers reported barriers to CPD access, including travel difficulties and technology limitations, while expressing interest in international exchanges and financial support for advanced education. They sought engaging training sessions that encourage active learning, provide opportunities for reflection, and demonstrate best practices, emphasising the need for instructors with expertise relevant to the Panamanian context. The results of this study informed public policy recommendations that included the development of an independent apolitical institute that would provide oversight of teacher CPD and well-being in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Safe motion planning and formation control of quadruped robots

This paper introduces a motion planning and cooperative formation control approach for quadruped robots and multi-agent systems. First, in order to improve the efficiency and safety of quadruped robots navigating in complex environments, this paper proposes a new planning method that combines the dynamic model of quadruped robots and a gradient-optimized obstacle avoidance strategy without Euclidean Signed Distance Field. The framework is suitable for both static and slow dynamic obstacle environments, aiming to achieve multiple goals of obstacle avoidance, minimizing energy consumption, reducing impact, satisfying dynamic constraints, and ensuring trajectory smoothness. This approach differs in that it reduces energy consumption throughout the movement from a new perspective. Meanwhile, this method effectively reduces the impact of the ground on the robot, thus mitigating the damage to its structure. Second, we combine the dynamic control barrier function and the virtual leader-follower model to achieve efficient and safe formation control through model predictive control. Finally, the proposed algorithm is validated through both simulations and real-world scenarios testing.

Quantification of Nearshore Sandbar Seasonal Evolution Based on Drone Pseudo-Bathymetry Time-Lapse Data

Nearshore sandbars are dynamic features that characterize shallow morphobathymetry and vary over a wide range of geometries and temporal lifespans. Nearshore sandbars influence beach geometry by altering the energy of incoming waves; thus, monitoring the evolution of sandbars is a fundamental approach in effective coastal planning. Due to several natural and technical limitations related to shallow seafloor mapping, there is a significant gap in the availability of high-resolution, shallow bathymetric data for monitoring the dynamic behaviour of nearshore sandbars effectively. This study introduces a novel image-processing technique that produces time series of pseudo-bathymetric data by utilizing multi-temporal (monthly) drone imagery, and it provides an assessment of local morphodynamics at a sandy beach in the southeast Mediterranean. The technique is called standardized-ratio bathymetric index (SRBI), and it transforms natural-colour drone imagery to pseudo-bathymetric data by applying an empirical formula used for satellite-derived bathymetry. This technique correlates well with laser altimetry depth measurements; however, it does not require in situ depth data for implementation. The resulting pseudo-bathymetric data allows for extracting cross-shore profiles and delineating the sandbar crest with 4 m horizontal accuracy. Stacking of temporal profiles allowed for the quantification of the sandbar’s crest and trough changes at different alongshore sections. The main findings suggest that the nearshore crescentic sandbar at Episkopi Beach (north Crete) shows strong seasonality regarding net offshore migration that is promoted by enhanced wave action during winter months. In addition, the crescentic sandbar is susceptible to morphology arrestment during prolonged weeks of low wave action. The average migration rate during winter is 10 m.month−1, with some sections exhibiting a maximum of 60 m.month−1. This study (a) offers a novel remote-sensing approach, suitable for nearshore seafloor monitoring with low computational complexity, (b) reveals sandbar geometry and temporal change in superior detail compared to other observational methods, and (c) advances knowledge about nearshore sandbar monitoring in the Mediterranean region.

Using IT in Area Suitability Modeling To Plan Urban Areas: Case of Kabul City, Afghanistan

The goal of this work was to determine the optimal locations for urban growth in Kabul city using an integrated GIS-AHP model and Land Suitability Analysis (LSA). The study’s findings demonstrated that GIS-AHP is a useful approach for urban planning and ecological management. Maps were normalized using the pairwise comparison matrix technique using the generated criteria. Each model’s weights were created by comparing them according to their relative importance. Weight Age Average (OWA) and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) were used to combine criteria weights and maps. To assess if a piece of land is suitable for urban development to determine which area was suitable for urban development, six thematic layers—slope, road, land use, river, settlement, and elevation—were used. AHP calculated their weighted scores based on the pairwise comparison. The linear combination approach was used to multiply each factor’s weight and score, and the outcome was then multiplied to make the urban development appropriate. 45.3 square kilometers of land were deemed highly suitable, 191.77 square kilometers were deemed fairly acceptable, 72.14 square kilometers were deemed marginally suitable, and 0.79 square kilometers were deemed unsuitable.

Utilizing Extractive Transportation Infrastructures for Subsistence Livelihoods: Experience of Evenki Communities in Eastern Siberia

The availability of natural resources drives the exploration and transformation of remote regions in the Arctic and beyond. Extractive infrastructure is one of the major sources of industrial development and environmental impact on landscapes. For Indigenous people, these landscapes are homely environments full of sentient beings, and for other local communities, they provide a wide variety of subsistence and hunting resources. While extractive infrastructure violence is the evident issue for many Indigenous communities, there are more complicated situations where extractive infrastructure is adopted and utilized for the subsistence and support of other human and more-than-human relations in local and Indigenous communities. Based on materials from interviews and observations with Evenki communities in Eastern Siberia in 2013–2021, the authors discuss the complex relations and sustainability issues entangled around infrastructure objects’ creation, use, maintenance, and transformations. The results demonstrate a wide variety of relations between obshchinas (non-governmental organizations of Indigenous peoples) and extractive companies constructed with infrastructure development of the latter. The paper discusses the shortcomings of the top-down approach in infrastructure planning and the need for contextualization and meaningful engagement with affected communities, some examples of which have already taken place in specific locales. The study concludes by calling for the support of environmentally and socially just infrastructure defined by Indigenous people and local communities as a way to increase sustainability.

Dynamic treatment units in forest planning improves economic performance over stand-based planning

AbstractHigh-resolution, wall-to-wall forest information enables precision-driven decision-making in forest management planning. In a case study we compare planning approaches using such information for solving long-term forest planning problems. The two first approaches are based on dynamic treatment unit (DTU) planning with high-resolution cells (12.5 × 12.5 m2) or segments (0.27 ha on average), respectively, solved with a cellular automata heuristics. The third approach is a traditional stand-based approach using stands (5.2 ha on average) and linear programming to solve the planning problem. Fixed costs associated with cutting operations are quantified as each treatment unit is charged with an entry cost of 10 000 SEK. The entry costs are included in the DTU approach while in the stand approach entry costs are applied accordingly in a post-optimization routine. In large, the analyses are based on open-access tools and data provided by Swedish authorities. The traditional stand approach produced plans with 5.2–2.7% lower net present value compared to DTU planning. Most of the differences were caused by greater suboptimal losses in plans produced with the stand approach, but entry costs were also lower in DTU plans. While forestry was less profitable, treatment units were more spatially compact with stands, especially compared to cell-based plans. Therefore, we reason that a combination of modelling of direct costs and use of spatial proxy variables, such as common border length, may be advisable in DTU planning to achieve compact and realistic treatment units. Finally, the results indicate that high-resolution data and DTU planning may better utilize forests’ potential of economic production, compared to the traditional stand approach.

Does Higher Exposure to Green Spaces Lead to Higher Life Satisfaction and Less Leisure Travel? A Case Study of Reykjavík, Iceland

Urban areas have a significant impact on climate change, with transport and mobility as one major source. Furthermore, the impact of urban areas on transport extends beyond their own geographic areas, via leisure travel. Research has suggested several mechanisms through which urban areas drive leisure travel, such as social norms, compensation for what is lacking in the urban environment or for the hectic daily life, and cosmopolitan attitudes, all of which increase leisure travel for its expected wellbeing benefits. More research is needed, however, about how the daily exposure to the urban environment affects leisure travel activity and how perceived wellbeing is associated with this. Therefore, this study was set to examine data from a 2017 softGIS survey from Reykjavík, Iceland, to study the connections between urban environment, local mobility, leisure travel, and life satisfaction. The study employs activity spaces as a basis for exposure modeling and canonical correlation analysis for statistical analysis. The results reveal that although exposure to green and gray spaces is important to overall life satisfaction, underlying socio-economic background is more relevant. Further, higher exposure to gray spaces was found to be associated with more emissions from long-distance leisure travel when socio-economic background was included, but it lost importance when attitudinal factors were added. Furthermore, indications of high levels of urban mobility leading to more leisure travel away from the city were found. Although overarching policy recommendations cannot be made, the study suggests having a more citizen-oriented approach in urban planning, particularly for mobility, which could yield benefits for both wellbeing and climate mitigation outcomes.

Community-dwelling older people's experiences of advance care planning with health care professionals: a qualitative systematic review.

The objective of this review is to examine community-dwelling older people's experiences of advance care planning with health care professionals. The importance of health care professionals initiating advance care planning for patients has been reported; however, because of the shift from institutionalized to community care, community-dwelling older people have fewer opportunities to discuss these plans with health care professionals compared with those living in other settings. The timely initiation of advance care planning and sustainable discussions among older people, their families, and community health care professionals is necessary and may improve palliative and end-of-life care. Studies with participants aged 60 years and older who have experience with advance care planning and live in their own homes in the community were included. We considered qualitative studies and the qualitative component of mixed methods studies published between January 1999 and April 2023 in English or Japanese. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, JSTORE, Scopus, Japan Medical Abstract Society, and CiNii were searched for published papers, and Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and MedNar were searched for unpublished papers and gray literature. Study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis were conducted by 2 independent reviewers using the JBI approach and JBI standardized tools. Findings were pooled using a meta-aggregation approach. The synthesized findings were graded using the ConQual approach for establishing confidence in the output of qualitative research syntheses and presented in a Summary of Findings. Five studies published between 2017 and 2022 were included in the review. Each study's total score was between 6 and 8 out of 10 on the JBI critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research. We extracted 28 findings and aggregated them into 7 categories, generating 3 synthesized findings: i) A trusting relationship with health professionals is essential for older people's decision-making. Health professionals' attitudes, knowledge, and skills play a role in this, influencing the perceived quality of care; ii) Shared decision-making and patient-centered communication are essential. Older people feel ambiguity toward end-of-life decision and advance care planning and they want their wishes to be heard in any situation to maintain their autonomy and quality of life; iii) Older people need the appropriate forms and accessible and coordinated care to begin advance care planning. Qualitative studies on community-dwelling older people's experiences of advance care planning with health care professionals are scarce. The experiences have illustrated that trusting relationships influence people's perception of the quality of care they receive; there is uncertainty about their future; and they have varying feelings or attitudes toward their impending death, including denial and avoidance. This review highlighted the need for appropriate forms, and accessible and coordinated care to begin advance care planning; thus, an approach that meets the individual's health and psychosocial status should be selected carefully. Further research is recommended to include older populations from broader geographical and cultural backgrounds and to assess and evaluate the different advance care planning approaches and their implementation processes among groups of community-dwelling older people with different health and psychosocial statuses. PROSPERO CRD42020122803.

Geomorphic characterization by integrating automated approaches for sustainable land use planning in the earthquake-prone Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India

This study leverages two cutting-edge automated landform classification approaches—Topographic Position Index (LCTPI) and Geomorphon (LCGm)—to map and categorize landforms in Uttarakhand, a strategically vital region in the Himalayas frequently impacted by natural hazards. Situated at the subduction boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Uttarakhand's complex landscape demands innovative approaches for sustainable land use planning. Our analysis links classified landforms to critical factors such as slope, geology, soil types, land use land cover (LULC) patterns, fault density, and regional seismicity. Results reveal that high ridges, deep valleys (LCTPI), and slopes (LCGm), predominantly covered by trees and rangelands, are associated with lithosols and dystric cambisols soil types from the Precambrian period. In contrast, flat areas, shoulders, footslopes, U-shaped valleys, open slopes, and mild slope ridges, mainly used for agriculture and urban development, exhibit lower seismic activity. Notably, shallow earthquakes are more frequent in deep valleys and high ridges, which have low to moderate fault density and are majorly occupied by trees and rangelands. This research offers a robust framework for geomorphic characterization that can be adapted to other regions, despite the inherent limitations of automated studies, such as DEM resolution and neighbourhood cell size. Our approach supports sustainable land use planning, biodiversity preservation, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction, ultimately fostering resilient futures in the built environment. This study emphasizes the necessity of integrating geomorphic insights into the planning process to mitigate natural hazards and enhance environmental sustainability in the Himalayan region by providing actionable insights for land use planners and policymakers.

An Essential Infinitebook for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Preoperative Planning.

Over the past decade, plastic and reconstructive procedures have notably increased, driven by greater accessibility and aesthetic preferences. Despite surgeons' efforts, patient satisfaction faces challenges due to unrealistic expectations rooted in inadequate knowledge. Preoperative consultations present an opportune moment to address this issue. This study introduces a new approach for preoperative planning: the Infinitebook. Designed to enhance patients' understanding and satisfaction, it facilitates real-time procedure explanations and helps manage expectations. The Infinitebook, a versatile A5-sized notebook-like resource, aids surgeons in illustrating procedures such as abdominoplasty, liposuction, and breast reconstruction, enhancing patient understanding through real-time interaction, personalized illustrations, and sustainable practices, facilitating improved communication in plastic and reconstructive surgery. A cross-sectional study compared 2 groups: 1 using the Infinitebook-assisted explanation approach and another without. A questionnaire evaluated its impact on patients' procedural understanding level and satisfaction with the preoperative consultation. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. Participants (n = 46) were systematically sampled and categorized by demographics. Two groups (n = 23 each) received preoperative consultations with and without the Infinitebook. Perceptions on aspects of preoperative consultations were assessed. The Infinitebook received positive feedback, with all participants (100%) recommending it. This article introduces the Infinitebook, an environmentally friendly tool enhancing preoperative preparation, patient comprehension, and satisfaction in plastic and reconstructive surgery. It offers a customizable solution with potential for global implementation, with scope for further research. This study lays groundwork for future advancements in preoperative consultations and planning, promoting person-centered healthcare, and integrating new technologies.

Accessory extensor pollicis longus as a rare radial-sided tendon anomaly: a case report

Accessory extensor pollicis longus tendons are rare tendon anomalies. This report describes the case of a 54-year-old man who presented with pain and difficulty extending his thumb. Upon initial examination, despite a history of trauma, he could extend the interphalangeal joint, but with limited range. During the surgical exploration, an accessory extensor pollicis longus tendon was unexpectedly discovered. This tendon ran parallel to the extensor pollicis longus on the radial side and then attached to the distal phalanx of the thumb. Accessory extensor tendons are more commonly found on the ulnar side than on the radial side of the hand; therefore, this case is notable due to the unusual location of the tendon. After appropriate repair surgery, the patient successfully regained a normal range of motion. While previous classifications of extensor tendon anomalies have focused on the relationship between the extensor indicis proprius and extensor digitorum communis, this case suggests that it is also necessary to consider the relationship with the extensor pollicis brevis tendon. This case highlights the importance of recognizing tendon variations, especially in trauma situations. Detecting such variations preoperatively using imaging can significantly impact the treatment plan and surgical approach.

Fusion of improved RRT and ant colony optimization for robot path planning

Abstract To address the issues of poor guidance at the beginning of the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm, non-smooth paths, and its tendency to fall into local optima, this paper proposes a path planning approach based on the Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Firstly, obstacles are inflated to set a safety distance, and a differentiated pheromone distribution is created using the sub-optimal trajectory produced by the improved RRT, guiding the initial direction of the ant colony. Secondly, dynamic strategies are introduced into the evaporation coefficient and heuristic factor, adjusting their weights according to the number of iterations to enhance the attraction of the target point to the ants. Then, a reward-punishment mechanism is used to update the pheromone, solving the problem of local optima. Finally, a pruning optimization strategy based on the maximum turning angle is employed to remove redundant nodes, making the path smoother. Multiple simulation results confirm that the algorithm possesses good global search capabilities and robustness under various conditions.

Protocol for COACH, an evidence-based intervention for improved head impact safety in youth American football developed using a community-engaged approach.

Subconcussive, repetitive head impacts sustained in collision sports may negatively affect brain health. American football practices are controlled environments amenable to intervention. Engaging community members is essential for successful development, implementation, and sustainability of viable interventions. The objective of this study is to develop and pilot test an evidence-based intervention to reduce head impact exposure in youth American football (i.e., football), using a community-engaged approach. This manuscript describes the co-design of the intervention and associated implementation plan and the study protocol for evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of the intervention and implementation plan. In the first part of this study, focus groups with parents and coaches, and individual interviews with organizational leaders associated with two teams at the middle school level were conducted. An anonymous survey assessing beliefs and perceptions of non-concussive head impacts was given to parents, coaches, and organizational leaders within the local youth football league. Following the football season, qualitative and quantitative data describing determinants of head acceleration events in football were shared with 12 stakeholders of coaches, league and school administrators, parents, an athletic trainer, and local university player development director. Together, we co-designed COACH (COmmunities Aligned to reduce Concussion and Head impact exposure) and implementation plan using a strategic planning approach. The preliminary effectiveness and feasibility were assessed in the second part of this study. Youth football players participating on the teams in year 1 (control teams) were fitted with mouthpiece-based head kinematic sensors which measure head acceleration events (HAEs). HAEs were collected and quantified during team activities. Preliminary effectiveness of the intervention to reduce HAEs was measured among two new teams pilot testing COACH with mouthpiece-based sensors, while simultaneously monitoring implementation of the intervention. We report our study design and evaluation, and opportunities and challenges with our approach. The results will inform a future full-scale pragmatic trial to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the intervention program. NCT04908930.

Recovery for Resilience: Exploring the Disconnect Between Collaborative Planning and Project Implementation in Post-Hurricane Sandy New York City

Collaborative and participatory planning processes that are interactive, thoughtful, and efficient have become increasingly important elements of post-disaster recovery. Meanwhile, rapid action remains critically important to quickly restore destroyed urban systems, but creating long-term resilience demands new ideas that are also implementable. These various tensions create a daunting paradox, and while many communities have attempted to use collaborative planning approaches in recovery, useful assessments and guidance on collaborative recovery planning is sparse. To better understand the nuances of a collaborative recovery, we document and evaluate the effectiveness of the collaborative processes behind the planning of the ESCR resilience project, initiated as BIG U in New York City, which emphasizes community participation and collaborative decision-making. The project is unique because of its innovative and interactive multi-stakeholder processes. The authors have studied the case longitudinally over the past decade, using a variety of research methods to gather relevant information. The ESCR collaborative efforts suggest that, first, there is a disconnect in the dominant rationalities behind climate resilience efforts between the planning and implementation phases. Second, given the disconnect between the planning and implementation phases, collaborative efforts must be refined to remain relevant in the implementation phase. Third, even after project implementation, there are different types of rationality employed, and thus varying levels of satisfaction, depending on the benefits that participants receive. While planners must recognize the disconnect between collaborative planning and project implementation and seek ways to mitigate any abrupt shifts, we conclude that collaborative approaches to recovery planning can be effective and manageable, even in unique recovery situations.

An effective path planning approach for robot welding considering redundant kinematics

Robot welding with redundant kinematics demands precise coordination of the welding path and redundant axis motion for stable operation. This paper introduces an effective G3 continuous path planning approach for a 6-DOF friction stir welding robot, integrating redundant axis motion to enhance welding stability and quality. The method encompasses a two-pronged strategy: a five-axis path corner smoothing technique and a motion synchronization strategy. Initially, a robust toolpath preprocessing algorithm is presented to mitigate curvature extremities of the inserted smoothing curves within predefined error limits. Subsequently, leveraging G3 continuity criteria, a B-spline-based smoothing method is advanced for refining tool position and orientation paths, with an analytical determination of spline control points facilitated by an explicit smoothing error expression. An effective motion synchronization technique is then proposed, which formulates the tool position, tool orientation, and redundant axis path as explicit functions of the position path arc length. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulations and experiments on a robot welding platform, with the integration of a jerk-continuous feedrate profile for smooth motion execution. The findings indicate a significant improvement in robotic welding quality by integrating the proposed path planning method with existing workpiece posture optimization techniques.

Unsupervised Active Visual Search With Monte Carlo Planning Under Uncertain Detections.

We propose a solution for Active Visual Search of objects in an environment, whose 2D floor map is the only known information. Our solution has three key features that make it more plausible and robust to detector failures compared to state-of-the-art methods: i) it is unsupervised as it does not need any training sessions. ii) During the exploration, a probability distribution on the 2D floor map is updated according to an intuitive mechanism, while an improved belief update increases the effectiveness of the agent's exploration. iii) We incorporate the awareness that an object detector may fail into the aforementioned probability modelling by exploiting the success statistics of a specific detector. Our solution is dubbed POMP-BE-PD (Pomcp-based Online Motion Planning with Belief by Exploration and Probabilistic Detection). It uses the current pose of an agent and an RGB-D observation to learn an optimal search policy, exploiting a POMDP solved by a Monte-Carlo planning approach. On the Active Vision Dataset Benchmark, we increase the average success rate over all the environments by a significant 35 % while decreasing the average path length by 4 % with respect to competing methods. Thus, our results are state-of-the-art, even without any training procedure.

Adaptive demand planning models: Utilizing reinforcement learning to address contingencies and dynamic market conditions in supply chains

There are remarkable opportunities in supply chain management associated with using the reinforcement learning (RL) approach in demand planning. As opposed to numerous other techniques, such as modeling and forecasting and applying them over a certain period, RL allows for the making and adapting these decisions in real-time, depending on the current demand and other conditions in the market. Supplementary to this, RL-based models enable supply chains to constantly adapt to shifts since they directly update knowledge from incoming data, making them less susceptible to economic shocks or other supply uncertainties. This flexibility is particularly important for contemporary supply chains in uncertain global environments where conventional, deterministic demand planning techniques cannot address changing needs. In this research, we discover how RL-based models could reduce demand volatility and react to contingencies. As such, it is best suited for industries that are required to respond flexibly and faster. This paper enlightens RL on the benefits of demand planning. It provides live examples that give insight into how it may be used to improve inventory, reduce cost, and improve decision-making. Regarding the specific research questions, this study helps investigate the methodologies, evaluation metrics, and case outcomes that shape RL's potential for changing demand planning and improving supply chain adaptability for future research on adaptive supply chain management.

Assessing the role of participatory planning approach in enhancing informal settlements upgrading in low income regions

Assessing the role of participatory planning approach in enhancing informal settlements upgrading in low income regions