Planning Methodology Research Articles

Incorporating local uncertainty management into distribution system planning: An adaptive robust optimization approach

As the penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) significantly increases, their inherent uncertainty has brought about a paradigm shift in distribution system planning and operation. The existing planning methodologies usually consider the uncertainty during the investment and day-ahead stages while neglecting the interactive power fluctuations during the intraday stage, resulting in planning schemes with a risk of inadequate regional stability. In light of this, this paper proposes a novel adaptive robust distribution system planning approach that integrates local uncertainty management (LUM) to provide a comprehensive and refined consideration of uncertainty. First, we introduce the concept of LUM that can effectively address the deviations between predicted and actual power of RES and load. Second, we propose the adaptive robust planning model for the distribution system, in which the investment and day-ahead operation are considered in the first stage, while LUM is considered in the second stage to maintain the local stability of interactive power. The proposed model can actively manage uncertainties of RES and load demand, reaching the optimal balance between the investment cost, operational cost, and LUM cost. Finally, by employing the column-and-constraint generation (C&CG), the adaptive robust planning model is decoupled into a master min problem and a slaver max-min problem, after which the max-min problem is converted into a single mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem through the strong duality theory and big-M method. The effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated using a real-world distribution system located in Fujian Province, China. The simulation results indicate that the proposed model achieves a quantitative decrease of approximately 10% in total cost compared to deterministic planning. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to reveal the trade-off between economic cost and robustness level.

Domain Engineering to Represent Human Behavior Using Multi-Agent Planning and Inductive Methodologies

This research combines multi agent planning, the psycholinguistics of question asking, procedural grounded theory, and hierarchical task networks to represent domains for automated planning.

Navigating Uncertainties in the Built Environment: Reevaluating Antifragile Planning in the Anthropocene through a Posthumanist Lens

Within the vast landscape of the Built Environment, where challenges of uncertainty abound, this paper ventures into a detailed exploration of antifragile planning. Antifragility, a concept rooted in the capacity of systems to not only withstand but also thrive in the face of volatility, stands as a beacon of resilience amidst the uncertainties of the Anthropocene. The paper offers a systematic examination of antifragile planning, specifically by concentrating on uncertainty as one of its key theoretical tenets and by exploring the implications of these principles within the context of the Anthropocene. After offering a systematic and comprehensive review of the literature, the analysis delves into several important themes in antifragile planning, including the recognition of limited predictive reliability, critiques of conventional responses to shocks such as urban resilience and smart cities, and the strategic elimination of potential fragilizers through a unique planning methodology. Furthermore, the paper discusses three key arguments challenging the efficacy of antifragility: the systemic approach, the classification of responses to perturbations, and the validity of adaptivity and optionality theses. Specifically, the gaps identified in the antifragile planning methodology reveal its shortcomings in addressing the complexity of cities, its failure to recognize the variety of responses to shocks and perturbations, and its neglect of broader urban relationalities, especially in relation to climate-induced uncertainty. Thus, it is asserted that antifragility remains urbocentric. For these reasons, the paper contends that rectifying the gaps detected in antifragility is necessary to address the uncertainty of the Anthropocene. By aligning largely with emerging posthumanist planning strategies, the paper emphasizes the significance of adopting a proactive approach that goes beyond merely suppressing natural events. This approach involves fostering urban intelligence, contextualizing urban materialities within broader planetary dynamics, and embracing exploratory design strategies that prioritize both the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of planning.

Bridging Perspectives: Exploring the Convergence of Clinimetrics and Network Theory in Mental Health Assessment and Conceptualization.

Background: Clinimetrics and network analysis are two methodological approaches that, despite different origins, share the goal of improving mental health clinical assessment beyond the limitations of classical psychometrics. Despite their common goal and comparable conceptualization of clinical assessment, the potential connection and integration between these approaches has not been explored. The aim of this review is to identify meeting points for the potential integration of clinimetrics and network theory. Methods: A literature review was conducted by examining key works in clinimetrics and network theory and comparing similar concepts from the two approaches. Results: Two main areas of theoretical and methodological convergence and complementarity between clinimetrics and network theory were identified, as follows: the characteristics of clinical indexes and the strategies to assess and organize complex clinical data. These topics encompassed sub-topics related to the influence of individual symptoms on clinical presentation, longitudinal assessment of conditions, influence of comorbidities, and standardized procedures for case formulation. Conclusions: Results provide an indication of the potential for integration for these approaches in a single, clinically oriented methodology for psychological and psychiatric illness conceptualization and assessment. Despite the literature search strategy limitations, the results provide a basis for further exploring the potential for developing an integrated methodology for clinical assessment and treatment planning.

In search of better methods for the longitudinal assessment of tech-derived X-risks: How five leading scenario planning efforts can help

This mixed methods article discusses the role of scenario analysis as a tool to assess the broadest possible specter of positive and negative effects of technologies and social processes within current existential risk assessment and research. To do so, it compares and contrasts case studies of five ongoing, longitudinal scenario planning efforts of global nature– the Shell scenarios, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the CSIS Seven Revolutions Scenarios, The Millennium Project's State of The Future, and the NIC's Global Trends 2040, to derive lessons for whether and how the adjacent existential risk (X-risk) and tech assessment communities can better deploy scenario planning methodology. Observations are derived from interviews with practitioners involved in these efforts as well as an assessment of the publicly available material issued by each project, including the scenarios produced. The emphasis is on the methodologies used, the timelines considered, the forces each identifies as important scenario drivers, and the process of engagement once scenarios are created. Three practices identified include (1) constructing narratives based on strong data, (2) sticking to plausible scenarios (not wild cards), and (3) designing a process of engagement, which each of these does well albeit in different ways. The article concludes with a few brief recommendations for future scenario planning efforts, particularly relevant for x-risk studies that aim to be relevant for tech assessment and governance. Overall, this review shows global scenario efforts aimed at influencing governance would benefit from (a) a more uniformly shared vocabulary, (b) an underlying theory of cascading systemic change, (c) deeper methodological transparency, (d) increased transdisciplinary perspectives, yet (e) maintaining scientific rigor. These improvements would particularly benefit emerging tech-risk derived X-risk scenario efforts where the stakes are the highest they could be, safeguarding humanity's future.

Implementation of an Interdepartmental Model of Complex Rehabilitation in the Perm Region in a Specialized Centre

BACKGROUND: Contemporary Russian system of complex rehabilitation and habilitation of disabled people is in the process of transformation. Application of the biopsychosocial approach through the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a planning methodology Implementation and evaluation of rehabilitation measures make it possible to implement the key principles of rehabilitation: earlier, comprehensiveness, continuity, individual approach.
 AIM: To substantiate the possibility of implementing a modern regional interdepartmental model of integrated rehabilitation in a specialized centre, taking into account the structure of disability and the formation of new target rehabilitation groups.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of the dynamics of primary disability of the adult population, description of the structural and functional model of the creation and operation of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation center in conditions of interdepartmental cooperation.
 RESULTS: The structure of primary and secondary disability in the Perm Region is characterized by the predominance of persons with disabilities of groups 1 and 2 (60%) of working age, whose disability is caused in 30% of cases by malignant neoplasms. This determines the content of individual rehabilitation and habilitation programs to be developed for persons with disabilities and should be reflected in the development of appropriate infrastructure in the region. Modernization of the whole system, involving the use of targeted rehabilitation groups, ensuring continuity of medical and social activities in the relevant organizations and creating conditions for their continuation in the place of residence, should contribute to the effectiveness of rehabilitation activities in general.
 CONCLUSION: Recommendations on improvement of the system of complex rehabilitation in the conditions of a specialized center on the basis of interdepartmental cooperation have been proposed as a result of the research.

Assessment of Coastal Cultural Ecosystem Services and Well-Being for Integrating Stakeholder Values into Coastal Planning

Coastal areas provide ecosystem services (ES), including a wide range of cultural ecosystem services (CES). This study aims to operationalize the ES approach for integrated assessment and mapping of coastal CES through the case of the eastern Baltic Sea coast in Latvia. It explores an interdisciplinary approach to enhance coastal planning, leveraging the strengths of plural disciplines to ensure a more holistic representation of coastal CES. A set of methods and techniques from landscape ecology (e.g., landscape characterization, quality assessment, biophysical mapping) and social sciences (participatory GIS, stakeholder engagement events, nationwide survey) are developed and tested, particularly demonstrating links and correlations between landscape character and CES values and well-being dimensions. The results illuminate the main perceived well-being benefits that people gain from the coastal areas, highlighting the different perspectives of stakeholders. Finally, the integrated assessment results helped to construct proposals for sustainable tourism development in the area. The outcomes of the study are intended to assist planners and decision-makers in evaluating the potential for development and trade-offs in coastal regions. This research contributes to the advancement of coastal spatial planning methodologies, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and ES assessment for informed decision-making.

A novel methodology for vision-based path planning and obstacle avoidance in mobile robot applications

ABSTRACT The availability of overhead views of the environments around mobile robots always present useful information provided that these views are correctly perceived. In this paper, a novel approach for vision-based path planning and obstacle avoidance for mobile robots is presented. The approach uses visual perception integrated with a proposed field-based path-planning algorithm to overcome some common path-planning issues such as local minima, problematic destinations, and following long paths around obstacles. An exponential angle field is generated around each obstacle that deviates from the robot’s orientation as it directs towards the destination. Obstacle field is activated or deactivated based on a proposed collision prediction algorithm. To satisfy robot convergence to the goal point, the obstacle field parameters are determined using the Lyapunov stability criterion. The method also proposes a search algorithm for proper exit in the case of robot and/or goal point trapping. Both simulation and experiments are used in validating the algorithm. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in converging towards target points, avoiding collision with stationary obstacles and overcoming famous path-planning problems.

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL MODEL OF EXPORT IN THE CONTEXT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF ENTERPRISES

The article deals with the development and implementation of a financial model of exports in the context of strategic planning of foreign economic activity of enterprises. The model described in this paper aims to measure, analyse, evaluate and propose improvements to administrative processes by identifying various variables involved in strategic foreign trade planning. This paper is a survey that is being developed for export activities in Ukraine. Exports in Ukraine were analysed to test the methodology and to build an additive model.The model empirically shows the links that exist between the internal functions of a company and its ability to generate performance management indicators and business dynamics as a way to improve processes in strategic foreign trade planning. Some relevant findings from the first two stages of the empirical research conducted to date are presented. Validation has proven that the use of the methodology of strategic planning of foreign economic activity allows you to compensate for investments in new resources by increasing the number of operations carried out eliminating delays and attracting new customers as a result of improving the client's perception of the quality of service. During the audit, it was possible to determine that the delays created in the activities of support systems increase their negative impact on the process, consuming the slack of many actions of the central system and delaying their implementation, negatively affecting foreign economic activity. The model will be useful for enterprises engaged in foreign trade.

Methodology, application and platform for urban security planning and management

With the acceleration of economic development and urban construction, urban security accidents have occurred around the world with alarming frequency, causing serious casualties and economic losses. Urban security planning and management as emerging areas of research have drawn widespread attention. For city development plans, urban security planning and management have become one of major topics. This paper first outlines the principles of urban security planning and management, combined with the construction of a digital and intelligent platform for urban emergency management. This research then analyzes the core technology and equipment support system of urban security management and its practical application. It also presents a new model based on urban security planning and management, followed by examples of its application in some mega infrastructure development for security planning and design (for example, Singapore Changi Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Transportation Hub). Additionally, a blast protection concept of urban security planning and management is provided.

PARADIGM OF FRACTALITY OF URBAN SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CRISIS SITUATIONS

The methodology of spatial development of cities and urbanized territories over a certain historical time has objective reasons to change and it changes. Under the influence of challenges of geopolitical, demographic, social, economic, ecological content, which acquire the characteristics of crisis situations, formulation of new content of spatial planning methodology is carried out. Such processes of formulating the content of the new methodology took place at the beginning of the 20th century under the influence of the industrial revolution, such processes are taking place at the present time, in the era of the post-industrial economy and the digital transformation of society (the fourth industrial revolution). A characteristic feature of the modern situation is the lack of incremental nature of changes, they have acquired the features of non-linear processes, which in turn requires an exponential organization of research in urbanism. In turn, urban planning documentation must be adaptive to these changes. The content of fractal urbanism is revealed on the example of an urban cluster.

Computational Modelling for Optimization of Thermosonicated Sohshang (Elaeagnus latifolia) Fruit Juice Using Artificial Neural Networks

The study involved subjecting sohshang (Elaeagnus latifolia) juice (SJ) to thermosonications (TS), a process integrating ultrasound and heat, with a range of independent variables. Specifically, three explored distinct amplitudes (30%, 40%, and 50%) alongside three temperature settings (30°C, 40°C, and 50°C) and four treatment durations (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes) were used in the experiment. A variety of quality parameters were analyzed such as antioxidant activity (AOA), ascorbic acid (AA), total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), yeast and mold count (YMC), and total viable count (TVC). Thermosonicated sohshang juices (TSSJ) successfully achieved highest content of AA (69.15±0.99 mg/100 ml), AOA (72.93±1.62%), TPC (122.03±4.23 mg GAE/ml), and TFC (116.14±3.29 mg QE)/ml) under ideal circumstances. Also, minimal TVC and YMC in these juices have been observed. The best results for AA and TFC were observed at 40°C with 40% and 50% amplitude over processing times of 45 and 60 min. To optimize the extraction processes with various objectives, artificial neural network (ANN) was established with an original experimental planning methodology. Overall, the investigation demonstrated that TS is an effective method to enhance the nutritional and microbiological qualities of sohshang fruit juice. The use of ANN in the optimization process is particularly valuable in achieving desirable outcomes. As the food and pharmaceutical industries seek natural and bioactive substances, TSSJ holds great potential for various applications.

A Review Article on Analysis and Design of Water Distribution Network for Jabalpur Cantonment Board Area

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) stands as a transformative initiative aimed at ensuring accessible and potable water supply to every rural household across India. This review article delves into assessing the comprehensive impact of the JJM on rural water supply systems, with a primary focus on evaluating its assessment methodologies, distribution network designs, and analytical aspects.The assessment section scrutinizes the strategies employed under the JJM for gauging the water needs of rural communities. It examines the mission's effectiveness in identifying and addressing the diverse and dynamic requirements of different regions, considering factors such as population density, topography, and water quality.Furthermore, the design of the distribution network within the JJM framework is critically analyzed. This includes an exploration of the planning, engineering, and implementation methodologies used to establish robust and efficient water supply networks in rural areas. The article delves into the technological innovations, if any, adopted for optimizing water distribution, storage, and management.

Energy Planning Methodologies

This paper considers the need for organizations to obtain an energy planning and exposes three methods to do so. Energy planning is part of a process of energy efficiency important for organizations to become more competitive. Even the recent standardization of energy management leads brazilian institutions to develop processes and methods for energy efficiency. There is still a gap being presented in the literature and the needs of these institutions. Although energy planning is only part of the energy management system, this text provides a compilation of information for the initial development of a methodology for the organization energy planning.

Indonesia Islamic Bank Development: An Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM)

This research is aim to identify the priority factors that being barrier to develop Islamic bank in Indonesia using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method. Here is also offered some solutions for the problems identified. ISM is an advanced planning methodology used to identify, analyze and summarize various relationship among factors that define a problem, model or issue. The development of Islamic bank in Indonesia with ISM framework is divided into three criteria: (1) Strategy or foundation required within the framework of developing Islamic banks, and (2) Stakeholders or actors involved in the development of Islamic banks in Indonesia. Result show that the core strategies or foundations that’s needed in framework of Islamic banking development in Indonesia are: The improvement of public literation and preference, Strengthening and align ruling and supervision, Strengthening policy synergy between the stakeholders and Improvement quality and quantity of human resources, information system & technology and other infrastructures.

Pilot Implementation of a Nutrition-Focused Community-Health-Worker Intervention among Formerly Chronically Homeless Adults in Permanent Supportive Housing.

Food insecurity is a known health equity threat for formerly chronically homeless populations even after they transition into permanent housing. This project utilized a human-centered design methodology to plan and implement a nutrition-focused community-health-worker (CHW) intervention in permanent supportive housing (PSH). The project aimed to increase access to healthy foods, improve nutritional literacy, healthy cooking/eating practices, and build community/social connectedness among 140 PSH residents. Validated food-security screening conducted by CHWs identified low or very low food security among 64% of 83 residents who completed the baseline survey, which is similar to rates found in a previous study among formerly homeless populations placed in PSH. Major themes identified through an analysis of resident feedback include (1) lack of needed kitchenware/appliances for food preparation, (2) knowledge gaps on how to purchase and prepare healthier food, (3) positive perceptions of healthy food options, (4) expanded preferences for healthy, easy-to-prepare foods, (5) regaining cooking skills lost during homelessness, (6) positive experiences participating in group activities, (7) community re-entry, and (8) resident ownership. Preliminary findings suggest the use of a human-centered design methodology for planning and implementing this multi-level CHW intervention helped reduce food insecurity, engaged participants in learning and adopting healthy and safe cooking and eating practices, and fostered social connectedness and feelings of community among formerly chronically homeless PSH residents.

Enhancing dosimetric practices through knowledge-based predictive models: a case study on VMAT prostate irradiation.

Acquisition of dosimetric knowledge by radiation therapy planners is a protracted and complex process. This study delves into the impact of empirical predictive models based on the knowledge-based planning (KBP) methodology, aimed at detecting suboptimal results and homogenizing and improving existing practices for prostate cancer. Moreover, the dosimetric effect of implementing these models into routine clinical practice was also assessed. Based on the KBP method, we analyzed 25 prostate treatment plans performed using VMAT by expert operators, aiming to correlate dose indicators with patient geometry. The , and of the peritoneal cavity and the and of the rectum and bladder were linked to geometric characteristics such as the distance from the planning target volume (PTV) to the organs at risk (OAR), the volume of the OAR, or the overlap between the PTV and the OAR. In the second phase, the KBP was used in routine clinical practice in a prospective cohort of 25 patients and compared with the 41 patient plans calculated before implementing the tool. Using linear regression, we identified strong geometric predictive factors for the peritoneal cavity, rectum, and bladder (> 0.8), with an average prescribed dose of 97.8%, covering 95% of the target volume. The use of the model led to a significant dose reduction for all evaluated OARs. This trend was most notable for . Significant reductions were also obtained in average doses to the rectum and bladder, and respectively. Based on this model, we reduced the number of plans with OAR constraints above the clinical recommendations from 19% to 8%. The KBP methodology established a robust and personalized predictive model for dose estimation to organs at risk in prostate cancer. Implementing the model resulted in improved sparing of these organs. Notably, it yields a solid foundation for harmonizing dosimetric practices, alerting us to suboptimal results, and improving our knowledge.

Aggregate production planning and energy supply management in steel industry with an onsite energy generation system: A multi-objective robust optimization model

This paper introduces an optimization model developed for the steel industry, the most energy-intensive industrial sector in many countries. New methodologies for both aggregate production planning and energy supply management are developed to maximize profit while minimizing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, uncertainties are considered, and robustly optimized strategies are identified for a grid-connected steel production company with an onsite energy generation system. The performance of the developed model is evaluated through extensive computational experiments. The results show how energy tariffs affect integrated production planning. Also, the selected production planning time depends on several factors such as electricity, labor, and maintenance costs, and pending orders that need to be fulfilled. The onsite power plant produces electricity when the electricity production cost is lower than the price of electricity provided by the connected grid. Furthermore, the company’s environmental policies influence the choice of energy generation technology. However, implementing an onsite energy generation is a viable policy that benefits both profitability and pollutant reduction. This study helps decision-making in production planning and energy supply management in the iron and steel industry (which can be applied to other industries too), ensuring environmental improvement at the lowest costs.

Regulatory Implications for considering flexible resources in network expansion planning: main lessons from regional cases in the H2020 FlexPlan project.

The FlexPlan Horizon2020 project aimed at establishing a new grid planning methodology which considers the opportunity to introduce new storage and flexibility resources in electricity transmission and distribution grids as an alternative to building new grid elements, in accordance with the intentions of the European Commission regulatory package "Clean Energy for all Europeans". FlexPlan creates a new innovative grid planning tool which is intended to go beyond the state of the art of planning methodologies by including the following innovative features: assessment of best planning strategy by analysing in one shot a high number of candidate expansion options provided by a pre-processor tool, simultaneous mid- and long-term planning assessment over three grid years (2030-2040-2050), incorporation of full range of cost benefit analysis criteria into the target function, integrated transmission distribution planning, embedded environmental analysis (air quality, carbon footprint, landscape constraints), probabilistic contingency methodologies in replacement of the traditional N-1 criterion, application of numerical decomposition techniques to reduce calculation efforts and analysis of variability of yearly RES and load time series through a Monte Carlo process. Six regional cases covering nearly the whole European continent are developed in order to cast a view on grid planning in Europe till 2050. The final step in FlexPlan was formulating guidelines for regulators and planning offices of system operators, by indicating to what extent system flexibility can contribute to reduce overall system costs (operational and investment) yet maintaining current system security levels and which regulatory provisions could foster such process. This paper focuses on the regulatory issues, which were uncovered during the initiation phase and of the project and refined in throughout six regional cases. In order to substantiate this, the paper explains in brief the developed and applied FlexPlan methodology and its testing in six regional cases.

Planning rolling stock operation in international communications with modern requirements to cargo transportation technology

Introduction. The relevance of the research carried out is justified by the need to plan performance indicators of rolling stock in the context of changes in the technology of cargo transportation in international traffic when implementing the Draft Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. An obligatory element in the technology of cargo transportation is the re-coupling of a semi-trailer or reloading of cargo. In practice, there are additional costs for the transportation of goods due to the significant waiting time for interchange due to the deviation of the time of arrival of rolling stock transporting goods in international traffic to the interchange point in accordance with the contract from the planned time of arrival at the interchange point. Today, there is no methodology for planning the operation of rolling stock of road transport in international traffic that takes into account modern requirements for the technology of cargo transportation in terms of eliminating waiting time at the point of transfer or reloading of cargo. The purpose of this article is to develop an algorithm for a planning methodology based on the mathematical model of the functioning of rolling stock in international traffic, created for the first time by the authors, taking into account modern requirements for cargo transportation technology.Materials and methods. To achieve the purpose of the study, the scientific foundations of current planning of the work of a motor transport enterprise are applied. The development of a mathematical model for the functioning of rolling stock in international traffic was carried out on the basis of the criterion - minimum transportation costs, taking into account the duration of technological operations, including waiting time at the point of transfer or reloading of cargo. The systematic nature of the study lies in the fact that the properties of cargo transportation are manifested in relation to rolling stock and depend not only on the properties of the cargo, but also on transportation technology, the time of completion of the transport process, which are established in the contract and affect the performance of the rolling stock.Results. The use of planning methodology for the practice of functioning of rolling stock in international traffic, taking into account modern requirements for cargo transportation technology, was carried out using the example of transporting a disassembled hydraulic vulcanization press. Software and mathematics have been developed to calculate costs.Conclusions. A methodology for planning the functioning of rolling stock in international traffic has been developed, taking into account modern requirements for the technology of cargo transportation based on the created mathematical model, using regulatory requirements for the transportation of goods in international traffic and promising theoretical studies. Practical implementation is presented using the example of a DAF XF 480 FT truck tractor with a Kogel S24-1 semi-trailer.