Operational Planning Research Articles

Considering economic-environmental dimension in the integrated strategic and tactical optimization of Ethiopia's bioethanol supply chain coupled with operational planning

The global supply chain has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its intricate nature and operational challenges. Companies face the crucial task of integrating various components to maintain competitiveness and enhance overall performance across the supply chain. Achieving this goal necessitates vertical integration to ensure coherence and coordination among decision-making processes at different temporal and spatial scales, bridging the gap between strategic, tactical, and operational decisions. This article proposes a mathematical model that integrates the three previous decisions within the supply chain context, aiming to maintain coherence while considering economic and environmental objectives (few papers cover this challenge). By addressing the complexities of multi-scale modeling and optimization, the model seeks to provide a holistic view of supply chain operations. The model focuses on the transport decisions at the operational level, resulting in the coupling between a strategic and tactical model and a vehicle routing problem. Nonetheless, achieving this integration effectively from a modeling and resolution point of view leads to computational and methodological challenges due to the multi-scale, multi-site, and multi-objective nature of the problem, requiring an innovative approach for effective model resolution. The contributions of this article pave the way towards more sustainable and efficient supply chain operations. The model capabilities are exemplified through the real case study of the bioethanol supply chain in Ethiopia. For the location of the different firms of the supply chain, the country is divided into 58 zones (second level administrative subdivision in Ethiopia) to have a precise mapping of the area. The result of the case study shows that in adding the operational level decisions to the strategic-tactical ones has not only changed the topology of the network configurations but has greatly affected the economic and environmental criteria due to more precise estimation of all activities. The results put also in highlight that there is a compromise to find between both previous objectives by identifying Pareto alternative scenarios.

Russia’s thinking on new wars and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine

ABSTRACT Russia’s poor military performance in the early stages of the full-scale war in Ukraine (2022-) has been attributed to various causes. This article considers its possible intellectual causes. Reviewing public Russian military and security discussions on new wars in the years prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, it argues that Russian operational planning on Ukraine aligned with key assumptions in Russian thinking about new wars. In particular, the Russian leadership's failure to acknowledge Ukrainian agency, its misguided emphasis on non-kinetic means and its mistaken assumption that Western states would be unwilling to respond forcefully to Russian aggression followed key tenets of Russian new war thinking. This raises questions about the relationship between Russian military theorizing and Russian military action, and how a prevailing intellectual paradigm shaped Russian perceptions about the reasonability of the invasion plan.

Evaluation of anatomical and radiological measurements of the proximal phalanx of the horse

When performing osteosynthesis by screw fixation, it is important to carry out operational planning (choosing the screw of the optimal length and diameter). Choosing the optimal osteosynthesis tactics and the correct screw size allows you to stimulate regeneration and prevent possible complications. The X-ray examination method is included in the mandatory criterion of preoperative examination, which allows you to determine the size of the deformation and bone parameters. The present study is based on the hypothesis that the lifetime X-ray measurement of the bone of the proximal phalanx of a horse (longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the proximal and distal epiphysis and diaphysis, bone length), allows us to justify the size and technique of fixing the screw in the treatment of fractures. Morphometric studies included macroscopic dissection; morphometry of bone preparations; Xray measurement of the putus bone; documentation of the data obtained, photographing. A morphometric study was performed on 20 bone preparations (10 thoracic and 10 pelvic) and 40 X-ray images (20 in lateromedial and 20 in dorso-palmar/plantar projections) of the proximal phalanx of the horse. As a result of the work performed, it was found that the variability of parameters (longitudinal and transverse size of the proximal epiphysis, longitudinal and transverse size of the distal epiphysis; the longitudinal and transverse size of the diaphysis, bone length) of the fetal bone of the thoracic and pelvic limbs in horses for average values has no significant deviations (up to 1%), while the differences between the minimum and maximum values range from 20.0% to 66.6% for values obtained by anatomical method; from 12.2% and 33.3% for the Xray method.

WEATHER-DRIVEN FLUCTUATIONS IN DAILY BEACH TOURISM: INSIGHTS FROM COASTAL DESTINATION DYNAMICS IN SPAIN

Tourism dynamics are profoundly influenced by weather conditions, particularly in regions celebrated for their climatic appeal. The Rías Baixas, a renowned coastal destination in northwest Spain, presents an exemplary case for examining this interplay. This study aims to enhance comprehension of how tourists alter their daily activities in response to weather changes, providing valuable insights for improved planning and management in the tourism sector. Faced with the methodological challenge of accurately measuring daily tourist flows, especially in areas such as beaches without entry registers, this study innovatively uses daily vehicle traffic intensity data in access areas to quantify tourist behavior patterns. Positive correlations are observed between the arrival of vehicles and sunshine. For tourism businesses, short-term weather forecast information, as well as a better understanding of travelers’ behavior, is crucial for decision making and operational planning.

Supervivencia del ecosistema teatral caleño frente al impacto del covid-19, comparativo de los años 2018, 2019 y 2020

The present research focuses on analyzing Cali’s theater ecosystem survival against the impact of covid-19 based on the analysis and comparison of the theatrical programming of concerted theaters between 2018 and 2020. The sample is composed by nine theaters located in Cali, winners of the National Program of Concerted Theaters during the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Theapproach used was mixed research and the concurrent triangulation design (DITRIAC, in Spanish). The research technique is the documentary analysis of primary sources; for this purpose, a Matrix of analysis of concerted theater programming, self-made and validated by experts, is used as unique instrument to collect information and data on four categorical variables of the PESTEL analysis. The data processing was performed with the SPSS program, which allowed identifying the impact of each of the components of Cali Theater Ecosystem’s and its survival strategies against the impact of covid-19, among which there are: Organizational Downsizing, Outsourcing or the externalization of activities, Cost Reduction as a Sanitation strategy and the restructuring of operational plans.

MPC-based robust optimization of smart apartment building considering uncertainty for conservative reduction

Undergoing a significant transition is demand-side management (DSM), brought about by changes in the energy landscape, including the extensive deployment of renewable energy sources (RES). One of the most important challenges in DSM is dealing with uncertainty. Robust optimization methods are widely known as an approach to deal with uncertainty. However, this method tends to be conservative in its solution because it considers worst-case scenarios. In this study, we develop a robust approach of model predictive control (MPC) to reduce conservativeness and maintain robustness in DSM of smart apartment building (SAB). Consisting of two stages is the robust optimization strategy employed in this study. The first stage involves day-ahead scheduling, where four different optimization approaches are implemented. In the second stage, intra-day scheduling is implemented on the basis of day-ahead operational plan. The application of this technique achieves reduced conservativeness and maintains robustness. The simulation results show that by using the proposed approach, compared to conventional robust optimization, while maintaining robustness, the operation cost of day-ahead scheduling can be reduced by 10.79% and the operation cost of intra-day scheduling can be reduced by 15%.

Supervivencia del ecosistema teatral caleño frente al impacto del covid-19, comparativo de los años 2018, 2019 y 2020

The present research focuses on analyzing Cali’s theater ecosystem survival against the impact of covid-19 based on the analysis and comparison of the theatrical programming of concerted theaters between 2018 and 2020. The sample is composed by nine theaters located in Cali, winners of the National Program of Concerted Theaters during the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Theapproach used was mixed research and the concurrent triangulation design (DITRIAC, in Spanish). The research technique is the documentary analysis of primary sources; for this purpose, a Matrix of analysis of concerted theater programming, self-made and validated by experts, is used as unique instrument to collect information and data on four categorical variables of the PESTEL analysis. The data processing was performed with the SPSS program, which allowed identifying the impact of each of the components of Cali Theater Ecosystem’s and its survival strategies against the impact of covid-19, among which there are: Organizational Downsizing, Outsourcing or the externalization of activities, Cost Reduction as a Sanitation strategy and the restructuring of operational plans

Sizing distributed energy resources in a renewable energy community with a grid-aware internal market structure

This paper proposes a cooperative approach aimed at distributed energy resources sizing in a renewable energy community, with considerations of the community’s optimal operation, impact on the electrical grid and an allocation of the benefits to its members. To this purpose, multiple investment modes are evaluated via a two-step procedure. In the first step, the size of renewable energy sources is determined by solving an optimization problem that maximizes community welfare, considering network and investments. In the second step, an optimization problem maximizing additional community member profit with price regularization is solved. This step shares benefits among community members. The potential of the proposed procedure is illustrated using a benchmark Dickert-LV network. This is a full y cooperative framework where the community operator is ensuring adequate grid operation, operational planning and sizing of new investments.

Severity of topsoil compaction controls the impact of skid trails on soil ecological processes

Abstract Skid trails are a major management‐induced disturbance in temperate forest ecosystems with considerable impact on soil ecological processes that are so far poorly understood. In German forests, skid trails comprise 10%–20% of the forest area that is potentially affected by soil compaction through heavy machinery. We systematically investigated the influence of skid trails on physical, chemical and microbiological soil parameters at 84 paired plots across four Central European forest types. In low mountain forests with steeper topography, skid trails had more drastic effects than in lowland forests. Skid trails in low mountain areas showed a decrease in the C to N ratio of microbial biomass (MBC/MBN), as well as increased microbial (MBC/SOC) and enzyme activities leading to faster carbon turnover (lower C/N, EOC/EN) and increased CO2 losses (CO2/SOC) from the soil. The overall effects of the skid trails in lowland forests were small. On base‐poor soils, we found an increase in the MBC/MBN ratio, while skid trails in base‐rich lowland soils showed a reduction in CO2/SOC, suggesting a proportional increase in soil carbon storage. Regardless of region‐specific effects, the relative increase in the bulk density of the fine soil was identified as a ‘golden trait’ that determined the effects of skid trails on many soil parameters, as shown by negative correlations with SOC, N, MBC, MBN, MBP, MBC/SOC and CO2/SOC and positive ones with the activities of certain hydrolytic enzymes. Synthesis and applications: Our data clearly showed that carbon conversion processes and soil respiration leading to significant carbon and nutrient losses increased significantly on skid trails in low mountain regions with relatively steep slopes, which was in sharp contrast to lowland sites. The strong context dependence of our findings suggests that the mapping of soil conditions in terms of slope, substrate and moisture with high spatial resolution is mandatory to assess the vulnerability of sites to soil compaction by heavy machinery. Based on such vulnerability analysis, negative impacts can be minimised through the designation of permanently fixed skid trails, technical adaptation of vehicles (e.g. wide base tyres) as well as careful planning and timing of management operations that should be restricted to dry weather and soil moisture conditions or periods of frost.

Shared Energy Storage Capacity Configuration of a Distribution Network System with Multiple Microgrids Based on a Stackelberg Game

With the ongoing development of new power systems, the integration of new energy sources is facing increasingly daunting challenges. The collaborative operation of shared energy storage systems with distribution networks and microgrids can effectively leverage the complementary nature of various energy sources and loads, enhancing energy absorption capacity. To address this, a shared energy storage capacity allocation method based on a Stackelberg game is proposed, considering the integration of wind and solar energy into distribution networks and microgrids. In this approach, a third-party shared energy storage investor acts as the leader, while distribution networks and microgrids serve as followers. The shared energy storage operator aims to maximize annual revenue, plan shared energy storage capacity, and set unit capacity leasing fees. Upon receiving pricing, distribution networks and microgrids aim to minimize annual operating costs, determine leased energy storage capacity, and develop operational plans based on typical daily scenarios. Distribution networks and microgrids report leasing capacity, and shared energy storage adjusts leasing prices, accordingly, forming a Stackelberg game. In the case study results, the annual cost of MGs decreased by 29.63%, the annual operating cost of the ADN decreased by 11.25%, the cost of abandoned light decreased by 60.77%, and the cost of abandoned wind decreased by 27.79% to achieve the collaborative optimization of operations. It is proven that this strategy can improve the economic benefits of all parties and has a positive impact on the integration of new energy.

Increasing the efficiency of inventory management in the field of trade based on integrated BI and ERP technologies

The article explores the possibilities of improving the efficiency of inventory management in the trade sector by integrating business intelligence (BI) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) technologies. The article considers a model of combination of these technologies, systemises their advantages and limitations related to determination of economic efficiency of such integration on the basis of analysis of practical cases in three aspects related to information technology, economics and management. The study uses the methods of systematisation, analysis, synthesis, grouping, integrated ABC-XYZ analysis and case analysis. Further research is aimed at generalising practical cases in order to determine the prospects for the introduction of integrated technologies in the activities of trade enterprises. Particular attention is paid to optimising inventory management and increasing productivity through the use of business analysis tools and automation of operational planning and accounting processes. The practical value of the study lies in developing ways to rationalise inventory management, which will allow companies to formulate a procurement plan; plan an appropriate budget of income and expenses to avoid unforeseen costs and insolvency crises; improve cost management processes by drawing attention to the goods that account for the largest share of costs, as well as those characterised by high unpredictability of demand. This information is important for internal financial accounting, budgeting, operational and strategic planning.

Features of planning and evaluation of the work of small shipping vessels enterprises at the present stage

The article considers one of the possible approaches to planning and evaluating the fleet operation of small shipping enterprises at the present stage. The existing algorithms for mathematical modeling of fleet operations are universal and can be used for enterprises with a small number of vessels, but at the same time they are complex, costly and therefore inefficient, and therefore unclaimed. In this regard, the article state the problem of developing a system for operational planning and evaluation of the fleet of small shipping enterprises in the context of modern economics and trends in the use of information technology, defines the objectives of the development and implementation of the system, its configuration; reveals the purpose and methods of implementing the components of the system. The methods necessary for the development of the system and also to be developed are called. The importance of substantiating the effectiveness of informatization is emphasized.

Innovation Driven the Professional Learning Community (PLC) Process for Small Educational Institutions and Remote Areas

This study is based on the idea of a professional learning community, which is a group of educators who get together to share teaching insights, gaining managerial expertise through the process of a professional learning community, which facilitates the transfer of information and the planning of operations that will result in actual operations, the PLC process driving model may be used by teachers to conduct research in the classroom on a regular basis and to share the findings with other members of the teaching staff in order to maintain continuity and sustainability. Therefore, this research article aims to; 1) to create innovation to drive the professional learning community process for small educational institutions and remote areas, 2) to apply innovations in driving the professional learning community process to network educational institutions, small educational institutions, and remote areas, and 3) to confirm innovation in driving the professional learning community process for small educational institutions and remote areas.It is research and development, and the sample was drawn from purposive selection of small educational institutions in Phetchabun Province, Phichit Province, and Nan Province, totaling 7 locations, confirm the format by referencing qualified experts. The tools used in the research include; seminar recording form on innovation creation, workshop project manual, workshop project evaluation form, and opinion questionnaire. Statistics used include; percentage value; average; standard deviation; and analyze content.The results of the research found that; 1) Innovation driven process of professional learning community for small educational institutions and remote areas that are built there are 6 aspects; management, teacher and personnel development, environment and learning management atmosphere, co-leadership, learning management and professional development and Applying learning outcomes to improve learner quality. Performance before development in high level, mean ( = 4.34, S.D.=0.61) after development at the highest level with an average ( =4.50, S.D.=0.59) an increase of +0.13, 2) Bring innovation to drive process of professional learning community for small educational institutions and remote areas the overall assessment results were at a high level, 3) Confirmed the creation of innovations to drive process of professional learning community for small educational institutes and remote areas it was found that there were several interrelated elements be appropriate. It is feasible, useful and theoretically accurate 100 percentages. The researcher offers the following recommendations on how to apply the research study's findings to promote better educational management; 1) until learners are able to develop themselves to their full potential, driving the professional learning community process for small educational institutions and remote areas should give educational institutions, teachers, and students opportunities to creatively design learning together, this can be done by creating a professional learning community development plan that is clear and appropriate to the context of learners, and 2) teachers should use innovation to guide the process of professional learning communities for distant and small educational institutions, build routine research to be varied, fulfill the requirements of students, and empower students to be social innovators.

Coordinated operation for a resilient and green energy-water supply system: A co-optimization approach with flexible strategies

Sustainable operation of green renewable energy (RE)-powered reverse osmosis (RO) desalination (RE-RO) systems requires co-optimization and smart strategies to reduce costs, losses and enhance system flexibility. This study proposes a decentralized distribution system (DDS) that includes a coordinated multi-objective optimization model with smart strategies for efficient operation and planning of the RE-RO system. The DDS optimizes operation by incorporating demand-side water management (DSWM) and bidirectional regulation (BDR) in the distribution network to minimize operation and emission costs, maximize system resilience, and meet the required demand. Then, sustainable planning strategies are suggested to prioritize relevant technical factors and subfactors for improving the future operation of the DDS based on multi-criteria assessment. With proposed DDS integration, the RE-RO system achieved a 17.4 % reduction in operational costs, a 46.79 % decrease in CO2 emissions, and a 70.96 % improvement in overall system resilience through effective management of water and energy surpluses and deficits. Among the operational planning strategies, the most critical criterion was DSWM-BDR based scheduling, representing 72.09 % of the strategic focus. Thus, the implementation of the proposed coordinated operating and planning strategies can significantly contribute to the development of a sustainable energy-water system, alleviate water scarcity, and facilitate climate change adaptation.

Reliable truck-drone routing with dynamic synchronization: A high-dimensional network programming approach

Within the context of burgeoning multimodal transportation systems, the emerging integration of drones and trucks is shaping the landscape of last-mile delivery. In this service-centric industry, uncertainty in travel time challenges the stability of delivery systems, highlighting the need for a more reliable and effective methodology. To tackle this challenge, we propose a reliable truck-drone collaborative routing problem enabling dynamic synchronization between trucks and drones in this paper. An integer programming model based on a space–time-state network has been developed to minimize the total travel time as well as their associated variabilities. Furthermore, to overcome the computational challenges for large-scale scenarios, a multi-dimensional-based hierarchical decomposition has been developed to identify a high-quality solution effectively. Numerical experimental results based on an illustrative network and a real-world network demonstrate the effectiveness of the introduced algorithm. Our proposed methodology advances operational planning for truck-drone collaborative delivery by appropriately navigating unavoidable variations of travel time, shedding light on the broad development prospects of the multimodal transportation system.

Gap Analysis of the Environmental Management System Performance of PT. XXX to ISO 14001:2015 Standard

PT. XXX is one of the oil and gas exploration companies in Indonesia operating in the Rokan Block of the Duri Steam Flood (DSF) Operation Area. To maintain the level of petroleum production in operation, PT. XXX DSF Operating Area adds oil and gas wells, improves, and improves operation reliability through upgrading several existing facilities; seen from the environmental setting at the current operational location, DSF's operational area activity plan has an impact on environmental components. To mitigate it, PT. XXX has developed an Environmental Management System (EMS) DSF Operating Area according to the international standard ISO 14001:2015. This quantitative descriptive research aims to determine the gap in QMS performance implemented by companies with ISO 14001: 2015 standards using seven clauses: Self-Assessment Checklist Internal Audit ISO 14001: 2015 GEMI 2015. To find out the Company's SML gap score with ISO 14001: 2015 standard is determined by the Gap Analysis method. The gap results from the 7 (seven) clauses analysed to show the readiness score of SML PT. XXX DSF operational to implement ISO 14001:2015 Standard is 98.83% refers to range gap analysis if the score range of 75% - 100% indicates PT. XXX DSF Operations is ready to complement EMS ISO 14001:2015 and carry out certification. The gap score between the Company's Environmental Management System (EMS) that is being implemented and the ISO 14001:2015 standard is 1.17%. The gap in clauses that have not met the requirements of SML ISO 14001: 2015 is Clause Support, which scores 95% and Clause Performance Evaluation, which scores 96%.

Analysis of the Operational Application of Military Capabilities in Counterinsurgency within a Military Operations Other than War Framework in the Papua Region

The military plays a key role in Indonesia’s fight against armed separatist -insurgent groups. Not only that is it mandated by law, the military’s involvement in counterinsurgency is also necessitated by practical demands and the nature of the conflict where separatist insurgents would often utilize guerilla warfare attacks such as exploitation of terrain to ambush security force positions. Other than the ability to inflict lethal force, the military also possess “soft” capabilities needed to win hearts & minds and facilitate the implementation of government policies. This study aims to analyze the operational application of military capabilities in counterinsurgency within an MOOTW framework in Papua. This article utilized a qualitative research design with a deductive analysis method where the researcher seeks to deductively analyze the data collected by understanding and studying theories from various literatures related to the research topic and then critically analyzing the data to answer the research questions as it pertains to the utilization Indonesia’s military capabilities as means within an operational plan to implement the counterinsurgency strategy, as well as the challenges in conducting such operations & the relative limitations of the capabilities of the Indonesian military that can be utilized. The results of this study found that the military capabilities are applied in territorial, intelligence, and combat/ enforcement operations. The challenges to the operational application include lack of cultural competence, actionable intelligence, unified command, as well as suitable metrics. In conclusion, the military supports the implementation of government policy in Papua via territorial, intelligence, and combat/ enforcement operations with significant impediments including lack of intelligence, cultural/ linguistic competence, metrics, and a unified command. To improve this, the military needs to provide cultural/ linguistic training, enable point persistent surveillance, stand up a unified structure to coordinate intelligence, and implement viable metrics to assess progress.

Deep learning-driven hybrid model for short-term load forecasting and smart grid information management

Accurate power load forecasting is crucial for the sustainable operation of smart grids. However, the complexity and uncertainty of load, along with the large-scale and high-dimensional energy information, present challenges in handling intricate dynamic features and long-term dependencies. This paper proposes a computational approach to address these challenges in short-term power load forecasting and energy information management, with the goal of accurately predicting future load demand. The study introduces a hybrid method that combines multiple deep learning models, the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) is employed to capture long-term dependencies in time series data, while the Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) efficiently learns patterns and features in load data. Additionally, the attention mechanism is incorporated to automatically focus on the input components most relevant to the load prediction task, further enhancing model performance. According to the experimental evaluation conducted on four public datasets, including GEFCom2014, the proposed algorithm outperforms the baseline models on various metrics such as prediction accuracy, efficiency, and stability. Notably, on the GEFCom2014 dataset, FLOP is reduced by over 48.8%, inference time is shortened by more than 46.7%, and MAPE is improved by 39%. The proposed method significantly enhances the reliability, stability, and cost-effectiveness of smart grids, which facilitates risk assessment optimization and operational planning under the context of information management for smart grid systems.

Investigations into the Charge Times of Lead–Acid Cells under Different Partial-State-of-Charge Regimes

Partial state of charge (PSOC) is an important use case for lead–acid batteries. Charging times in lead–acid cells and batteries can be variable, and when used in PSOC operation, the manufacturer’s recommended charge times for single-cycle use are not necessarily applicable. Knowing how long charging will take and what the variability in time required is allows for better planning of operations and algorithm creation for battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturers. This paper details and demonstrates a procedure for identifying the charging time of cells when different charge throughputs occur prior to reaching full charge. The results showed that the charging time in PSOC operations was highly variable when a charge-factor-controlled full-charge procedure was used. Also noted were that higher voltages for the same state of charge were reached as the number of cycles following reaching full charge increased. None of the regimes tested in this paper caused any significant capacity degradation, which demonstrates that PSOC operations can be performed even on cells not specifically designed for them, provided the correct regime is chosen.

OPTIMIZING THE TOUR GUIDE'S PROVISION OF INFORMATION THROUGH ONLINE MEDIA

Background: Tour guides play a crucial role during a vacation. Tour guides do more than only provide information about the tourist spots seen; they also educate foreign tourists who visit an area. The number of travel agents supplying guidance is growing, and they come in a variety of forms, including companies, institutions, individuals, and communities. Objective: This activity tries to solve marketing difficulties (by generating online marketing media) while also giving tourist training, particularly for tour guides, to community members. Method: This activity tries to solve marketing difficulties (by generating online marketing media) while also giving tourist training, particularly for tour guides, to community members. Results: The presence of a website/blog will enhance the number of users or consumers who use the services provided by the "A Day in Malang" Community in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Having a website or blog: Promotions were once limited to word-of-mouth, but with the introduction of online management, marketing has expanded. Conclusion: Tour guide techniques are improving and becoming more professional, both in terms of guiding services and POP (Tourism Operational Planning), allowing activities to be structured and directed in accordance with the schedule established or previously agreed upon.