Computer-Aided Decision Support System for Making Locational Decisions

摘要

The project developed a computerized system to support decisions about how tolocate public facilities that serve rural areas while minimizing transportation costs. The work is based on the premise that transport systems should be efficient--that is, the lower the total transport costs the better the transportation plan is. The computerized system integrates transportation databases with algorithms that specify efficient locations and allocate demand efficiently to service regions; the results of these algorithms are used interactively by decision makers. They can introduce or relax constraints and reject solutions on the basis of their informed judgments about what will work. The system estimates the transportation and route requirements of alternative locations and identifies locations that meet certain criteria with the least cost. It was developed and tested on two transportation-related problems in Iowa. The report uses these applications to illustrate how the system can be used. More generally, the project demonstrates the type of support that decision makers need in making locational decisions.