Model copes with chaos to deliver reliefComputer program helps responders transport supplies in tough conditionsBy Rachel EhrenbergScience News, Web edition: Monday, February 21st, 2011 WASHINGTON — Getting blood or otherperishable supplies to an area that’s been struck byan earthquake or hurricane isn’t as simple as askingwhat brown can do for you. But a new model quickly5 determines the best routes and means for deliveringhumanitarian aid, even in situations where bridgesare out or airport tarmacs are clogged with planes. The research, presented February 18 at theannual meeting of the American Association for the10 Advancement of Science, could help get supplies toareas which have experienced natural disasters orhelp prepare for efficient distribution of vaccines whenthe flu hits. Efficient supply chains have long been a goal15 of manufacturers, but transport in fragile networks— where supply, demand and delivery routes maybe in extremely rapid flux — requires a differentapproach, said Anna Nagurney of the University ofMassachusetts Amherst, who presented the new work.20 Rather than considering the shortest path from oneplace to another to maximize profit, her system aimsfor the cleanest path at minimum cost, while capturingfactors such as the perishability of the product andthe uncertainty of supply routes. ‘You don’t know25 where demand is, so it’s tricky,’ said Nagurney. ‘It’s amulticriteria decision-making problem.’ By calculating the total cost associated witheach link in a network, accounting for congestion andincorporating penalties for time and products that are30 lost, the computer model calculates the best supplychain in situations where standard routes may bedisrupted. ‘Mathematical tools are essential to developformal means to predict, and to respond to, such35 critical perturbations,’ said Iain Couzin of PrincetonUniversity, who uses similar computational tools tostudy collective animal behavior. ‘This is particularlyimportant where response must be rapid andeffective, such as during disaster scenarios … or40 during epidemics or breaches of national security.’ The work can be applied to immediate, pressingsituations, such as getting blood, food or medicationto a disaster site, or to longer-term problems such asdetermining the best locations for manufacturing flu45 vaccines. . Retrieved April 7th, 2011. Model copes with chaos to deliver reliefComputer program helps responders transport supplies in tough conditionsBy Rachel EhrenbergScience News, Web edition: Monday, February 21st, 2011 WASHINGTON — Getting blood or otherperishable supplies to an area that’s been struck byan earthquake or hurricane isn’t as simple as askingwhat brown can do for you. But a new model quickly5 determines the best routes and means for deliveringhumanitarian aid, even in situations where bridgesare out or airport tarmacs are clogged with planes. The research, presented February 18 at theannual meeting of the American Association for the10 Advancement of Science, could help get supplies toareas which have experienced natural disasters orhelp prepare for efficient distribution of vaccines whenthe flu hits. Efficient supply chains have long been a goal15 of manufacturers, but transport in fragile networks— where supply, demand and delivery routes maybe in extremely rapid flux — requires a differentapproach, said Anna Nagurney of the University ofMassachusetts Amherst, who presented the new work.20 Rather than considering the shortest path from oneplace to another to maximize profit, her system aimsfor the cleanest path at minimum cost, while capturingfactors such as the perishability of the product andthe uncertainty of supply routes. ‘You don’t know25 where demand is, so it’s tricky,’ said Nagurney. ‘It’s amulticriteria decision-making problem.’ By calculating the total cost associated witheach link in a network, accounting for congestion andincorporating penalties for time and products that are30 lost, the computer model calculates the best supplychain in situations where standard routes may bedisrupted. ‘Mathematical tools are essential to developformal means to predict, and to respond to, such35 critical perturbations,’ said Iain Couzin of PrincetonUniversity, who uses similar computational tools tostudy collective animal behavior. ‘This is particularlyimportant where response must be rapid andeffective, such as during disaster scenarios … or40 during epidemics or breaches of national security.’ The work can be applied to immediate, pressingsituations, such as getting blood, food or medicationto a disaster site, or to longer-term problems such asdetermining the best locations for manufacturing flu45 vaccines. . Retrieved April 7th, 2011. “such critical perturbations,” (lines 34-35) refers to all the items below, EXCEPT

“such critical perturbations,” (lines 34-35) refers to all...

Q465304

“such critical perturbations,” (lines 34-35) refers to all the items below, EXCEPT

congestion

delivery delays

computer supplies

disrupted roads

loss of products