Approximate Dynamic Programming, Simulation Optimization, and Emergency Services

摘要这笔赠款建议探索使用近似动态规划(ADP)和模拟优化(SO)方法，分别和相互结合，以帮助许多应用程序，主要是在紧急服务中。ADP和SO领域已经分开发展，以解决密切相关的问题，因此，加强这两个领域之间的联系有很大潜力。拟议的工作将发展这些联系，解决出现的大规模计算问题，并致力于挑战作为PI的结果出现的新的建模问题？与紧急服务提供者的合作。私人投资公司已经利用ADP为救护车操作的程式化模型设计了一种搬迁计划，从而根据未来的需求实时移动救护车。短期目标是通过与应急服务规划软件提供商的现有密切关系，进一步接近全面实施。从长远来看，ADP和SO之间的任何联系都可能导致在具有重大不确定性的复杂系统中做出实时决策的有效计算方法。这些方法不仅将在应急服务中得到应用，而且还将在运输物流、供应链管理、收入管理等许多潜在领域得到应用。

AbstractThis grant proposes to explore the use of approximate dynamic programming (ADP) and simulation optimization (SO) methods, both separately and in conjunction with each other, to assist in a number of applications, primarily in the emergency services. The fields of ADP and SO have developed separately to address closely related problems, and so there is great potential to strengthen the links between the two areas. The proposed work would develop those links, tackle the large-scale computing issues that arise, and work on challenging new modeling questions that have come up as a consequence of the PIs? collaborations with emergency service providers.The PIs have already had some success using ADP to devise a relocation scheme for stylized models of ambulance operations, whereby ambulances are moved in real time in anticipation of future demand. A short-term goal is to move closer to full implementation through existing close relationships with a provider of software for emergency-service planning. In the longer term, any links between ADP and SO will likely lead to effective computational methods for making real-time decisions in complex systems that are subject to significant uncertainty. These methods will find applications not only in the emergency services, but also in transportation logistics, supply chain management, revenue management and potentially many other fields.