SORG is dedicated to promoting the application and advancement of operational research in the Southern region. Whether you are an operational researcher, analyst, practitioner, academic, or simply interested in OR, we invite you to join our community.
Through a variety of events, workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities, SORG encourages collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional growth.
Upcoming Events:
Research Seminar:
Multi-modal Mixed-Echelon Routing and Scheduling of Drones, Cargo Bikes, and Vans for Medical Logistics in the Solent Area under Weather Uncertainties: Asrul Harun Ismail (Centre for Operational Research and Logistics (CORL), University of Portsmouth)
Date: Wednesday 3rd July (1-2pm)
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Click here to registeR
This research explores the transformative potential of integrating drones into the ground-based delivery network for medical products in the Solent area, UK, while considering the impact of weather uncertainties on drone operations. Weather conditions significantly influence drone manoeuvrability and speed, potentially leading to undesirable outcomes such as delays and crashes.
We present a novel framework that combines a machine learning-based drone flight duration prediction model with a Metaheuristic Bees Algorithm to solve the drone-bike-van multimodal mixed-echelon medical logistics problem under varying weather conditions. The framework optimises the routing and scheduling of drones, cargo bikes, and vans to transport medical supplies from consolidation points to final destinations, with the potential to incorporate intermediate consolidation points along routes to achieve optimal solutions.
Comprehensive experiments have been conducted to evaluate the impact of varying wind conditions on drone schedule efficiency, compare the efficacy of different transportation modes (bikes, vans, drones), and assess the system's economic and environmental impacts. The case studies used for the experiments involve medical collections and deliveries between hospitals and surgeries in Southampton and Portsmouth, Solent area, UK.
This holistic analysis aims to optimise the logistics system for improved performance, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, particularly in integrating drone operations under uncertain weather conditions. The study is part of the Solent Future Transport Zone project (FTZ) funded by the UK's Department for Transport and led by Solent Transport.
Travel Behaviour Change Monitoring & Evaluation for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) App: Dr Seda Sucu (Centre for Operational Research and Logistics (CORL), University of Portsmouth)
Date: Wednesday 2nd October (1-2pm)
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Click here to registeR
Shifting the travel behaviour of individuals in cities towards more sustainable transportation alternatives will help reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of private car dependency. In order to enable this change, it has a critical role to support individuals to make more informed choices with personalised travel planning and to offer alternatives that include more active and shared mobility modes.
In this context, the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept, which combines travel planning, reservation and payment in a single mobile application interface, has a high potential to support sustainable travel behaviour change. Solent Future Transport Zone Programme funded by the Department of Transport (DfT) has been awarded £28.8m for testing innovative approaches, including the development of a multi-city Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app, in the region to help make journeys easier, smarter and greener. This multi-city MaaS app allows users to plan, book and pay for trips via a smartphone in the Solent region including Southampton, Portsmouth, South Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In this presentation, we propose a set of key performance indicators with a conceptual framework for monitoring and evaluation of Maa on travel behaviour. The implementation of the framework is demonstrated with the Solent Multi-City MaaS app with sustainability impact evaluation. The proposed framework will assist practitioners, policymakers and local authorities to understand the potential impact of MaaS on the travel behaviour of individuals in a car-dependent region.
