Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Using Agent-Based Modeling To Search For Elusive Hiding Targets, Jeffrey E. Rucker

Theses and Dissertations

The SCUD hunt problem that emerged during Operation Desert Storm has become a source of great interest to major commands like Air Combat Command. One of the metrics used to measure the effectiveness of our operations in a SCUD hunt is time to detect and target. We use the agent-based System Effectiveness and Analysis Simulation (SEAS) to provide a simulation environment in which all the elements of a SCUD hunt mission can adequately be modeled. Our Blue Force agents are modeled as multirole fighters, satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with various sensor capabilities. The Red Force agents are modeled …

Processing Model For Tungsten Powders And Extention To Nanoscale Size Range, Randall M. German, J. Ma, X. Wang, E. Olevsky

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Nanoscale tungsten powders promise access to very hard, strong and wear resistant materials via the press–sinter route. A small particle size changes the response during sintering, requiring lower temperatures and shorter times to attain dense but small grain size structures. On the other hand, oxide reduction and impurity evaporation favour high sintering temperatures and long hold times. Accordingly, press–sinter processing encounters conflicting constraints when applied to small particles. Presented here is an analysis of press–sinter tungsten particle processing to isolate conditions that balance the temperature and size dependent effects. The calculations are pinned by existing data. Opportunities are identified for …

Acuta Enews March 2006, Vol. 35, No. 3

ACUTA Newsletters

In This lssue

From ACUTA Headquarters............ Jeri A. Semer, CAE, ACUTA Executive Director

Nominate for ACUTA Board of Directors

Tech Talk: Reputation Services Help Wage War on Spam................. Kevin Tanzlllo, Dux PR

Hunt for Unused Lines and Save.................. Mario Garcia, Cal State Dominguez Hills

lnfo Links................ Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

ACUTA Audio Seminar: How to Negotiate a Cell-Site Leasing Agreement

Web Tip: Members Helping Members.............. Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA lnformation Tech. Mgr.

Member Site to See

Board Report............ Riny Ledgerwood, Son Diego State Univ. ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

LambdaRail Completes Backbone

DC Update............... Whitney Johnson, Retired, No, Michigon Univ.

Welcome New …

Mitochondrial Dna Genome Sequencing And Snp Assay Development For Increased Power Of Discrimination, Thomas J. Parsons

United States Army: Publications

This report details the work performed over a period of five years in an NIJ-funded project intended primarily to develop a practical means for accessing the large reserve of genetic variation in the ~15,000 bp mtDNA coding region, as a means for augmenting the forensic discrimination provided by sequencing the hypervariable (HV) regions of the mtDNA control region. Our approach was to focus on the relatively small number of particularly common types present in US Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic populations, where the problem of limited discrimination is concentrated in practice. We sequenced 506 entire mtDNA genomes corresponding to 56 …

Roadblocks To Software Modernization, Dyan E. Mcclamma

Theses and Dissertations

Failed or troubled modernization efforts, such as the multi-million dollar 1997-2000 ROCC/SOCC failure, are a serious acquisition problem for the Air Force. Using both historical data and a survey of current Air Force software acquisition program key staff, this research examined the Air Forces ability to modernize legacy software systems. The search of historical program data, to identify trends or similarities between known failed software modernization efforts, failed to uncover sufficient data for analysis. This lack of project data indicates a knowledge management issue (i.e. lessons learned are not recorded and stored so that they can be accessed by other …

A Multi-Pass Construction Heuristic For The Aggregated Airlift Problem, Stephen T. O'Leary

Theses and Dissertations

To support the capabilities for precision strike, close air support, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, air mobility and air refueling the Air Force has over 26,000 Airmen deployed from over 80 military installations to Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) in over 21 countries. This research creates a multi-pass construction heuristic to solve the aggregated airlift problem associated with the transportation of these 26,000 deployed Airmen. We are given a Time Phased Force Deployment Document (TPFDD) containing a list of personnel scheduled for deployment, their base of origin, Point of Debarkation (POD), FOL, and Required Delivery Date (RDD). The goal is to aggregate the …

Strategic Airlift En Route Analysis To Support The Global War On Terrorism Using A Value Focused Thinking Approach, Marykathryn W. Tharaldson

Theses and Dissertations

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has yielded new challenges to the United States' strategic airlift infrastructure. The network of en-route airfields that serve as refueling and maintenance stops were designed primarily to service relatively static Cold War requirements. However, the GWOT has resulted in the need for an infrastructure that is responsive to a highly dynamic environment. This research uses a "value focused" methodology to identify en-route airfield locations that simultaneously maximize cargo throughput capability while possessing a high degree of adaptability to volatile cargo delivery requirements.

A Systems Engineering Approach To Integrated Structural Health Monitoring For Aging Aircraft, Alan P. Albert, Efstathios Antoniou, Stephen D. Leggiero, Kimberly A. Tooman, Ramon L. Veglio

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force and many of its Coalition partners have extended the original service life of some of their aging aircraft due to fiscal constraints. This life extension often requires increased periodic and in-depth inspections; increasing maintenance costs and resulting in longer periods of aircraft downtime. A structural health monitoring system for aging aircraft could reduce the current inspection burden, and thus decrease costs and system downtime. This presentation describes a baseline systems engineering methodology for system definition of an aging aircraft structural health monitoring system. Analysis was performed to quantify the potential benefit a structural health monitoring …

Modeling Urban Warfare: Joint Semi-Automated Forces In Urban Resolve, Alexander B. Anastasiou

Theses and Dissertations

The United States military is performing operations in urban environments with increasing frequency. Current Department of Defense doctrine is poorly suited to train and equip today's warriors with the tools and experience necessary to fight and win in modern sprawling cities. In order to "close the gap," the U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Experimentation Directorate led an effort to run a massively distributed simulation of a synthetic urban environment utilizing human-in-the-loop operators called URBAN RESOLVE. The synthetic environment simulated the city of Jakarta with over 1,000,000 buildings and structures and over 120,000 civilian entities. A Red force retreated into the …

An Epidemiological Approach To Terrorism, Kjirstin A. Bentson

Theses and Dissertations

There are many types of models for counterterrorism, explaining different problems that the military faces in the fight against terrorism. This thesis proposes that one of the fundamental assumptions underlying existing models of counterterrorism is that the struggle with terrorists can be understood as a war in the traditional sense of the term. We propose to rethink the struggle against terrorism as a fight against an infection. The epidemic of terrorist ideology within part of the world is a result, from this perspective, of the infectiousness of that ideology. Using the insights of the field of the epidemiology of ideas, …

Optimal Periodic Inspection Of A Stochastically Degrading System, Timothy B. Booher

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and analyzes a procedure to determine the optimal inspection interval that maximizes the limiting average availability of a stochastically degrading component operating in a randomly evolving environment. The component is inspected periodically, and if the total observed cumulative degradation exceeds a fixed threshold value, the component is instantly replaced with a new, statistically identical component. Degradation is due to a combination of continuous wear caused by the component's random operating environment, as well as damage due to randomly occurring shocks of random magnitude. In order to compute an optimal inspection interval and corresponding limiting average availability, a …

Predicting The Effects Of Contingency Contracting On Local Economies, Donald J. Wagoner

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Air Force personnel have been deployed in support of contingency operations to various points on the globe. The Department of Defense spends millions of dollars to support and sustain forces during contingency operations. The Air Force deploys Contingency Contracting Officers (CCO) to support personnel during these operations. During a contingency operation contracting officers will normally establish short-term contracts as quickly as possible to meet mission requirements with little concern for the local economy. This research concluded that the actions of Air Force CCOs can affect the local economy in a deployed location. By providing contingency contracting officers …

A Methodology For Performing Effects-Based Assessments, Benjamin A. Thoele

Theses and Dissertations

In order to bring the doctrine of Effects-Based Operations (EBO) into a fully operational capability, Effects-Based Assessment (EBA) must provide relevant insight to the commander and his planning staff. Assessments of an effects-based plan and execution must include an assessment of the effects of a campaign on the enemy in addition to an assessment of the accomplishment of friendly actions taken to achieve the desired effects. Determining the effects of a campaign requires an analysis of the dynamics of the enemy systems. EBA must be able to recognize the states of the enemy's systems as the system states change over …

Combining Quality Of Service And Topology Control In Directional Hybrid Wireless Networks, Michael C. Erwin

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advancements in information and communications technology are changing the information environment in both quantitative and qualitative measures. The developments in directional wireless capabilities necessitate the ability to model these new capabilities, especially in dynamic environments typical of military combat operations. This thesis establishes a foundation for the definition and consideration of the unique network characteristics and requirements introduced by this novel instance of the Network Design Problem (NDP). Developed are a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP) formulation and two heuristic strategies for solving the NDP. A third solution strategy using the MILP formulation with a degree-constrained Minimum Spanning Tree starting …

A Discrete Event Simulation Model For Evaluating Air Force Reusable Military Launch Vehicle Prelaunch Operations, Adam T. Stiegelmeier

Theses and Dissertations

As the control and exploitation of space becomes more important to the United States military, a responsive spacelift capability will become essential. Responsive spacelift could be defined as the ability to launch a vehicle within hours or days from the time a launch order is given, instead of the weeks or months it takes currently. As the Air Force contemplates moving toward a reusable military launch vehicle (RMLV) capability, it faces key design and ground processing decisions that will affect the vehicle regeneration timeline. This thesis develops a computer simulation model that mimics RMLV prelaunch operations-those activities that take place …

Analysis Of Patient Information: An Empirical Modeling Approach, Tony A. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

With rising costs and increasing complexities, many hospitals seek to better understand the intricate details of their operations. Increasingly, these organizations have a strong desire to accurately predict the resources required to effectively treat their patient load. This research investigates patient length-of-stay in a hospital neurological unit using an empirical modeling approach. Factors significantly affecting patient length of stay were identified and used to construct a regression model. The predictive model provides hospital decision makers with a compact tool to input what-if scenarios and predict future patient treatment lengths, thus, allowing the hospital to properly allocate resources.

Optimization Of A Multi-Echelon Repair System Via Generalized Pattern Search With Ranking And Selection: A Computational Study, Derek D. Tharaldson

Theses and Dissertations

With increasing developments in computer technology and available software, simulation is becoming a widely used tool to model, analyze, and improve a real world system or process. However, simulation in itself is not an optimization approach. Common optimization procedures require either an explicit mathematical formulation or numerous function evaluations at improving iterative points. Mathematical formulation is generally impossible for problems where simulation is relevant, which are characteristically the types of problems that arise in practical applications. Further complicating matters is the variability in the simulation response which can cause problems in iterative techniques using the simulation model as a function …

Understanding Innovation Adoption In The Air Force, Morgan J. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Innovation adoption has become a critical issue for organizations in both the public and private sectors. The search for competitive advantage has led to the recognition that innovation is a vital ingredient for an organization's survival and profitability in this information age. The United States Air Force is seeking to adapt to this new information age by transforming its business processes in order to sustain its competitive advantage as the world's most respected air force. Adopting innovations and integrating new or improved technologies, capabilities, concepts, and processes into Air Force planning and acquisition activities, organizations, and operations are goals of …

A Risk Assessment Methodology For Divesting Military Capabilities To Allied Nations, Jason A. Gastelum

Theses and Dissertations

The United States spent over $400 billion dollars on national defense in 2005. Even with support for the war on terrorism still strong, it is doubtful that the U.S. can sustain such a level of defense investment. One strategy to offset the increasing burden of defense spending is to divest the procurement and/or sustainment of individual defense capabilities to allied nations. The decision to divest any capability, however, introduces risk. This thesis presents a methodology to quantify the risk of the decision to divest a military capability to an allied nation, where risk is defined as the set of risk …

A Comparative Usability And End-User Satisfaction Analysis Of Two Geographic Information System (Gis) Applications, Mark E. Barner

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has recognized that organizations across Air Force installations often require geospatial information resources or maps to accomplish mission essential tasks. To provide an AF-wide approach to addressing this need, in 2001, the Headquarters Air Force Geo Integration Office formed the USAF GeoBase program. GeoBase is the name given to the Air Force's GIS program. As GeoBase has been implemented across the Air Force, there have been no mandated product standards for GIS applications. This thesis focuses on two different GIS applications being used across the CE community for the management of airfield obstructions. These two applications are …

Implementing Reliability-Centered Maintenance Analysis In A Revised Preventive Maintenance Program For The F-15, Michael H. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Reliability-centered maintenance is an approach to analyzing how and when equipment fails in order to maintain a desired level of performance or functionality. It employs the use of failure modes, effects and criticality analysis to rank order potential failures, and combines this rank order with the use of a prescribed decision logic process to determine what preventive maintenance tasks should be performed and when. Reliability-centered maintenance analysis has been used by the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and commercial airlines to develop and update preventive maintenance programs for their aircraft for many years. While the United States …

Discrete Event Simulation Model Of The Ground Maintenance Operations Cycle Of A Reusable Launch Vehicle, John T. Pope Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force uses a family of expendable launch vehicles to meet its spacelift needs. Unfortunately, this method is not responsive: months of preparation are typically required and launch costs are high. Consequently, the Air Force seeks a reusable military launch vehicle that can be launched inexpensively and quickly regenerated between flights. Air Force Research Laboratory personnel desire a tool to help evaluate candidate designs and perform tradeoff studies necessary to acquire a launch vehicle that will achieve Air Force goals. The objective of this research was first to develop a conceptual model of maintenance operations needed to regenerate a …

Optimizing Mean Mission Duration For Multiple-Payload Satellites, John A. Flory

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the problem of optimally selecting and specifying satellite payloads for inclusion on a satellite bus to be launched into a constellation. The objective is to select and specify payloads so that the total lifetime utility of the constellation is maximized. The satellite bus is limited by finite power, weight, volume, and cost constraints. This problem is modeled as a classical knapsack problem in one and multiple dimensions, and dynamic programming and binary integer programming formulations are provided to solve the problem. Due to the computational complexity of the problem, the solution techniques include exact methods as well …

Classification Characteristics Of Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composite Chemical Vapor Detectors, Huynh A. Hinshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The first step in combating a chemical weapons threat is contamination avoidance. This is accomplished by the detection and identification of chemical agents. The Air Force has several instruments to detect chemical vapors, but is always looking for lighter, faster, and more accurate technology for a better capability. This research is focused on using carbon nanotube polymer composite sensors for chemical detection. More specifically, models are developed to classify three sets of sensor data according to vapor using various multivariate techniques. Also, prediction models of a mixed sensor output are developed using neural networks and regression analysis. The classifiers developed …

Assessing Resource Value And Relationships Between Objectives In Effects-Based Operations, Robert D. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was developing techniques to calculate the value of a resource within the context of campaign objectives, to identify competing objectives, and to identify conflicting objectives to improve a commander’s ability to allocate limited resources. A methodology was developed to express a campaign’s objective hierarchy in terms of a set of desired end states for the campaign’s system of systems. Value theory was used to identify the resource's value in terms of the direct and indirect effects that are produced to achieve the campaign’s objectives. Binding resource constraints within an integer program were used to identify …

Hazardous Materials Transportation: A Meta-Analysis Of State Level Policy And Regulations, David J. Pastika

Theses and Dissertations

Every day, over 800,000 hazmat transactions take place across the United States. This segment of transportation is expected to grow at a modest two percent a year for the foreseeable future but differences of regulations between the state and Federal level have been a growing concern for both the government and members of the hazmat industry. A patchwork of often inconsistent permits, registration requirements, and hazmat organizational structures at the state level often create barriers to the efficient means of commerce for hazmat carriers and shippers. This thesis explores the history of hazardous regulations since de-regulation of the trucking industry …

Acuta Enews February 2006, Vol.35, No. 2

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This Issue

Nominate Now for 2006-07 Board of Directors

From the President:Volunteer and Grow......... Patricia Todus, Northwestern Univ., ACUTA President

Share Your Struggles?

Text Message Marketing Encounters the Law.............. William B. Baker, Wiley Rein & fielding

lnfo Links Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

Tech Talk: Short Takes: Interconnects and That Pesky Skype ................ Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

Just for Fun: Predictions from the Past

Web Tip: ACUTA Quick Search................ Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA lnformation Tech. Mgr.

lnstitutional Excellence Award Deadline

Thanks to Journal Advertisers for 2005

Board Report..................... Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA, Sec./Treasurer

DC Update..................... Whitney …

Velocity Distribution Of Helium And Neon Atoms Released From Graphite And Tungsten Limiters In Textor, P. Lindner, M. Brix, Ph Mertens, A. Pospieszczyk, U. Samm, B. Schweer, B. Unterberg

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The release mechanisms of noble gases from plasma-facing components were observed spectroscopically in the TEXTOR plasma boundary by determining the velocity distribution from Doppler broadening. For the first time, three different mechanisms for helium and neon release from graphite and tungsten limiters could be distinguished quantitatively in a tokamak: thermal desorption, ion-induced desorption and particle reflection. Under the assumption that the thermal desorption follows a Maxwellian velocity distribution, the ion-induced desorption can be expressed by a Thompson velocity distribution. Calculating the particle reflection by the Monte-Carlo code TRIM, these processes could be separated in the measured velocity distribution. © 2005 …

Parallel Simulated Annealing For Scheduling Agile Manufacturing Systems, Ahmed Osama Abdulrahman

Archived Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research is the scheduling of an agile manufacturing system comprised of machining and assembly operations with the objective of minimizing the makespan. This problem has been addressed in the literature using heuristics and metaheuristics. In addition, a lower bound has been developed. This research builds upon the findings of the recent literature and proposes two enhanced algorithms, parallel simulated annealing and parallel modified simulated annealing, to solve the addressed problem. The performance of the developed algorithms is compared to that of another simulated annealing algorithm that is available in the literature. Performance comparisons are based …

Patterns In Team Communication During A Simulation Game, David M. Baca, Ray Luechtefeld, Steve Eugene Watkins

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of communication skills is a necessary preparation for effective engineering teamwork. Argyris' "Theory of Action" provides a framework for understanding patterns in team dialogue. Students can benefit from an awareness of these patterns. The theory highlights the detection and correction of errors by sharing information during group collaboration and interactions. Quality decision-making can be enhanced when members of a team develop high degrees of openness and interdependence. Quality decision-making can be diminished when members of a team regulate the information shared within the team. This work analyzes team interactions from simulation games used in an interdisciplinary engineering course …