Managers of large industrial projects often measure performance by multiple attributes. For example, our paper is motivated by the simulation of a large industrial project called a land seismic survey, in which project performance is based on duration, cost, and resource utilization. To address these types of problems, we develop a ranking and selection procedure for making comparisons of systems (e.g., project configurations) that have multiple performance measures. The procedure combines multiple attribute utility theory with statistical ranking and selection to select the best configuration from a set of possible configurations using the indifference-zone approach. We apply our procedure to results generated by the simulator for a land seismic survey that has six performance measures, and describe a particular type of sensitivity analysis that can be used as a robustness check.Simulation, Ranking and Selection, Multiple Attribute Utility Theory

No abstract

This paper describes a simulator for a large outdoor operation called a signal quality survey. Design and implementation of the simulator follows an object oriented approach with a primary focus of modeling operations cycles. The simulator is implemented in Visual C++/CSIM17. Excel acts as the primary user interface. A Microsoft Foundations Classes Single Document Interface application acts as a secondary user interface for simulation animation.We discuss the benefits of using discrete event simulation for this application. We also report on some of the challenges encountered during the implementation stages of the project.(causes damage to equipment), weather, permitting (i.e., permission to conduct the survey on public or private property), personnel problems, community relations, cultural factors, environmental and legal restrictions. Given the complexity of operations and the uncertainty associated with several of these factors, simulation was identified as an important decision support tool for use in understanding, quantifying, and improving signal quality survey operations.

This paper discusses an application of fuzzy logic as an organizational framework for a knowledge-based interpretation system in the domain of geotechnical engineering. The specific task involves the interpretation of data from a cone penetrometer (CPT), a field exploration device used in geotechnical engineering to provide soil stratigraphy ~nformation and other characterizations of soil behaviour. In geotechnical engineering, more than in most other fields of civil engineering, it is necessary to reason with incomplete data using empiricallybased methods of analysis. There is a need to quantify the uncertainty that occurs in both the raw data and the analytical methods. There are two distinct sources of uncertainty present: statistical variability in the data and vagueness of methods. The most significant aspect of the use of fuzzy logic in CONE is that a consistent framework was developed to represent both linguistically-based (soil classification) and numerically-based (shear strength) data. This paper discusses the framework that was developed and implemented.The purpose of this paper is to present an application of engineering may be the most appropriate field within civil fuzzy logic as an organizational framework for a engineering for the development of KBS: --knowledge-based interpretation system in the domain of --In foundation and earthwork engineering, more than in geotechnical engineering. Knowledge-based systems any other field in civil engineering, success depends on (KBS) are emerging as a powerful means of dealing with practical -experience. The design of ordinary soilthe ill-structured problems encountered in many supported or soil-supporting structures is necessarily engineering and medical applications'. (It has been stated2 based on simple empirical rules, but these rules can only be that expert systems are problem-solving programs that used by the engineer who has a background of experience.

Magnesia partially stabilised zirconia (MgO-PSZ), a bioinert ceramic, exhibits high mechanical strength, excellent corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility, but it does not naturally form a direct bond with bone resulting in a lack of osteointegration. The surface properties and structure of a biomaterial play an essential role in protein adsorption. As such, changes in the surface properties and structure of biomaterials may in turn alter their bioactivity. So, the fundamental reactions at the interface of biomaterials and tissue should influence their integration and bone-bonding properties. To this end, CO2 laser radiation was used to modify the surface roughness, crystal size, phase and surface energy of the MgO-PSZ. The basic mechanisms active in improving the surface energy were analysed and found to be the phase change and augmented surface area. The adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA), which is a non-cell adhesive protein, was compared on the untreated and CO2 laser modified MgO-PSZ. It was observed that the thickness of the adsorbed HSA decreased as the polar surface energy of the MgO-PSZ increased, indicating that HSA adsorbed more effectively on the hydrophobic MgO-PSZ surface than the hydrophilic surface. The current study provided important information regarding protein-biomaterial interactions and possible mechanisms behind the cell interaction and in vivo behaviour.