Free event: Applications of Systems Thinking

THIRD SECTOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

APPLICATIONS OF SYSTEMS THINKING

Friday 17^th March 2017, 14.00-17.00

(Arrival/registration/tea and coffee from 13.30)

CAN-Mezzanine 7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR

Systems thinking is a powerful way of understanding the world, and accordingly, systems approaches can be powerful ways of addressing real-world problems. This half-day event is an opportunity to hear from people who are using systems approaches to address community and social issues, and to discuss the potential and the challenges of such approaches.

Speakers include Gerald Midgley, Professor of Systems Thinking at Hull University Business School, talking about resolving stakeholder conflict in a range of community settings; Miles Weaver from Edinburgh Napier University on how systems approaches have helped identify better ways for communities and socially responsible businesses to build value; Penny Lawrence, Deputy Director of Oxfam, on applying systems thinking to Oxfam’s change programme; and Rob Abercombie, Director of Research and Consultancy at New Philanthropy Capital, discussing key lessons from the NPC/Lankelly Chase study of systems change for addressing social problems.

The event should be of interest to third sector managers interested in how systems thinking can be applied to their own challenges; to OR professionals interested in learning about different systems methodologies and their applications; and to anybody interested in how systems thinking can help us to drive change.

To book: The event is free to attend but we expect this to be a very popular event and space is limited, so places must be booked in advance, by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/or-society-third-sector-sig-applications-of-systems-thinking-tickets-31120017811

For further information please contact:   felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com

Provisional timetable

2.00-2.05              Introduction/welcome

2.05-2.45              Gerald Midgley

2.45-3.15               Miles Weaver

3.15-3.30               break

3.30-4.00              Penny Lawrence

4.00-4.30              Rob Abercrombie

4.30-5.00              discussion, informal networking

New projects requiring volunteers with #ProBonoOR

Please find details of a new project below with Hestia, plus several other projects we are also recruiting volunteers for.  

Hestia

Project summary:

Project: The Hestia Approach Performance & Impact Framework - To create a performance and impact framework to measure the impact of the Hestia Approach transformation project within the organisation and upon strategic objectives

Time commitment: approx. 10 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: London

Please read project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 28th February.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Our mission is to deliver high quality and empowering housing, support, protection and care services in partnership with service users and local communities.

Main activities of the organisation: 

We support people fleeing domestic abuse, people who have been trafficked, people with mental health, older people, young people, ex offenders, people with learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Delivering support via accommodation based, outreach, community engagement and advocacy services.

We also have three other projects we are still recruiting for.  If you require the project scope as an attachment please sent me an email request.

NIDAS

Project summary:

Project: Activity analysis & cost recovery model: Develop a high-level process model of the organisation that can be used to capture where staff spend their time. For frontline delivery activities, quantify the proportion of costs that are recovered.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Nottinghamshire (a lot of the work could be carried out remotely)

Please read project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 22nd February.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Area of benefit: Survivors of current or historic domestic abuse

Our core purpose is our fundamental reason for being

·        To keep people safe emotionally and physically

Main activities of the organisation: 

Support and advocacy, 1-1, group, specialist programs

EBP South

Project summary:

Project: Develop Performance Dashboard - EBP would like help to develop a Performance Dashboard to be used for internal management and Board Reporting.

Time commitment: approx. 4 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Portsmouth (could be carried out remotely)

Please read project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 22nd February.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

For the Public Benefit, to advance, promote and assist in the effective education and development of young people and adults in order to develop their individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding in subjects of educational value including career and life skills together with collaboration with local businesses and business organisations in England and Wales in such ways as the charity Trustees think fit.

Main activities of the organisation: 

Work Experience placements; Mentoring programmes for young people linked to volunteers from business; employability programmes in schools; enterprise activities; career inspiration events; careers guidance and education.

Fulham Good Neighbours

Project summary:

Project: Assessing the impact of Fulham Good Neighbours

Time commitment: approx. 5 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at their first meeting.

Location: Fulham, SW6 7QT.

Please read project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me asap (there is currently no deadline as the organisation is happy to wait).

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Our aims are to enable elderly, disabled and vulnerable people to:

-        Live independently and to contribute to society,

-        Help overcome isolation and loneliness,

-        Be at the heart of the local community.

Main activities of the organisation: 

Fulham Good Neighbours support mainly older people, including those with dementia, with practical tasks at home such as basic DIY, gardening, and decorating. We do what any good neighbour would: collect medication, escort to appointments, accompany shopping and take care of pets to name just a few of our free services delivered by over 50 volunteers, many of whom are older people.

If you would like to volunteer on a project but are not able to commit to the full time requirement please let me know as it may be possible to pair you up with another analyst.  

Lastly if you would like to work on a project as part of a pair or with the support of a mentor please indicate on your application and we try to facilitate this. 

I look forward to hearing from you and once again thank you for your help and support.

For further information about the scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono  

Free software software/tools available to O.R./analytical professionals

A variety of analytical and modelling techniques have been used for Pro Bono O.R. projects so far, including:

·       discrete event simulation,

·       statistical analysis/data mining,

·       forecasting,

·       process modelling,

·       system dynamics.

 As a result we have started compiling an evolving list of software / tools which may help to solve different types of problem. These tools could be useful not only for those working on our 3^rd sector projects but O.R./analytical professionals looking to develop their all-round “O.R. toolkit”.

The list so far includes 40 tools across a range of areas including:

·         Statistical analysis (e.g. PSPP, R)

·         Data visualisation (e.g. D3, Gephi, Vizable)

·         Geospatial and mapping (e.g. QGIS, GDAL, MapsData)

·         Programming languages (e.g. Python, Ruby)

·         Databases (e.g. PostGres, SQLlilte, ArangoDB)

·         Optimisation (e.g. Pyomo, OpenSolver)

·         Simulation (e.g. SimPy, Insight Maker)

·         Supply Chain (e.g. OpenBoxes, Odoo)

The list is ever-evolving and we would welcome further contributions or to hear about any tools or software you have successfully used in the past. Ideally the software should be free to use. The list can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/s/crkoc002bo0j37p/Useful%20Software%20list.xlsx?dl=0.

Please email any suggestions to felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com.

If you want to find out more about volunteering for a project more information on the scheme is available here

Analysts: volunteer your skills for good causes with Pro Bono O.R.

Pro Bono O.R. is a scheme run by The OR Society that connects volunteer analysts with voluntary sector organisations across the UK to work on short term projects in order to assist them in making operational improvements. The aim of Pro Bono O.R. is to help third sector organisations to do a better job, impacting upon desired outcomes, and build capacity by using the skills of volunteer O.R. analysts and consultants. Types of projects include: data analysis, process improvement, strategic planning, risk analysis, efficiency improvement, decisions making, impact measurement, scheduling and business planning.

Volunteers can work on projects individually or as part of a team (you can apply individually and request to be part of a team). There is also a possibility to work with the support of a mentor. Benefits of volunteering include:

• Being involved in the whole project cycle
• Working in a different sector
• Building your CV
• New challenges
• Consultancy skills
• Team building
• Learning new skills
• Making a real difference

To hear what current volunteer analysts have to say please watch this short video.

Being a volunteer does not require any commitment, it just means you will receive information about projects that require volunteers.

For further information about O.R. and the ways in which it can help please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/probono

You can connect with Felicity McLeister, the project coordinator, on Twitter, LinkedIn and via her blog.

3rd Sector Operational Research makes National News

Operational Research has been making headline news recently. Click here for more information.

Dr. Giles Hindle from Hull University Business School recently headed up an analytics project to develop new tools to support the Trussel Trust in the UK. Data scientists, business model specialists and academics worked with the Trust on a NEMODE project funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK)’s Digital Economy programme. The project help the trust make the crucial link between their business model and the value of analytics. The team then used cutting edge data science techniques to learn more about the foodbank usage patterns and trends that underpin emergency food provision in the UK. As well as conducting data exploration the team has created the UK’s first dynamic visualisation tool for crises related to food poverty. The prototype uses foodbank data to map geographical demand and also aligns findings to 2011 Census data to predict where additional foodbanks may be needed.

Join us for a free event on 8th June in Manchester where a number of speakers will describe how O.R. has benefited their business. Hear Giles describe first-hand how the project was conducted and find out how you could commission analytical projects for your organisation.

Click Here for further details and to make a booking.

Pro Bono O.R. is a scheme operated by The OR Society that places professional analysts in short term projects with third sector organisations in the UK.

Projects require skilled professionals who work in operational research, analytics or related professions. If you have the skills required for a project, we’d love to hear from you.


Please find details of two new projects below that we are seeking a volunteer(s) for:


Please note all these projects are suitable for an individual, pair or team of analysts. If you would like to volunteer on a project but are not able to commit to the full time requirement please let me know as it may be possible to pair you up with another analyst. Lastly if you would like to work on a project with the support of a mentor please do specify in your application and I can try to arrange this.


Marys

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Working together with the community to inspire and enable everyone to reach their full potential in a safe, stimulating and welcoming environment.

Main activities of the organisation: Youth club. Pre School. Play Scheme. Meeting Rooms.


Project summary:

Project (1): Improving profitability of room-hire: To help Mary’s rooms letting department to identify ways of improving overall revenue

Project (2): Doing the right things, better: To help Mary’s rooms letting department to use their time better, in order to deliver a safer, more responsive and more efficient service

Time commitment: Up to 5 days for each project.

Location: Islington. The volunteer(s) should be able to spend at least two days on site, to meet staff, collect data, and review results; the remainder of the work can be carried out remotely.

Please read project scope (1) project scope (2) and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 27th April.

We are still looking for volunteers for the following two projects:

Tritons Swim School CIC

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Education – both swimming lessons and vocational training

Main activities of the organisation: Swimming lessons and vocational training in Aquatics


Project summary:

Project: Social Franchise for swim schools - Carry out an information mapping exercise to help develop a product enabling schools to run swimming lessons, keeping pools open.

Time commitment: Up to 5 days

Location: NE London (Waltham Forest College E17 4JB). Much of the work could be done remotely, however two sessions would be required to be carried out at the office.

Please read the project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Monday 25th April.


Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Information about the organisation:

Main activities of the organisation: Manor Gardens is a multicultural health and social care charity who work with local people to change their lives, tell their stories and influence the world.


Project summary:

Project: Review use of accommodation (utilisation, income) and the database that supports the management of it. Recommend options for improved utilisation/revenue and management of these.

Time commitment: Approx. 5-6 days, over 2-3 months.

Location: London, N7 6LA. Initial meeting on site and then further work to be carried out remotely.

Please read the project scope and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Monday 25th April.

If you are interested in working on any of these projects but cannot meet the deadline specified please do register your interest in the first instance before the deadline.

I look forward to hearing from you and once again thank you for your help and support.

Great feedback from Diabetes UK

A team of volunteers has recently finish a project with Diabetes UK (case study slide to follow shortly).

This is what Diabetes UK had to say at the end of the project:

'I would recommend to other charities looking for consultants to deliver operational projects that they reach out to O.R. in the first instance – securing first class consultants/volunteers who will deliver a project for free is something that no charity should overlook!'

Here's what the had to say about the volunteers:

'The team were able to pull out the key issues that were causing delays/duplication within our processes and systems and make a wide range of recommendations for us to deliver on. They were really easy to communicate with and took on board feedback from us at various stages and were dedicated to helping us achieve our goals.'

This is what they said about the difference it would make:

'We now have a raft of recommendations to deliver that will help us reduce inefficiencies in our processes. It has also highlighted areas for us to spend more time evaluating and we will now take them forward. Ultimately, this work will help us provide a better standard of supporter care to all donors across the charity.'

All the Pro Bono O.R. volunteers are doing a great job and making a significant difference.

To find out more and to see how to get involved, please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx

OR & Oxfam: optimising donation bank collections (write up and video now available) #ORblog

Many thanks to Tom Cherrett for a great presentation on his work with Oxfam illustrating the application of remote monitoring technology and optimisation techniques to collect donations more efficiently.

To view the full presentation please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/latestnews.aspx

Below is a full write up from the event (by Nigel Cummings)

OR and Oxfam

(The OR Society: Joint Third Sector SIG, SORG and CORMSIS Event)

A recent presentation given by Tom Cherrett, Associate Professor, Logistics and Transport Planning, Southampton University, illustrated the application of remote monitoring technology and optimisation techniques to collect donations more efficiently.

Many shops around the country have “food banks” where shoppers can deposit unwanted non-perishable items possibly bought in a BOGOF deal. Charity shops also often receive items that they cannot sell but are perhaps too good to throw away. Oxfam recognised that collecting these items accounts for something like 20% of their income and thought O.R. might be able to make significant reductions in this.

While the main focus of Tom’s presentation concerned work done for Oxfam, he also had the time to detail some of the processes involved in achieving logistics efficiencies in other organisations.  Primarily his talk concerned the implementation of remote sensor technology in donation banks to help organisations like Oxfam more efficiently judge “fill levels” and allocate appropriate times for donation bank collections.

Using the fill levels reported daily and derived collection strategies using tabu search methods Tom Cherrett’s team had achieved considerable efficiencies and overcome many obstacles associated with donation bank management. One of the problems they had to address was neatly illustrated by a slide which showed a small child being used by donation thieves to enter donation banks and remove contents (Fagin would have been proud!).

Such despicable acts were all too common, and it was a goal of this research to find ways of reducing this type of pilfering.  The work undertaken had involved equipping Oxfam banks with infra-red sensors that measured how full the banks were, reporting the data twice daily, and using it to schedule collections more efficiently whilst reducing thieving.

O.R. methods were employed to help provide indicators as to the most appropriate times to make collections. The proposed routes output by the algorithm used for each day of operation were then adjusted by Oxfam's transport manager to take into account issues such as round balancing, vehicle access restrictions, staff availability and other constraints.

A trial was run 2013 with the results showing a relatively modest time and distance savings (~3%) initially, these being limited by Oxfam's fixed shop servicing constraints. It was estimated that savings of up to 25% could be made by easing these restrictions. These savings were based on a set of rules that only allowed banks to become eligible for servicing once they had reached a specific fill level.

The fill/collection problem was made more complex by the need for the collection vans to visit Oxfam shops on a fixed schedule basis to remove unsold textiles too. Following live and simulated trials, the results suggested that time and distance savings of up to 30% over the current fixed schedules could be achieved when a minimum bank and shop fill level of between 50% and 60% was used as a collection trigger.

Some of the outcomes from the project are now being developed commercially in the form of a mobile phone app, to allow area managers, shop managers and drivers to communicate and manage collection scheduling in a more dynamic way. Other benefits included greater flexibility for transport managers working at Oxfam, to schedule ad hoc work and offer shops additional collections. The Oxfam drivers benefited too as the efficiencies achieved in logistics and better division of labour meant that sometimes it was possible to finish work an hour early.

The work with Oxfam is ongoing, and it is expected that further efficiencies will be achieved.

Free event: O.R. & Oxfam

O.R. & Oxfam: Optimising donation bank collections using remote monitoring sensors

(The OR Society: Joint Third Sector SIG, SORG and CORMSIS Event)

Date/time:         Thursday 11 June 2015

Registration from 15.30 with refreshments

Talk 16.00-17.30

Location:           University of Southampton, Highfield Campus

Building 2, Room 3043

Please use this link for directions:

            http://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/visit/highfield-campus.page  

Cost:                 FREE

The major charities can spend around 20% of their income on logistics, collecting new donations from donation banks and recycling unsellable textiles via various outlets. This talk will describe the key learning outcomes from a project undertaken with Oxfam which installed remote monitoring sensors into a subset of their textile donation banks and using the fill levels reported daily, derived collection strategies using tabu search methods. These were based on a set of rules to only allow banks to become eligible for servicing once they had reached a specific fill level. The problem was made more complex by the need for the collection vans to also visit Oxfam shops on a fixed schedule basis to remove unsold textiles. Following live and simulated trials, the results suggested that time and distance savings of up to 30% over the current fixed schedules could be achieved when a minimum bank and shop fill level of between 50% and 60% was used as a collection trigger. Some of the outcomes from the project are now being developed commercially in the form of an app, to allow the area managers, shop managers and drivers to communicate and manage collection scheduling in a more dynamic way.

To book your place please visit: Eventbrite: O.R. & Oxfam

For further information please contact:   felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com            

Note: Please note parking is limited so you are advised to travel by public transport (there are excellent bus links to the university from both train stations).  If you do require parking please contact me ASAP.            

O.R. & Oxfam: Optimising donation bank collections using remote monitoring sensors #ORblog

A great example of how Operational Research is applied:

Cherrett, T.J., Shingleton, Duncan and Norton, Ben et al. (2014) Developing a smartphone app to enhance Oxfam's supply chain visibility. International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications

This paper reports on the development of a smartphone app designed to give drivers and managers in a charity organisation greater visibility of transport, donation bank and shop stock in time and space. Trials of the app with samples of drivers and shop managers across three counties in the UK showed that users’ understanding of vehicle activity and how time was utilised in the business was enhanced. The app also informed their decision making, aided some collaboration and helped in their understanding of donation bank and shop performance, with one region altering their collection schedules. The quality of 3G signal was an issue in certain areas which impeded performance and the rules by which the messaging platform should be used in such a tool need careful consideration.

A version of the app is currently being developed and tested by a commercial company working with Oxfam which will run the algorithm described in the paper

To request a copy of the paper please visit: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/370805/ 

Pro Bono O.R. provides free consultancy to help CIC evaluate the impact of their antenatal classes #ORblog #ThisisOR

Pro Bono O.R. provides free consultancy to help CIC evaluate the impact of their antenatal classes.

Parentskool requested Pro Bono O.R. support to analyse and evaluate the impact from their antenatal classes on first time parents across various factors: by socio-demographics and other cross analysis to produce an independent evaluation of their outcomes.

Parentskool’s vision is for every parent to be informed, prepared and confident in their ability to care for their baby. Their mission is to provide realistic, fun and confidence-building antenatal courses, and other products and services, that supports their vision to inform and prepare parents-to-be, resulting in more confident, healthier and happier parents and babies.

A volunteer analyst was matched to the CIC who carried out data entry for approximately 300 post course survey and 60 post-natal surveys using customised VBA forms in Excel.  Results of the surveys demonstrated that social-impact targets and values were being met by Parentskool, who were then able to show these findings to fundraisers.  Additionally they now have a system for data entry which automatically produces high level results to use going forward.

CEO of Parentskool: ‘This work has made a huge difference as it means we have instant outcomes data which we can use in fundraising and talking to commissioners.’

 The OR Society launched its Pro Bono O.R. initiative for UK based third sector organisations in September 2013. The society wants more organisations to benefit from operational research and recognises that third sector organisations have an even greater need to reduce costs and increase efficiency and effectiveness.

The purpose of O.R. is to enable managers to make more effective decisions.  Organisations may seek a very wide range of operational improvements - for example, greater efficiency, better customer service, higher quality or lower cost. No matter what size or at what stage your organisation is, no matter what kind of decision, problem, or opportunity you face, O.R. can offer the flexibility and adaptability to provide objective help.

These are some of the issues the organisations we’ve worked with have faced:

·         ‘We have lots of different options for the future but it’s impossible to decide which to choose in such uncertain times.’

·          ‘We’re under huge pressure to do more with less, and we don’t know how we’re going to do it.’

·          ‘It’s hard to stay objective when we’re faced with such emotionally charged decisions.’

·          ‘We know we’re doing a good job – but how can we prove it?’

For further information about how Pro Bono O.R. could help your organisation please contact Felicity McLeister or visit the Pro Bono O.R. webpage.

                               

Operational Research - among the best job of 2015! #ORblog #ThisIsOR

More evidence that O.R. is the best job, with O.R. skills being cited among the top ten jobs of 2015.

With mathematician, statistician and data scientist all appearing in the top 10 jobs of 2015, there has never been a better time to be in O.R. 

See the following link for more details: Independent: top 10 jobs

For more information about O.R. please visit: 

The OR Society

The Society's main function is to enable members to acquire, share and exchange knowledge. To find out more about O.R. or for teaching resources go to Learn About O.R. Looking to improve your business or organisation? Go to The Science of Better.

Tweet chat tonight: what is O.R. and how can it help charities? #charityhour

Join @CharityHourUK using the hashtag #charityhour for a tweet chat today from 8-9pm (GMT) 

We will be exploring the following questions:

• What role does pro bono consultancy have to play in the Third Sector?
• What's your experience of using pro bono consultancy?
• What tips do you have for others considering using pro bono consultancy?
• What type of projects benefit most from pro bono consultancy?
• Big data is a big thing! What tips do you have for getting insights from your data?
• What is Operational Research and how can it be used to help the Charities?

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Thanks for your support!

Still time to book: Free Seminar How O.R. is Helping Provide Services to Young People

O.R. SOCIETY THIRD SECTOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

Spring seminar

SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE

 

Date/time:       Thursday 23^rd April 2015

 Registration from 14:30
 Talks 15.00 to 17:00 followed by wine and nibbles

Location:       Room 1.07

                        New Academic Building

                        London School of Economics

                        54 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London

                        WC2A 3LT

Cost:                FREE

There are many thousands of charities providing services to young people, aiming to ensure that no matter how vulnerable they are, or what risks and deprivations they face, they will have the chance to enjoy their childhoods and have a safe and happy future.

How can O.R. help these organisations? Is there anything special about the nature of the analytical or decision-making support needed when the service users are young people? What can we learn from the experiences of O.R. interventions?

This seminar will include a series of talks by O.R. professionals who are working pro-bono for charities supporting young people. The charities involved include The Childhood Trust, Elfrida Rathbone, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The talks will be followed by a general discussion of special issues affecting young people.

To book your place please visit: Eventbrite: Services to Young People

Please note this event is free but places are limited.

For further information please contact:   felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com

IFORS news: Pro bono O.R. Delivers Quick Response to Call Center Problem

Check out the latest edition of IFORS news that contains lots of great articles including a Pro Bono O.R. case study.

For the full edition click here

£2.8 million Operational Research project is to find ways to address the UK’s airport congestion

Original post from: AirTrafficManagement.net

'A £2.8 million project is to find ways to address the UK’s airport congestion without relying solely on new airport building and expansion.

The OR-MASTER Programme Grant (Mathematical Models and Algorithms for Allocating Scarce Airport Resources) is to be led by a team at Lancaster University Management School, working with Computing, Science and Mathematics researchers at the University of Stirling.

The research has been funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) in response to growing concerns over airport capacity, rising demand, and the impact of congestion on both the travelling public and the air transport industry.

The work will build on UK expertise in operational research to find the most efficient ways to schedule flights, developing and testing new models and solution algorithms that take into account all the factors involved in the allocation of flight ‘slots’: individual airport operations, networks of airports, airline operations, air traffic management systems, airport authorities, civil aviation authorities, airlines and the travelling public.

Project lead, Professor Konstantinos G. Zografos at Lancaster University Management School, said: “Existing approaches to airport slot allocation do not consider all the real-world complexity involved. Therefore, there is room to improve airport capacity utilization which will benefit airlines, airports and the travelling public.

“It will support policy makers and air transport decision makers here and overseas in getting to grips with airport congestion and in optimally allocating scarce airport resources. The air transport industry generally will benefit from acquiring a better understanding of the trade-off between  capacity utilization, and passenger and airline schedule  delays.”

Professor Kevin Glazebrook from Lancaster University Management School said: “There is an international research effort to find solutions to a problem that’s high on the agenda for air transport decision and policy makers globally. With its reputation in Operational Research, the UK should be leading the way in meeting this challenge, and the new funding will help us do that.”

Professor Edmund Burke will lead the project at the University of Stirling, where he is Senior Deputy Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Professor Burke said: “It is recognised that as economies grow and as the need for air travel grows, greater capacity at airports is required. We are delighted to receive this grant, which will investigate – from a mathematical and computational perspective – whether capacity management is being realised as efficiently and effectively as possible.

“By incorporating the needs of a wide variety of stakeholders, including airspace operators, airports, airlines and travellers, we aim to produce a better solution not just for the UK, but for the wider international community.”

Over the six years of the project, OR-MASTER will involve close collaboration between Lancaster University, the University of Stirling, and a host of organisations internationally that will support the project providing real-world data, insights and expertise: National Air Traffic Services (NATS) in the UK; Eurocontrol (managing air traffic across Europe); Park Air Systems; KLM Air France; Zurich Airport and Athens International Airport; the research organisations linked to the national air navigation services for Italy and Spain (SICTA and CRIDA); SESAR (Single European Sky research body); the Airport Services Association; Goldair Handling; ACI Europe (Airports Council International); the HALA! SESAR network of leading researchers in Europe working in the area of Air Traffic Management automation; NEXTOR II (National Centre of Excellence for Aviation Operations Research); the MIT International Centre for Air Transport Research (MIT-ICAT) in the USA; and DLR, the German Airspace Research Centre. The project represents a strong partnership between academia, the air transport industry and policy makers.

At Lancaster OR-MASTER will be  undertaken  by  the Centre for Transport and Logistics (CENTRAL) Research (a newly established Research Centre in the Department of Management Science), and will link into existing Operational Research-related development initiatives and expertise at Lancaster University: the STOR-i doctoral training centre (one of the new generation of Centres for Doctoral Training supported by funding from the EPSRC) and the Lancaster Data Science Institute, which is generating new interdisciplinary approaches to address data-driven research challenges around the world. At the University of Stirling, OR-MASTER will be undertaken by the CHORDS (Computational Heuristics, Operational Research and Decision Support) research group.  Formed in 2011, it explores and develops computational search methodologies and models that emerge from studying the complexity and uncertainty of real world scheduling, optimisation and decision support problems. Members have strong connections with leading UK universities and internationally-renowned industrial partners.

OR-MASTER will create opportunities for 12 new researchers across both institutions to gain experience with international research centres and air transport industry organizations.EPSRC Chief Executive Professor Philip Nelson said:“Put simply, world-class projects like this help to make the UK the best place in the world to research, discover and innovate. This investment will fuel the UK’s technological progress, help address the challenges of today and tomorrow, and contribute to a strong economy.”'