OPIM101 Management Science Case Study : Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light Class section - G2 Done

e by: Brian LIM Shi Wei Joy Nicole FOO Siew Yin Jasmine WONG Yoke Shi Dalia Joy CHAN Jie Xin Deborah Grace TAY Chi Ern

Case study: Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light OPIM101 Management Science Determine the optimal route the trucks should take from Pittsburgh to the Nevada site to complete the trip within 42 hours and expose the trucks to the least number of people possible.

The above is the total possible route, with the population size of each nodes listed (in millions).

Case study: Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light OPIM101 Management Science To determine the optimal route the trucks should take from Pittsburgh to the Nevada site, we have to first define our objective function. The objective in this case would thus be to ensure that the trucks travel through the least populated areas as possible, subject to the government requirement that the journey be completed in 42 hours or less. Minimize Z (Population Size) = X2+X3+X4+X5+X6+X7+X8+X9+X10+X11+X12+X13+X14+X15+X16+X17+X18+X19+X20+X21+ X22+X23+X24+X25+X26+X27+X28+X29+X30+X31+X32 Where, xi = citys population size. Subject to: All possible routes 42 hours To determine the optimal route, we adopted the approach similar to that of a shortest route problem. Steps: 1. Select the node with the smallest population from the starting point, Pittsburgh. 2. Establish a permanent set with the origin node (Pittsburgh) and node that was selected in step 1 (Akron). 3. Determine all nodes directly connected to the permanent set nodes. 4. Select the node with the smallest population from the group of nodes directly connected to the permanent set nodes. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have reached node 33, which is the Nevada waste disposal site. In the interest of efficiency, we have presented you directly with the route that should be taken, to best fulfill the objective function while being subject to the government-imposed constraint.

(1) Pittsburgh (2) Columbus (7) Cincinnati (11) Indianapolis (15) Springfield - (16) Davenport/Moline/Rock Island (19) Des Moines - (23) Omaha (28) Cheyenne (31) Salt Lake City (33) Nevada site

Permanent Set {1} {1,2} {1,2,7} {1,2,7,11} {1,2,7,11,15}

Branch 12 27 7 11 11 15 15 16

Population 0.75 1.20 1.60 0.36 1.00

Case study: Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light OPIM101 Management Science {1,2,7,11,15,16} {1,2,7,11,15,16,19} {1,2,7,11,15,16,19,23} {1,2,7,11,15,16,19,23,28} {1,2,7,11,15,16,19,23,28,31} Solution: Total Distance = 41.7 hours (below the constraint 42 hours) Total Population = 8.23 million 16 19 19 23 23 28 28 31 31 33 0.56 1.40 0.16 1.20 -

The above is the optimal route (highlighted in red).

The above shows the physical representation of the same route: (A): Pittsburgh (B): Akron (C): Toledo 4 (F): Des Moines (G): Omaha (H): Cheyenne

Case study: Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light OPIM101 Management Science (D): Chicago (E): Davenport Introduction: PAWV Power and Light is a company that specializes in the generation of power to various states in the United States. They have recently begun generating nuclear power from power plants in Pittsburgh. This requires them to dispose of the subsequent nuclear waste in a government-operated nuclear waste disposal site in Nevada. In order to determine the optimal route they should take, the management of PAWV Power and Light would use a method similar to a shortest route problem. However, in this case, the objective function would not be concerned with time but rather minimizing the population size. Time would hence be the constraint, as government standards state that travel time must not exceed 42 hours. Recommendations: Safety As a company that deals with nuclear waste, it is critical for PAWV Power and Light to minimize possible exposure to the general public. As such, the objective of the route is mainly to travel through areas, which minimize the population exposed to the trucks carrying nuclear waste. As seen from cases such as Chernobyl and more recently Fukushima, nuclear material, and more importantly its associated radioactive particles, has a great and adverse impact on humans, when we are exposed to it. As such, it is imperative that that the nuclear waste is safely contained. This is done by ensuring the waste is properly reinforced in the trucks used to transport it, complying with government regulations of travelling on the interstate highway system and taking routes in the least populated areas. By taking routes through the least populated areas, this is a precautionary measure in the event that the nuclear waste is improperly contained, or an accident occurs. In such cases, the number of people exposed to the toxic material will be minimized, as it is ensured that the trucks pass through the least populated route in transporting the material. Furthermore, the government regulation that waste transport be completed within 42 hours is also constructed with safety in mind. By ensuring that the nuclear waste is transported within 42 hours, this puts a limit on the time which civilians are potentially exposed to the nuclear material. This hence forces PAWV to complete the job efficiently and hence minimizes the risk exposed to the public, due to the toxic nature of nuclear waste. (I): Salt Lake City (J): Nevada

Case study: Nuclear Waste Disposal at PAWV Power and Light OPIM101 Management Science As such, this 42 hour limit imposed by the government is one of the constraints which PAWV has to keep in mind, even though its main objective is to transport the nuclear waste through the least populated areas as possible. PAWV Power and Light would want to select routes that are the least likely to result in an accident. This keeps their reputation up as a safe and dependable company with social awareness, portraying a positive image to potential clients and customers as well as to the general public. Furthermore, the environmental consequences of even a minor accident would be disastrous. Possible Factors PAWV Power and Light may want to consider the number of vehicles travelling on each of the route and pick those with lesser traffic. This will help the company to reduce not only the risk of accidents, but also the number of vehicles (people) potentially exposed along the optimal route to Neveda site. One method is to avoid transporting the waste material during peak hours. The company may wish to impose a strict speed limit on drivers to ensure higher safety, reducing the potential risk of accidents. Conclusion: To ensure that the nuclear waste disposal carried out by PAWV Power and Light is done in the most efficient and safest manner, the route highlighted above should be taken, from the nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania to the waste disposal site in Nevada. It is by doing so that the company is able to minimize the risks associated with transporting the nuclear waste to the disposal site. Alternatively, with the ever rising costs of fuel, PAWV may also consider setting up another waste disposal site at a location nearer to the nuclear plant.