Optimising an elevator dispatching system

Reference Number: ML-2018-PhD-1

Project Summary:
The proposal to develop an elevator dispatching system (EDS) using visually interactive simulation software. The challenge to incorporate intelligent decision making techniques within the dispatching algorithm to become the test-bed for experimentation and dispatching scenario optimisation. A decision making tool of this calibre will have a noticeable impact on the operational efficiency of elevators leading to improved service levels and performance.

Specific Requirements of the Project

Knowledge or experience of the elevator environment would be useful. Modelling and simulation skills are desirable using process simulation software e.g. Witness. Ability to work independently and methodically. Logical thinking skills. Some understanding of operations management, management science. General programming aptitude is desirable.

Project Aims and Objectives

To provide for an efficient elevator dispatching system a variety of diverse and sometimes conflicting constraints have to be solved. How long passengers wait and how many passengers can be served in some time period, depends on the dispatching strategy used by the elevators that decides where to go. A dispatcher plays an important role in determining the time for which the passengers have to wait before the elevator arrives (waiting time). The waiting times of the passenger for an elevator to arrive or to serve their request are often heard as complaints by the passengers. The maximum rate of serving passengers is achieved if the elevator carries a full load of passengers throughout its trip and makes a minimum number of stops per trip. Not surprisingly, the times of greatest traffic and greatest challenge to the dispatching algorithm are the morning and evening rush hours. Dispatchers are generally designed primarily for these difficult periods. Despite good designs, practically dispatchers have not achieved the efficiency levels that society expects often resulting with the most common complaint “waiting time was for too high”. Therefore, an intelligent elevator dispatcher system is required to solve this problem of optimization of multiple objectives.

The aim of the research is to design and develop an elevator decision support system (EDSS) to monitor the performance of different dispatching algorithms and explore strategies to reduce average waiting time, average system time.

Objective
I. Review the current approaches to the dynamic modelling of elevators, and their dispatching algorithms
II. Map the operations of an elevator into a computer model using Discrete-Event Simulation.
III. Develop a simulation model appropriately validated using realistic dispatcher data and traffic flow data.
IV. Analyse the potential of different dispatching algorithms and their effects on operational efficiency.

Project is open to: Home/EU and overseas

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr M. Latif
Tel +44 (0)161 247 6264 email [Email Address Removed]