PROBLEM 4

a)
[1] R. C. Larson and G. Sadiq, "Facility locations with the Manhattan metric in the presence of barriers to
travel,"
In this paper the p-median problem is examined in two dimensional Euclidian space in 2 D Euclidian
space having fixed barriers to travel under the assumption that all travel occurs according to the
Manhattan (rectilinear or l1) metric. For l1 or Manhattan metric in the absence of barriers there are
optimal solutions for a variety of location problem. The solution relies on the fact that problem can be
divided into two independent sub problems. The assignments of demand points to facilities and node
sequence in nodal paths are fixed. The facility is moved to the corner of its cell without increasing the
value of the objective function. The appropriate Polypath network is constructed and network is
collapsed. Once the p-median problem is reduced to a discrete search problem, any of the existing
algorithms can be used for solving the p median on a network.

[2]S. Savas, R. Batta, and R. Nagi, "Finite-size facility placement in the presence of barriers to rectilinear
travel,"

The optical placement of a single finite size facility is examined when there are arbitrary
barriers to rectilinear travel. The interaction between any two points take place on the shortest
feasible rectilinear path between the points. The facility placement problem with fixed facility
orientation is studied. Sets of horizontal and vertical lines are drawn around the barriers and
the new facility. The facility placement problem with fixed server location is studied. If the
barriers and facility are polygonal, the set of candidate placement is finite. A heuristic for finite
size facility placement problem is developed. Optimal methods are used for rectangular barriers
and facility.
The difference is that for the 1st paper due to the problems considerable size, it is essential to
find those algorithms which best exploit its structure. Even if there are as few as 30 fixed nodes,
there may be as many as 900 sites for the facilities. Exact procedures are unlikely to be
successful and we are forced to rely on efficient heuristics.
In the 2nd paper a heuristic for finite size facility is already developed. Optimal methods can also
be used for rectangular barriers and facility.
b) Radio frequency identification technology can be applied to forklifts so that a centralized

traffic control system as in automated guided vehicle systems can be implemented to globally
manage traffic.
To meet the indoor requirements, the technique of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) can
be utilized to play an important locating role in the implementation of an indoor guidance
system. By selecting the start and end points in the operation, the guidance system can suggest
a direct, shortest distance, path. The locations of the passing points are identified and obtained
by retrieving the spatial-related data from the tags next to the moving RFID reader. The
guidance messages, including suggested path, modified path and moving directions, can be
immediately presented to the users and arrive at their destination via the systems graphic and
voice interfaces. A guidance system can be defined as a tool for providing the location and
routing information, such as direction and distance between ones present location and ones

desired destination, using vocal or graphic functions. While executing a guidance mission, a full
system service includes the determination of the standing point, finding the route and direction
to the destination, record of the completed trajectory, and the expectations of time and
distance for the rest of the journey. When the start and end points are set up, any possible
routes pre-defined as the available paths are selected for the routing operation. The system
can select one of the available paths with the shortest distance from the tags spatial
database. The routing operation can automatically provide all the waypoints along the
suggested route, even though the user may not follow the suggestion and take an alternative
route to reach the end point.
Reference
Designing and Implementing a RFID-based Indoor Guidance System, C. C. Chang Department of
Applied Geomatics, Ching Yun University, Taiwan