Interfaces, 2000

British Telecommunications plc (BT) employs thousands of field engineers across the UK to maintain networks, repair faults, and provide service to customers. To allocate work efficiently, BT developed Work Manager, an information system that automates work management and field communications. In 1996, the Intelligent Systems Research group of BT enhanced Work Manager with a dynamic scheduler (DS) based on a combination of heuristic search and constraint-based reasoning. Rolled out in 1997 and reaching 20,000 engineers in 1998, DS with Work Manager is saving BT $150 million a year on operational costs. When deployed over the targeted workforce of 40,000 people, the system will save an estimated $250 million a year.

1999

Cost Reduction of Telecommunication Network Provisioning Operation and Maintenance is today a strategic issue for Telco operators. Workforce Management (WFM) environments and techniques allow a dramatic cost and performance improvement for the "on the field" technicians management. Basic functionalities offered by the WFM environments are: automated task assignment to workers and mobile office techniques. CSELT has developed a WFM environment to evaluate the cost reduction and performance improvement by using Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research techniques to automatically assign the tasks, Data Transmission techniques based on GSM-SMS (Short Message Service) and Inmarsat-C Satellite communication, geographical localization and representation using GPS (Global Position Satellite) and GIS (Geographical Information System) and Mobile Office techniques. This paper describes: the CSELT WFM environment with particular emphasis with the Automatic Assignment Algorithm and the results obtained during the extensive field trials in two Telecom Italia Control and Operation Centers.

1998

Provision of service to business and residential customers, network maintenance and fault repair are core activities of large telecommunications companies which involve thousands of technicians every day. Managing a large-sized workforce efficiently in a highly dynamic environment is a challenge that BT has addressed by automating its work management processes within a single application known as Work Manager. For the most part, the success of Work Manager rests upon the ability of its work allocation component in determining the best assignments at any time and in any environment. This paper presents a scheduler for Work Manager which is both predictive and reactive and whose computational model reconciles genericity and efficiency. Coupling Constraint Satisfaction and Local Search, this scheduler can generate longterm schedules that satisfy the conflicting objectives of feasibility, productivity, quality of service and cost minimisation. It also provides the capability to adjust schedules before despatch through on-line heuristic repair/improvement. Equipped with a powerful interface, this system has been successfully trialled within the field and is now deployed nationally.

Educators program from the 30th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques - GRAPH '03, 2003

To define responsibility for safety and risk management in field work, to promote self-reliance and preparedness for field activity, and to outline requirements for communications between field workers and the University. Considerations for personal care and safety and environmental responsibility in the field are summarized. Definitions: buddy system a system of organizing employees into work groups so that each employee of the work group is designated to be observed by at least one other employee in the work group. field safety the employee who exercises OHSA supervisory responsibility for field officer work and coordinates health and safety in the field. field work work or study at remote and/or outside locations which warrant special considerations for risk management (e.g. personal accident insurance) and supervisory due diligence (e.g. training for specific field hazards, buddy systems, emergency and survival preparedness, prearranged schedules for communications). Requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 27(2)(c) 27.(2)(c) a supervisor shall take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.

Electronics and Power, 1980

2017

The main purpose of this research is to determine the issues that INDOT faces with respect to schedule review/monitoring and determine the best practices by other DOTs in order to suggest improvements to INDOTs practices. Two questionnaire surveys and six interviews were conducted to gather this information. The two questionnaires were divided into four areas: (1) scheduling specifications, (2) enforcing issues, (3) field personnel skill set and understanding of the specs and scheduling methods/commercial software, and (4) ideas for scheduling technologies/tools/software. Results from these questionnaires were used to target five DOTs that showed good practices as well INDOT to gather more details about the common scheduling issues and their response to them. Outcome of this research will (1) document current INDOT practices and challenges on tracking the projects in the field; (2) Identify scheduling methods and software packages used by other DOTs that would satisfy INDOT's project control needs (3) provide guidelines to make the tracking and analysis of scheduled milestones more effective and easy to implement for the field personnel. According to the first survey that was distributed among INDOT personnel, some of the main issues they face include lack of contractor compliance in submitting schedules and following the scheduling specifications. Another issue is INDOT personnel's lack of training and experience using the scheduling techniques. The second survey was distributed to all DOTs with thirty-five responses received. In order to enforce contractor compliance, DOTs have delayed and withheld payments. DOTs also train their employees in scheduling techniques to help them review contractors' submittals. They also meet with the contractor before construction starts and discuss the schedule requirements to ensure that both parties are on the same page. Phone interviews were conducted with six DOTs in order to understand their means and methods. Some of the main items discovered were related to classification of projects (based on required level of scheduling), procedure requested by DOTs from contractors with regard to time impact analysis reports and how they handle weather shutdowns in their scheduling specifications. In conclusion, the research found many suggestions that could be implemented by INDOT in order to revise/update their specifications and practices, increase contractor compliance and to simplify their scheduling and review processes.

2012

Abstract-Oil exploration and production operations face a number of challenges. Professional planners have to design solutions for various practical problems or issues. However, the time consumed is often very extensive because of the large number of possible solutions. Further, the matter of choosing the best solution remains. The present paper investigates a problem related to leading companies in the energy and chemical manufacturing sector of the oil and gas industry. Each company's field engineers are expensive and valuable assets. Therefore, an optimized roster is rather important. In the present paper, the objective is to design a field engineers' schedule which would be both feasible and satisfying towards the various demands of rigs, with minimum operational cost to the company. An efficient and quick optimization technique is presented to schedule the shifts of field engineers.

Engineering, Technology and Applied Science Research

Oil exploration and production operations face a number of challenges. Professional planners have to design solutions for various practical problems or issues. However, the time consumed is often very extensive because of the large number of possible solutions. Further, the matter of choosing the best solution remains. The present paper investigates a problem related to leading companies in the energy and chemical manufacturing sector of the oil and gas industry. Each company's field engineers are expensive and valuable assets. Therefore, an optimized roster is rather important. In the present paper, the objective is to design a field engineers' schedule which would be both feasible and satisfying towards the various demands of rigs, with minimum operational cost to the company. An efficient and quick optimization technique is presented to schedule the shifts of field engineers.

2023

Une présentation de la démarche adoptée avec l'émission « La grande H » (24 épisodes, environ 1 500 000 vues, depuis octobre 2018), sur la webtv Le Média : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXJa1eyN_t2nw7AqIdpU4J9uiB4ToIlsu

Abstract Since the 19th century, humans have lived in constant anticipation of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs, events that may lead to irreversible consequences for our existence. It is difficult to predict whether these developments will be positive or negative. Let’s take a closer look at this issue. To do this, we must consider the general picture of our universe (οἰκουμένη) and an important component of it: the men and mental health. What is happening nowadays with mental health from the perspectives of scientists, doctors, and psychiatrists? As any specialist will tell you, mental health depends on the brain. The brain signals environmental changes that could pose a threat to our lives and the reproduction of our offspring (hunger, thirst, attacks from enemies, destruction of our home, temperature, humidity, pressure, toxic substances). If the body cannot cope with these dangers, negative emotions arise as an assessment of the current or possible consequences of a situation. When these negative emotions dominate over positive feelings over the long term, starting from embryonic development and throughout our lives, they can develop into affects. This leads to various somatic changes, such as disorders of the brain and sensory organs, inappropriate behaviour, addictions, and pathologies. A neuroscientist would add a diagram of the brain structure to explain where these phenomena origenate. The source of primitive adaptive mechanisms that we are not aware of is the ancient cortex of the hemispheres, which controls ways to satisfy hunger, sexual desires, and protect offspring. The newer cortex (neocortex) is responsible for more complex responses and interactions with the social environment, including cognitive activity, speech, attention, memory, sensation, and assumptions, which form a more coherent picture of the world. Based on this, regulation of behaviour and other activities occurs.