Announcing simulation model "Conference optiloo"
Conference optiloo will be a visual simulation model designed for large conference centres where the management wish to reduce congestion at their toilets at the end of addresses and speeches. It should be based on the premise that most conference centres have used national or international guidelines for the number of washrooms on the assumption of a 50:50 split of genders among the delegates. These guidelines should be adequate for a wide range of splits of genders from roughly 20:80 to 80:20. Conference optiloo will be designed to assist the planning where the gender split is more heavily weighted than these figures suggest. Examples might be conventions for women in management or organisations where males are most numerous.
The simulation model will use observed data from conferences to measure the demand for washrooms after long plenary sessions, giving typical time-dependent rates of arrival for users during the breaks between such session. Using publicly available data for the gender-specific distribution of occupancy time of washrooms, adjusted if empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that these times are reduced when the user is aware of a queue outside, the model will provide the conference management staff with visual information about the build-up of queues at restrooms. The model will offer such staff the ability to change the gender allocation of each washroom area from male, to unisex, to female, again making allowance for empirical behaviour of patrons in a unisex facility. A fast-running model in the background will complement the visual output with statistics from several independent runs of the model, which can be used to make informed comparisons of alternative systems. Its use could be extended to large theatres, sports grounds and auditoria
This simulation model is bound to have widespread application as seen in this blog entry. Please note that the model does not actually exist, nor that I am not planning to research or write it - but the idea is offered to anyone who wishes to develop it further - but please credit me with the idea!
The simulation model will use observed data from conferences to measure the demand for washrooms after long plenary sessions, giving typical time-dependent rates of arrival for users during the breaks between such session. Using publicly available data for the gender-specific distribution of occupancy time of washrooms, adjusted if empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that these times are reduced when the user is aware of a queue outside, the model will provide the conference management staff with visual information about the build-up of queues at restrooms. The model will offer such staff the ability to change the gender allocation of each washroom area from male, to unisex, to female, again making allowance for empirical behaviour of patrons in a unisex facility. A fast-running model in the background will complement the visual output with statistics from several independent runs of the model, which can be used to make informed comparisons of alternative systems. Its use could be extended to large theatres, sports grounds and auditoria
This simulation model is bound to have widespread application as seen in this blog entry. Please note that the model does not actually exist, nor that I am not planning to research or write it - but the idea is offered to anyone who wishes to develop it further - but please credit me with the idea!
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