A research team, led by Professor Sang Jin Kweon in the Department of Industrial Engineering at UNIST has been honored with the Grand Prize at the ‘22nd KSIE University Students Project Competition,’ organized by the Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering (KSIE) on May 10, 2024.
Under the guidance of Professor Kweon and Research Assistant TaeYeop Kang, the project has been participated by Seonghun Choi (Department of Industrial Engineering), SuRyon Ra (Department of Industrial Engineering), MinSeo (School of Business Administration), and YongIl Jang (School of New UNISTars). Their remarkable presentation on an optimization model for the efficient distribution of relief supplies in large-scale disaster scenarios, utilizing a blend of trucks and drones, captivated the audience in attendance.
Through the development of a mathematical optimization model, the team proposed an innovative solution that strategically deployed drones in hard-to-reach areas inaccessible to traditional trucks, such as locations affected by road collapses. The introduction of the concept ‘Parking Node‘ helped overcome challenges associated with flying distances and drone loading, while the implementation of the Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) technique enabled the exploration of optimal solutions for complex, large-scale problems.
The participating students investigated the integration of trucks and drones to address the limitations of existing relief delivery systems in disaster situations, achieving remarkable success. They also expressed their commitment to expanding their research efforts to tackle more intricate challenges, acknowledging the significance of applying optimization knowledge to practical issues in the wake of escalating disaster-related damages.
In preparation for the competition, Professor Kweon’s team received invaluable support from the U Innovative Education Center’s UIRP (Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Project), which facilitates structured research endeavors among undergraduate students, fostering problem-solving skills through convergence research initiatives.
Research Assistant Kang extended gratitude for the team’s triumph, attributing their success to the unwavering support of Professor Kweon and the relentless dedication of the students. Professor Kwon praised the students for their exceptional research capabilities, affirming the team’s steadfast commitment to conducting comprehensive research on diverse mobility solutions.
The Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering (KSIE) stands as a distinguished professional body dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the realms of industrial engineering, business administration, and related interdisciplinary domains. The annual competition, which evaluates outstanding research projects through rigorous document assessments and compelling on-site presentations, draws undergraduate participants from universities across the nation. This year’s event, hosted at Hanbat National University, showcased over 50 teams from various academic institutions, underscoring the high caliber of competition among the talented participants.
