Applications of Operational Research in Engineering Sciences and Sustainable Development

Call for Papers & Main topics of interest

Operational Research, or Operations Research or Management Science, is an interdisciplinary field that applies mathematical and statistical models to solve complex problems and aid decision-making processes. In engineering sciences and sustainable development, OR can be applied in many areas, such as energy, transportation, water resources management, climate change mitigation, waste management, and more.

Therefore, in the last decades, there has been an increase in the application of optimisation methods in the engineering sciences. Mathematical models and algorithms have been used to optimise engineering systems' design, planning and operation, such as transportation, manufacturing, and energy systems. Also, probabilistic models and simulation techniques have been used for many engineering problems involving uncertainty, such as demand variability, weather conditions, and equipment failures. Furthermore, OR methods and techniques have been used in the context of sustainability mainly for:

(a) the optimisation of renewable energy systems to maximise energy output and minimise costs,

(b) the optimisation of transportation networks to reduce carbon emissions and improve transportation efficiency,

(c) the optimisation of water management systems to reduce water consumption and improve water quality,

(d) the optimisation of climate change mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and

(e) the optimisation of waste management systems to minimise waste generation and improve waste recycling rates.

The purpose of this collection is to disseminate recent scientific advances on the application of Operational Research in Engineering Sciences and Sustainable Development. This collection aims to collect high-quality, contemporary research articles on the described theme. Also, it aims to provide researchers and practitioners with insights into how OR techniques can be used to improve sustainability and address pressing environmental challenges.

We welcome research articles promoting Operational Research for Engineering Sciences and Sustainable Development, adopting theoretical or empirical approaches. This call of papers encourages the submission of work that examines Operational Research with applications in several engineering areas (e.g. aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical & process engineering, civil, environmental, & architectural engineering, electrical engineering, financial engineering, geosciences, healthcare engineering, industrial & systems engineering, mechanical engineering & MDO, robotics, and transportation & logistics) and sustainability (e.g. climate change mitigation strategies, renewable energy systems, waste management systems) using methodological tools or techniques such as (but not limited to) the following: mathematical optimisation, heuristics, metaheuristics and nature-inspired optimisation algorithms, multiple criteria decision analysis, linear and nonlinear programming, agent-based modelling, big data and business analytics, data envelopment analysis, data mining, decision support systems, fuzzy systems, game theory, machine learning, network design, queuing theory, simulation, and statistics.

Important Dates

Deadline for complete paper submission: 30 November 2023

Notice of acceptance/rejection: 30 January 2024

Revised paper submission: 15 March 2024

Final decision: 15 May 2024

Expected publication: June 2024

Contacts and Notes

Papers should be original, unpublished, and not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. Submissions should contain substantial contributions to the field.

Before submitting manuscripts, authors are advised to ensure they have conformed to the requirements detailed in the instructions to authors found on the journal homepage. Papers must be submitted at http://www.editorialmanager.com/orij. Authors should select "S.I.: Applications of Operational Research in Engineering Sciences and Sustainable Development" during the submission step ‘Additional Information’. Manuscripts that must be correctly formatted or contain all the required elements may be returned to authors for correction before review.

All inquiries should be sent directly to Assistant Professor Isaak Vryzidis (i.vryzidis@uniwa.gr) and cc ALL co-editors, clearly indicating in the subject “Collection in ORIJ OR on Engineering and Sustainable Development”.