Sizing A University Dinning Facility Using Optimization Based on Discrete Event Simulation

Abstract

The constant increase in student populations and fluctuations in the schedules of university students impact infrastructure decisions and resource allocation in university service facilities such as dining halls. It is necessary to evaluate these fluctuations and, based on projections, determine the sizing of infrastructure and resources that allow attention within adequate operational levels of student services on university campuses. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) allows us to represent the service processes in the canteens, capturing data and trying to reflect the stochastic behavior of arrivals in order to then propose a model based on optimization that allows us to identify the optimal sizing of all the resources involved. attention. The experimentation of scenarios with the model and frequent runs based on population updates of the data based on projections to the last semesters, allows for a preventive response to ensure an adequate level of service.