Operational research and logistics research
Where should we house robots that fight cancer? How can we make renewable energy cheaper? What new tech can make transport smarter, faster and greener?
Public and private organisations around the world face these sort of complex questions, and our Operational Research and Logistics work brings together the University's maths, technology, business and industrial research experts to find answers to them.
Our research spans analytics, data, algorithms, system design, simulation, modelling, programming, forecasting – and a whole world of problem-solving.
We're transforming our knowledge and expertise into action, by helping to develop new and better transportation and maritime systems. We're showing how better analytics for healthcare, risk and security, can have a positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of people around the world – for example, by automating a roster for nurses that more effectively manages their time, and in the process, improves the quality of care they deliver. We're finding new ways to create more sustainable and efficient renewable energy too.
Logistics, Operational Research and Analytics Group
Read more about our Logistics, Operational Research and Analytics Research Group, where we're using our expertise in analytics, system design, simulation, programming, and forecasting to help organisations around the world make better decisions.
Interested in a PhD in Operational Research & Logistics?
Explore our Operational Research & Logistics postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils.
Explore our Operational Research and Logistics areas of expertise
Find out more about the facilities and methods that shape our research in the areas of expertise below – and learn more about our recent projects, the academic and industrial partners with whom we collaborate, and the major funders who fund our work.
Decision and data analytics
Research in the design of decision support systems, and use of data analysis, to help people make better decisions through a better understanding of their data.
Exact and metaheuristic solution methods
Heuristic and metaheuristic techniques are powerful and flexible research methodologies that offer a faster way of solving complex logistical challenges.
Healthcare analytics
From nurse scheduling to infection and disease modelling, our research provides decision-makers in the healthcare sector with optimal strategies for treatment.
Multiple criteria decision aid
Approaching complex problems with conflicting criteria, or uncertain data, our research helps people make more informed decisions.
Optimisation modelling
As well as improving business efficiency, we're enabling people to make optimal decisions that can lead to practices with enhanced economic, environmental or social benefits.
Renewable energy and sustainability analytics
Modelling to answer a host of questions, from how to produce renewable energy more cheaply, to how the associated logistics can be sustainable.
Risk and security analytics
We help organisations learn from failures, so they can improve the quality and resilience of their operations, and we develop new analytic approaches to detect security threats.
Transportation and maritime systems
Our research focuses on developing innovative optimisation models and decision support systems, to help improve the mobility of people, goods and services.
Centre for Operational Research and Logistics
Find out how we work with partners in the public and private sector to overcome operational and logistical challenges.