Computer Science and Operations Research continue to have a synergistic relationship and this book represents the results of the cross-fertilization between OR/MS and CS/AI. It is this interface of OR/CS that makes possible advances that could not have been achieved in isolation. Taken collectively, these articles are indicative of the state of the art in the interface between OR/MS and CS/AI and of the high-caliber research being conducted by members of the INFORMS Computing Society.

Management science is a di scipl ine dedicated to the development of techniques that enable decision makers to cope with the increasing complexity of our world. The early burst of excitement which was spawned by the development and successful applications of linear programming to problems in both the public and private sectors has challenged researchers to develop even more sophisticated methods to deal with the complex nature of decision making. Sophistication, however, does not always trans 1 ate into more complex mathematics. Professor Thomas L. Saaty was working for the U. S. Defense Department and for the U. S. Department of State in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In these positions, Professor Saaty was exposed to some of the most complex decisions facing the world: arms control, the Middle East problem, and the development of a transport system for a Third World country. While having made major contributions to numerous areas of mathematics and the theory of operations research, he soon realized that one did not need complex mathematics to come to grips with these decision problems, just the right mathematics Thus, Professor Saaty set out to develop a mathematically-based technique for analyzing complex situations which was sophisticated in its simplicity. This technique became known as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and has become very successful in helping decision makers to structure and analyze a wide range of problems."

A Symposium was held on February 25, 2006 in honor of the 80th birthday of Saul I. Gass and his major contributions to the field of operations research over 50 years. This volume includes articles from each of the Symposium speakers plus 16 other articles from friends, colleagues, and former students. Each contributor offers a forward-looking perspective on the future development of the field.

This book examines the newer and emerging models of telecommunications technology that play instrumental roles in providing international economic and societal interconnectivity. Advancing technology in the field imposes the need to develop new models to solve complex planning and decision making problems.

The book explores natural output of the new technical developments and applications with selective chapter treatment on novel business models to fill technical and business needs.

In a unified and carefully developed presentation, this book systematically examines recent developments in VRP. The book focuses on a portfolio of significant technical advances that have evolved over the past few years for modeling and solving vehicle routing problems and VRP variations. Reflecting the most recent scholarship, this book is written by one of the top research scholars in Vehicle Routing and is one of the most important books in VRP to be published in recent times.

Telecommunications Modeling, Policy and Technology Examines the newer and emerging models of telecommunications technology that play instrumental roles in providing international economic and societal interconnectivity. Advancing technology in the field imposes the need to develop new models to solve complex planning and decision making problems. The global, national, and local societal impact of the technology necessitates careful analysis of telecommunications policy at all of these levels. The book explores natural output of the new technical developments and applications with selective chapter treatment on novel business models to fill the emerging technical and business needs.

The book is an edited volume from leading research scholars in the field of Operations Research, focusing on future perspectives in OR. Each of the contributors offers their perspective looking forward to the further development of the field. The theme will provide pivotal interest in the book because of prominence of the contributors and Saul Gass' position as one of the founders of OR and his involvement in writing about the history of OR. The history of operations research is of considerable interest and this book takes a pivotal perspective of OR's history by examining current trends and the future of the field.

Computer Science and Operations Research continue to have a synergistic relationship and this book represents the results of the cross-fertilization between OR/MS and CS/AI. It is this interface of OR/CS that makes possible advances that could not have been achieved in isolation. Taken collectively, these articles are indicative of the state of the art in the interface between OR/MS and CS/AI and of the high-caliber research being conducted by members of the INFORMS Computing Society.

In a unified and carefully developed presentation, this book systematically examines recent developments in VRP. The book focuses on a portfolio of significant technical advances that have evolved over the past few years for modeling and solving vehicle routing problems and VRP variations. Reflecting the most recent scholarship, this book is written by one of the top research scholars in Vehicle Routing and is one of the most important books in VRP to be published in recent times.