CSC News

Chi and Ivy’s Project Explores the Best Way to Efficiently Feed the Most People

Dr. Min Chi, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Julie Ivy, professor in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Fitts Faculty Fellow in Health Systems Engineering, at NC State University, have received $400,000 from the University of North Carolina – NC A&T State University to support their research project called “FEEED:  Flexible, Equitable, Efficient and Effective Distribution.”

The award runs from August 1, 2017 to July 30, 2020.

Abstract – Nonprofit hunger relief organizations operate in a complex environment consisting of a large and diverse donor base and a dynamic distribution network. These organizations generate a large amount of unstructured and complex data on food collection, inventory management, and distribution activities. However, existing information systems lack the infrastructure to interpret this large-scale data to provide real-time policy recommendations and support operational and strategic decision-making. The proposed smart service system will synthesize data from disparate sources to create a real-time perspective of the environment and learn from the actions of the decision maker. Specifically, this system will automatically predict, visualize, and recommend decisions that will advance operational effectiveness of food collection, distribution, and resource management in a way that is efficient and equitable and will identify opportunities to improve a food bank’s capability to satisfy hunger need.

For more information on Dr. Chi, click here.

For more information on Dr. Ivy, click here.

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