Timetable Experimentation for Optimising Use of Facilities

A better feel for the value the Teletraffic Research Centre can provide to potential clients can be obtained by a quick look at some of the case studies provided.

The problem

Large educational institutions generally struggle to manage their timetables; where tens of thousands of classes may need to be allocated to many hundreds of facilities.

Each of these allocations may be subject to room or room facility preferences, instructor and student preferences and student break time needs.

Commercial timetabling software is not usually suitable to conduct what-if analyses, such as whether a timetable is still viable if preferences are changed or facilities are closed.

Conducting these analyses can be crucial to managing facilities efficiently, with significant savings possible if an institution can reduce its operating expenses.

The solution

The TRC has developed a timetabling consultancy portfolio together with a suite of software called Suntex that aids in the process of timetable experimentation. Using Suntex the TRC can replicate an institution’s timetable in an experimental laboratory and answer many of the questions that are needed in managing facilities efficiently.

The TRC has consulted in various projects such as:

• Analysing the effects on room utilisation, for example after closing facilities. Is a global timetable still viable?
• Effects on student conflicts, for example after changing room preferences or class days or times.
• Modelling clinical timetables to determine the required type and extent of new facilities, such as specialty clinical facilities and instructional rooms.