Success92: A DSS for Scheduling the Olympic Games.

BARCELONA (Spain); SPAIN

The article describes a decision support system to help prepare a schedule for the 1992 Olympic Games to be held in Barcelona, Spain. Developing a schedule for the games is not a trivial task. At the outset, a huge number of schedules are possible, as more than 2,000 events have to schedules in a 15-day period. In trying to identify the most appropriate structure for describing and manipulating a given schedule, two goals have been made: we needed a natural structure that would allow schedulers to use the system without having to force their mental schemes too much. On the other hand, the chosen structure had to be easy, convenient, and efficient to manipulate using the evaluation and optimization algorithms. In Barcelona, for example, Montjuic and Pedralbes are two well-defined areas where facilities are concentrated. To clarify the schedule design process an explicit distinction was made between a calendar and a timetable. In developing a schedule, the scheduler usually starts by putting together a calendar, assigning competitions to days, but not at first to specific time slots. Later, the timetable for each day is developed and refined.