Stochastic Search and Information Collection in Civilian and Military Contexts

My research applies Operations Research (OR) tools to two groups of combinatorial optimization problems: Search Problems (SP) and Information Collection Problems (ICP), with a focus on Humanitarian and Military applications. Despite their similarities, key differences exist between these groups, making it essential to classify problems as either search or information collection for proper solutions. I will briefly review three of my recent studies, with a deeper exploration of the one in the ICP domain. The first study addresses an SP, where the goal is to find specific targets in a network. Here, traversal is valuable only if a target is detected. The second study is an ICP, focusing on gathering information while patrolling. The third study blends both areas, where visiting network locations provides varying levels of valuable information.

Nastaran Oladzad is a 4th-year PhD candidate in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo, where she works as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Applied Operations Research Lab under Dr. Rajan Batta. She uses advanced Operations Research methods to solve complex problems in Humanitarian and Military contexts, focusing on improving search and information collection strategies for disaster response and security operations. Nastaran plans to expand her research by studying new areas in Humanitarian Operations Research, such as aid supply chains in conflict zones, and deepening her theoretical work on search and information collection. She is currently preparing applications for both academic and industry positions and eagerly anticipates the opportunities that lie ahead.