Computer-aided facility location

Abstract This article details the capabilities of a computer-aided facility location code utilizing the hyperboloid approximation procedure (HAP), originally written in BASIC and implemented on Tektronix ® hardware. However, it is generic in its approach nd graphics syntax, and has been successfully ported to other micro/minicomputers having graphics capability, and to mainframe computers. The code uses a modified HAP to solve minisum, planar, single- and multifacility location problems. It uses a numerical procedure for construct contour lines. A number of features facilitating sensitivity analyses are, for example, construction of isocost (contour) lines, manual (keyboard-free) placement and evaluation of a new facility location, evaluation of a solution by a cost/distance metric function not necessarily the same as that used in finding the current optimal locations, relocation of facilities to optimal locations after sensitivity analyses, and ease of editing input data.