|
Daniels, Computer
Science, Honored for Best Paper
Computer Science Professor Karen Daniels has received
a Best Paper Award for the year 2000 from the Institute
of Industrial Engineers (IIE). Her paper, "Solving an Apparel
Trim Placement Problem Using a Maximum Cover Problem Approach,"
and co-authored R. Grinde of the University of New Hampshire,
was printed in the Insitute's journal, IEE Transactions.
The award, which is specifically for a paper published
by the "Feature Applications" deparment of the journal,
carries a $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by Systems Modeling
Corporation. The paper will be presented at the
Indusrial Engineers Research Conference in May 2001.
Daniels, who joined the UMass Lowell Faculty in Fall 2000,
based her research on the problem o flaying out patterns on
fabric for minimum waste, and making that process fully computer-automated.
"The problem of packing things together optimally, even
simple rectangular shapes, is actually difficult-and difficult to prove that
you have the best solution," said Daniels.
"Sometimes the difference between a good solution and the best solution is
not large, but for apparel manufactures, cutting thousands of pieces of fabric
daily, the cost of waste adds up."
Daniels developed the algorithm using principles from Computational Geometry and Operations Research.
Daniels joined the faculty in 2000, after working in the
Mitre Corporation. She earned her Ph.D. in computer science at Harvard University.
Daniels is one of the
principal faculty members in the Center for Advanced
Computation and
Telecommunications. | 
