DEPARTMENT OF QUANTITY SURVEYING

QSV 707(OPERATION RESEARCH IN
CONSTR. MANAGEMENT) ASSIGNMENT

2012/2013 ACADEMIC SESSION

QUESTION
1

Traffic to a message switching
center of the logistics section of a construction firm for one of its outgoing
communication lines arrive in a random pattern at an average rate of 240
messages per minute. The line has a transmission rate of 800 characters per
second. The message length distribution (including control characters) is
approximately exponential with an average length of 176 characters. Calculate
the following principal statistical measures of system performance, assuming
that a very large number of message buffers are provided:

(a)
Average number of messages in the system

(b) Average
number of messages in the queue waiting to be transmitted.

(c)
Average time a message spends in the system.

(d)
Average time a message waits for transmission

(e)
Probability that 10 or more messages are waiting to be transmitted.

QUESTION 2

Suggest
a feasible solution using Vogels Approximation Method and compute the optimal
solution.

NOTE: Clearly explain each of the
steps leading to the optimal solution.