optimising locations overview of services...effectiveness and patient access • sensitivity...
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Capability Brochure
Op
timisin
g L
ocatio
ns
Optimising Locations
Overview of Services
ANALYSIS
ORH’s experts use sophisticated
analytical techniques to develop
a comprehensive understanding
of the relationship between demand
for a service and utilisation of
resources. Internal service data is
combined with external sources,
such as travel times, population or
socio-demographic data, to provide
a detailed quantitative profile of
service provision.
MODELLING
Over the last two decades, ORH
has developed a suite of powerful,
bespoke computer models, based
on OR techniques. These are used
by our consultants to improve the
cost-effectiveness of a service and
to inform forward planning. Our
approach combines both optimisation
and simulation modelling, which
enables the assessment of a wide
range of options and ensures our
clients can respond confidently to the
many challenges they face.
CONSULTANCY
ORH consultants have gained a wealth
of experience in undertaking reviews
for public sector organisations, and in
working closely with clients to ensure
that planning solutions meet their
needs and are robust and sustainable.
The ORH ethos is to keep an open
mind, in order to derive optimal
solutions adapted to each service’s
unique circumstances.
SOFTWARE
ORH has supplied software to a
variety of different services, tailored
to the needs of individual clients.
Our software solutions range from
programs to assist dispatchers with
instant decision-making in Control,
to complex models designed to aid
appraisal of different planning options
for long-term service delivery. ORH
also provides comprehensive training
and ongoing support.
Capability Brochure
About ORH
What we do
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS
ORH is a management consultancy that uses Operational
Research (OR) techniques to carry out resource planning
studies for emergency services, health authorities, sports
bodies and other public sector organisations. Our offices
are situated in Reading, England.
Over more than 25 years, ORH has built up an international
portfolio of clients. We have completed over 500 reviews
in the UK, Australasia, North America and the Middle East,
working for service providers, commissioning bodies and
central government departments.
3
years
experience
reviews
undertaken
globally
25+ 500+
ORH creates sophisticated models to identify optimal locations for a range of public-sector facilities, analysing the interactions between travel times and current and future road networks, population levels and demographics.
HOW WE DO IT
ORH’s travel-time models are based on
either Ordnance Survey’s Integrated
Transport Network for Great Britain
or NAVTEQ’s global database of
street maps. Achievable road speeds
are calculated using data on road
categories and classifications, as well
as routing information for vehicle
restrictions, one-way roads and
turn restrictions. Raw journey times
are calibrated against actual travel
times experienced in the study area
at different times of day. Routing
software is used to analyse travel times
and to customise networks through
interventions such as closing roads,
changing speeds or changing the
direction of travel. This allows ORH to
create bespoke range cover models to
test numerous scenarios.
Population catchments are created
by combining these travel-time data
with the latest national survey data,
sourced from the UK’s Office of
National Statistics or its equivalent
– for example, the Australian Bureau
of Statistics. Future scenarios are
modelled using population projections,
housing growth information and
infrastructure change plans.
Drive time or walking isochrones
maps and catchment maps are then
produced to exemplify and display
service coverage and identify any
overall issues. A more detailed
understanding can be gained by
focusing on specific performance
statistics such as the percentage of
people within a 30-minute drive of
a service, both currently and in
the future.
Outputs from travel time and
population analysis are also used as
inputs to ORH’s optimisation model.
KEY BENEFITS
• Statistical analysis enables robust,
detailed comparison of current
and potential coverage
• Clear maps highlight areas
of insufficient coverage
Capability Brochure
Travel Times and Population Catchments Optimisation
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS
ORH has developed a unique and powerful program to optimise facility locations
ORH has developed a unique and powerful program to optimise facility locations. OGRE (which stands for “Optimising by Genetic Resource Evolution”) uses a sophisticated, geographically-based genetic algorithm to evaluate multiple options for facility locations. This enables millions of different configurations to be assessed within minutes. OGRE is also fully customisable, so it can be tailored exactly to the needs of individual clients.
HOW WE DO IT
Inputs to the model are taken from
ORH’s analyses of travel times and
population catchments. Optimisation
criteria are determined through
consultation with the client to reflect
objectives and targets, such as
minimising the average access travel
time or maximising the population
within 30 minutes’ drive of a facility.
OGRE will then identify optimal
solutions – in this case, to either
increase the population within a
30-minute drive with the same
number of sites or cover the same
percentage of the population using
fewer sites. The initial results are then
discussed with the client to inform
further modelling runs.
Current locations can be fixed within
the model runs and optimisation
carried out around them, or they can
be removed to identify a completely
greenfield solution. The number
of locations can also be fixed or
variable, according to the aim of the
optimisation study. ORH consultants
undertake many iterative optimisation
runs to draw out favoured solutions.
OGRE can produce a ranked list
of options, and identify the scope
for operational efficiencies across
estate and staffing. Once preferred
options have been identified, they are
evaluated using range cover models
(see previous page) to provide a
robust statistical comparison of the
benefits of each.
Following the selection of a final set
of locations, site-search maps are
provided to assist the client in the
procurement of new facilities.
KEY BENEFITS
• Solutions are bespoke, with
optimisation objectives specified by
the client
• Exhaustive analysis gives confidence
in the chosen solution, with millions
of options assessed by OGRE and
preferred solutions evaluated using
range cover models to produce
performance statistics
• Practical support for implementation,
with detailed location maps to
assist the procurement of identified
locations
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ORH has carried out many facility optimisation projects for organisations in the health sector, including studies of emergency service response locations and the reconfiguration of hospital specialties. These are typically used to inform future estate strategy and to ensure adequate service provision.
ORH’s unique approach combines
travel-time modelling with location
optimisation and population
catchment a nalysis. This enables us
to compare the supply of facilities
(such as hospitals with a cardiac
specialty) to the geographical need
for the service (cardiac patients), so
that the service can be configured to
meet current and future demand.
EXAMPLE: ACCESS MODELLING FOR THE NATIONAL BURN CARE GROUP
ORH was commissioned by the
National Burn Care Group to evaluate
different configurations of burns
centres across England and Wales.
A previous review had identified the
need for burns facilities to be accessible
across the country, but with a more
limited number of burns units providing
resuscitation, and a small number of
burns centres for those requiring the
most complex care. The broad objective
of the study was to model access
times to potential burns centres, both
by private car and public transport.
The configuration of burns facilities
and burns units was also modelled in
relation to options for burns centres,
and sensitivity analysis carried out on
the chosen configuration.
ORH set up a travel-time model for
England using geographically based
population statistics for a large set of
towns and villages across England and
Wales, incorporating both public and
private transport.
ORH’s location optimisation software
was used to identify the optimal
locations for 13 potential burns centres:
four adult and paediatric centres and
nine adult-only centres. ORH then
investigated the configurations that
would deliver maximum coverage,
with different numbers of centres from
within the 13. Optimum configurations
for six, seven and eight centres were
identified based on car travel times,
and then tested against the associated
travel times on public transport.
KEY BENEFITS
• Comprehensive, independent
assessment of options to determine
optimal balance between clinical
effectiveness and patient access
• Sensitivity analysis enables a range
of proposals to be evaluated,
including ‘greenfield’ solutions,
providing confidence in the
recommended option
• Studies can be used to inform
planning at a national, regional and
local level
Capability Brochure
Health Facilities
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS
76
ORH’s unique approach combines travel-time modelling with location optimisation and population catchment analysis
ORH has worked with a range of sports organisations to provide analyses of population, demand and travel times to inform the provision of sports facilities. Our clients include national sports governing bodies such as British Cycling and England Athletics. ORH also operates the Facility Planning Model (FPM), a key strategic planning tool for Sport England, sportscotland and Sport Wales.
ORH combines analysis, modelling and
consultancy to solve complex planning
problems, from the optimum location
of sports facilities to how changes in
population characteristics might affect
demand, or the impact of changing
travel times on utilisation rates.
EXAMPLE: ENSURING ACCESS TO SPORT
ORH’s location optimisation model
(OGRE) is used both to identify the
optimum number of sports facilities
from existing networks and to select
locations for new facilities. OGRE
calculates optimum coverage by
analysing travel times between the
location of facilities and sources of
demand, such as members, the overall
population or educational institutions.
Off-peak travel times are calculated
using the latest road data from
Ordnance Survey’s Integrated Transport
Network, while coverage among the
general population can be assessed
using 2011 Census data from the Office
of National Statistics, either at current
levels or projected into the future.
Clients can choose specific demand
categories, and the importance of each
can be weighted. For example, existing
member locations could be ranked as
high preference with low preference for
the general population, and educational
institutions given a mid weighting.
Target travel-time thresholds for each
demand category can also be specified
by the client, such as maximising the
population within 30 minutes’ drive of
a facility. OGRE can then be used to
identify the best locations to maximise
coverage against the targets.
KEY BENEFITS
• Statistical analysis enables robust,
detailed comparison of current and
potential coverage
• Clear maps highlight areas with
insufficient coverage
• Sensitivity analysis enables alternative
proposals to be evaluated thoroughly
• Studies can be used to inform
planning at national, regional and local
level
Capability Brochure
Sports Facilities
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS
98
ORH combines analysis, modelling and consultancy to solve complex planning problems
ORH has worked with clients across the public sector to answer complex planning questions about a wide range of facilities. Our unique approach combines travel-time modelling, location optimisation and population catchment analysis to match the supply of facilities (such as depots) to geographical demand for services (such as refuse collection). ORH’s studies enable service providers to configure their estate to deliver optimal service coverage as efficiently as possible.
EXAMPLE: ESTATE RATIONALISATION FOR THE VALUATION TRIBUNAL SERVICE
The Valuation Tribunal Service
(VTS) was seeking to optimise its
estate footprint and reduce its office
locations from eight to two or three.
It commissioned ORH to identify
the best strategic locations for VTS
offices in England, taking account of
the organisation’s financial constraints
and the requirements of its 100 staff,
750 members and more than 100,000
annual users. In addition, VTS routinely
hired 150 external venues in which
hearings took place. ORH was required
to identify an optimum network of
locations across the UK that reduced
the number of venues, while still
providing adequate access for VTS
users (the general public).
ORH set up a model with inputs
including the UK road network, Census
population data and current VTS office
and venue locations. The distribution
of travel times from population centres
to VTS venues was analysed, then
optimisation runs undertaken, to
minimise the number of venues. The
distribution of travel times between
the venues and VTS offices was also
analysed, for both private and public
transport, and options for two or three
offices were identified which would
minimise the change in travel times.
ORH identified a set of 80 potential
venue locations which provided the
same standard of population access
as the existing 150 locations. Two
separate solutions for three offices
were identified: one was a subset of the
current eight office locations, the other
introduced one new location while
retaining two existing offices. Each
solution was shown to be effective
when modelled alongside both the
current set of 150 venues and the
optimum 80-venue configuration.
KEY BENEFITS
• ORH’s road network data and
modelling enables the evaluation of a
large number of options within a very
short time
• Modelling demonstrates the potential
to make efficiency savings with
minimal negative impact on journey
times and distances
• ORH’s studies help public
organisations to determine which
of their ideas for change will have a
positive impact
• Transparent, evidence-based
approach gives clients confidence
that changes will produce the desired
results
• ORH’s independent approach can
highlight potential solutions which
have not previously been considered
Capability Brochure
Public Sector Facilities
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS
1110
ORH’s studies enable service providers to configure their estates to deliver optimal population cover as efficiently as possible
Capability Brochure
FIND OUT MORE
You can find out
more about our
range of services at:
www.orhltd.com
If you would like to
talk to one of our
consultants please call:
+44(0)118 959 6623
Or click:
Alternatively write
to us at:
ORH Ltd 19-23 Queen Victoria Street Reading Berkshire RG1 1SY United Kingdom
Emergency Service
Planning
Optimising Locations
Software Solutions
OPTIMISING LOCATIONS