A web-based decision support system for examination timetabling

•Exam timetabling and supervisor assignment of a vocational school are studied.•Both problems are modeled using MIP models.•A decomposition algorithm is proposed for exam timetabling.•Optimal timetables are found in a few minutes even with an open source solver.•A web based DSS employing the propose...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Expert systems with applications 2021-11, Vol.183, p.115363, Article 115363
Main Authors: Güler, Mehmet Güray, Geçici, Ebru, Köroğlu, Tuğçe, Becit, Emre
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Decision support system
Decision support systems
Examination timetabling
Integer programming
Linear programming
Mixed integer
Mixed integer programming
Solvers
Supervisor assignment
Timetables
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•Exam timetabling and supervisor assignment of a vocational school are studied.•Both problems are modeled using MIP models.•A decomposition algorithm is proposed for exam timetabling.•Optimal timetables are found in a few minutes even with an open source solver.•A web based DSS employing the proposed solution is developed. We study exam timetabling problem (ETP) and supervisor assignment problem (SAP) of a vocational school offering associate level degrees in a university. The school has seven departments and plans almost 170 exams in each semester. We propose mixed integer programming (MIP) models for the ETP and the SAP. The optimal solution for ETP of the school is not attainable in two days with a commercial solver. We propose a decomposition method which is able to solve ETP using an open source solver in less than two minutes. The MIP models and the solution method are embedded into a web based decision support system (DSS). Using this DSS, a complete timetable can be prepared in less than two minutes by an average end-user.
ISSN:0957-4174
1873-6793
DOI:10.1016/j.eswa.2021.115363