Paul McNaughton

Here are a number of things you can think about and put into practice that make your business more sustainable. First think about transport and how you can get people to work on sustainable options, can you help with nearby accommodation for your workers so they can walk or cycle to work. Can public transport be encouraged where it is helpful. Next think about recycling this covers plastic, electronics, furniture, buildings and paper. Can you ensure all your plastic is recycled? Where are all your supplies coming from and how sustainable are they? Can you find somewhere to help recycle your electronics? What about the long term use of your office and furniture, can this be chosen to be more sustainable? Think about the food you are eating and where it's coming from , how environmentally friendly are the farming methods and how is it package. How are you cleaning things and what is the impact of the chemicals you are using? Feel free to add to these thoughts.

Got a complex mathematical problem that can't be solved easily. There are various operational research techniques that can be used to solve it. Simulation can replicate complex real life situations and can help you test out various options before finding the best solution. Got a problem that needs optimising, you could use optimisation if it's possible to code up the solution and get the best answer or you could use a heuristic algorithm to get a good solution when the problem is too complex to solve exactly. You could also use algorithms and assumptions to model reall world situations and come up with sensible answers to questions.

Is transport modelling asking the right questions, it is trying to show the benefits of transport improvements and the biggest impacts are made by reducing journey times. There is more to consider , you should look at the quality of life of the commuter and the health of the commuter. Getting people walking and cycling improves people's health and life quality.