September 2010

Hello Analytica Users!

Here is the September edition of the Analytica Newsletter, the place to stay up-to-date with Analytica tips and hints, new features and releases, training opportunities, and modeling resources. To answer a question from one user: Sorry, Foard, we don't have any plans to do a podcast but I'm sure you'll be able to read very soon. Please keep your questions and comments coming. 

Thanks,
Paul Sanford
Analytica Newsletter Editor 

Lumina gets ready for INFORMS 2010

The annual meeting for the Institute of Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS) will be held this year in Austin, TX on November 7th - 10th. Lumina will host the following presentations:

Dr. Max Henrion session on avoiding surprises in energy forecasting:
Comparing historical forecasts of energy consumption to actual values often reveals unanticipated surprises. Max will use the probabilistic ATEAM decision model to explore the effects that disturbances in fuel markets and technology developments may have on the US vehicle fleet.

Decision Analyst Surya Swamy on using Analytica to go beyond the limits of spreadsheet modeling:
Surya will give an introductory demonstration of Analytica's influence diagram environment as an alternative to spreadsheets. This session will be informative to anyone who has tried to model with spreadsheets and encountered the inherent limitations of this approach.

Dr. Lonnie Chrisman on Transparency and Flexibility in Optimization Models:
Optimization models traditionally use cryptic coding and can be cumbersome to develop. Lonnie will demonstrate powerful new enhancements in Analytica Optimizer 4.3 that enable modelers to build models easily and collaborate more effectively using a visual influence diagram environment.

Lumina has also submitted papers for this event. We hope that you will take time to visit us in Austin. More details available here.

Analytica helps Arizona utility meet renewable energy standards

Navigant Consulting has adapted its Analytica-based Renewable Energy Market Simulation (RE-Sim™) to help Tucson Electric Power estimate the costof achieving mandated 15% electricity generation fromrenewable resources by 2025. The revised model also features a new System Dynamics framework to simulate the adoption of small-scale Distributed Generation technologies that cut the distance between point of generation and point of use. Navigant's lead developer, Cory Welch,explains that Analytica's Intelligent Array™ algorithm makes it a superior choice over other tools,as it permits them to adaptquickly to client requests for new scenarios or technologies with minimal effort. "It also results in faster, lower-cost development, often by a factor of two or three," he says. Navigant's case study outlining this project is available on our website if you are interested to learn more.

Analytica Handy Hint: Discover off-the-menu formatting options

Carb-conscious insiders know that ordering "The Animal" at IN-n-OUT gets them a burger without the bun. Analytica has something for these people too. There are many attributes of nodes and diagrams that users can access using standard menu commands. Other options strictly off the menu but still easy to invoke using simple script commands. For example you can change font color, display hidden node attributes, and specify exact window heights and positions. Details are posted on the Attribute Reference section of the Analytica Wiki