Biological Organisms Throughput

Challenge

This company cultivates biological organisms in a series of interconnected ponds. As organisms grow, they require more space, necessitating transfer to larger ponds with increased water capacity. Transfer can be facilitated in two ways:

• Naturally: Allowing water and organisms to flow via gravity
• Mechanically: Using pumps (faster but results in some organism loss)

Since organisms grow over an extended period, they transition through a sequence of progressively larger ponds.

Additionally, ponds require frequent cleaning and some may become unusable due to failure, requiring the transfer sequence to be adjusted. The challenge is to understand what sequence and technology to use to maximize throughput.

Solution

As this project requires considerable configuration options, we developed a model in AnyLogic with an Excel input file to generate scenarios. Each scenario requires dynamic concepts for each pond that are very different and are subjected to physical equations based on gravity or pump capabilities.

Hybrid Modeling Approach

We developed a hybrid model using a combination of agent-based and system dynamics.

For validation purposes, we developed 3D and 2D versions of the ponds connected through the system dynamics information. The following shows how density changes in each pond, where red color signifies a density of organisms reaching a critical threshold (which generally must be avoided as it blocks or slows organism growth).

Results

As this project cannot be disclosed in detail, it's relevant to state that the raw information from the process was exported from AnyLogic, and we developed a comprehensive dashboard using PowerBI to display comparisons between different scenarios.

Each scenario displays results that are easily comparable for operation and strategic purposes, but also to communicate decisions to stakeholders.

Project Features

• Industry: Biology
• Model: Agent-Based, System Dynamics