Page layout

About: Page layout is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2266 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23261 citations.

Automatic page layout using genetic algorithms for electronic albuming

Abstract: In this paper, we describe a flexible system for automatic page layout that makes use of genetic algorithms for albuming applications. The system is divided into two modules, a page creator module which is responsible fordistributing images amongst various album pages, and an image placement module which positions images on individual pages. Final page layouts are specified in a textual form using XML for printing or viewing over the Internet. The system makes use of genetic algorithms, a class of search and optimization algorithms that are based on the concepts of biological evolution, for generating solutions with fitness based on graphic design preferences supplied by the user. The genetic page layout algorithm has been incorporated into a web-based prototype system for interactive page layout over the Internet. The prototype system is built using client-server architecture and is implemented in Java. The system described in this paper has demonstrated the feasibility of using genetic algorithms for automated page layout in albuming and web-based imaging applications. We believe that the system adequately proves the validity of the concept, providing creative layouts in a reasonable number of iterations. By optimizing the layout parameters of the fitness function, we hope to further improve the quality of the final layout in terms of user preference and computation speed.

Improving operating theatre design using facilities layout planning

Abstract: Operating theatre (OT) is one of the most critical departments within the hospital. In developing countries, no allocation of sufficient areas for OT, that results in sharing of many services in the same area while ignoring others. Facilities layout planning (FLP) is widely used in industrial engineering for designing block layout plans as it considers the assignment of services to the proper locations. Hence, FLP can solve management and hospital design problems, reduce nursing staff effort and improve overall healthcare environment. The problem presented in this study is an optimization one, which maximizes the subjective closeness rating between different services in the OT considering international standards. Some heuristic approaches have been developed for solving FLP problem; the most successful were based on graph theoretic concepts. This paper proposes a solution by generating an OT layout design based on the graph theoretic approach. It is divided into two sub-problems; the first one is the adjacency problem that defines the desirability of locating pair of spaces adjacent to each other. The second one is the block layout problem which was solved by using manual traditional qualitative technique (the spiral technique). The output of the technique was several possible designs and a layout score that was calculated for each design. This allows for selecting the most appropriate design for each end user. Computing the layout score, before and after reallocation of the OT spaces, resulted in an increase by 18.5% in the first hospital. For the second hospital, more services had to be added in addition to the reallocation process, this resulted in an increase in the layout score by 45%.

An Augmented Reality approach to factory layout design embedding operation simulation

Abstract: The subject of this work is layout planning of machinery, especially for Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS), using Augmented Reality tools. The goal is for the user to evaluate suggested layouts by taking into account non-measurable factors, such as operator experience, empirical or non-tacit knowledge and on-site impression. By reference to existing machinery (in the case study: CNC lathe and an industrial robot) the missing elements of a complete FMS cell (conveyor belts, automatic storage and retrieval system, other robots and CNC machines etc.) are super-imposed. The functional connection is enabled between the collaborating real-physical and the virtual machinery of the layout in the most convincing way, i.e., by simulation of the full production process involving movement, manipulation and processing of parts by real and virtual equipment in parallel and serial co-existence. This involves predefined scenarios that can be experienced exploiting alternative equipment in the same application and alternative layouts assessed in analogous applications. Static and dynamic simulation of the manufacturing cell offers the possibility of extensive analysis of the selected layout by walk-through navigation. The application is implemented in ARKit™ API tool and Unity3D™.

Multi-objective optimization design of a fixture layout considering locator displacement and force–deformation

Abstract: The fixture determines the workpiece position in a machining process; therefore, an increasing amount of attention has been given to fixture layout design. While machining, the workpiece position is affected by two major sources: (a) the locator displacement and (b) the force–deformation of the workpiece–fixture system. In the beginning of this paper, a geometric model considering the shape of a locator is developed to analyze the location performance, followed by the presentation of a simplified solving method and a location layout performance index. Second, to complete the force–deformation analysis, a finite element method-based force–deformation model is built and accelerated by a new method with a lower computer memory cost. Based on these two models, multiple objects of fixture layout optimization problems are proposed, and a multi-objective genetic algorithm-based optimization method is constructed. Finally, testing examples are approved to examine the validity of the method represented in this paper. These methods can provide a more accurate prediction of the locating performance in more widely used cases, and they have faster calculating speeds with lower computer memory costs.