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1264. Does Ancient History Offer a Great**n Grandfather of OR?

Invited abstract in session WB-24: Tutorial: Does Ancient History Offer a Great**n Grandfather of OR?, stream Tutorials (and Workshops).

Wednesday, 10:30-12:00
Room: Esther Simpson 3.02

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. David Lane
Prof of Business Informatics, Henley Business School

Abstract

This session explores a possible originator of OR, a precursor to the people we usually think created OR, and someone from a much earlier time.
Sadly, much of the development of ‘Operational Research’ arose during wartime, specifically the Second World War. At its creation, ‘OR’ meant the use of analysis to organise equipment, information flows and decision-making. Whilst it could involve technological innovation it was perhaps mostly concerned with getting the most out of what was already available.
The canonical example is the work of Patrick Blackett on the air defence of Britain. The deployment of radar and fighter aircraft technologies, and the careful organisation of different information sources were crucial on allowing the Royal Air Force to defend against attacks by Nazi forces during 1940 and so win ‘The Battle of Britain’. For this and subsequent work Blackett is known as ‘the father of OR’.
However, very similar work can be seen in events centuries, in fact millennia, before this.
In her 1954 account of the history of OR, Florence Trefethen mentions a ‘precursor’ to OR drawn from ancient history – but offers a tantalising account of only 19 words! Enough, however, to motivate this presenter to explore quite what she was referring to, what had happened in the third century BCE and what the relationship with modern OR might be.
Archaeology, dusty books and an inclination to explore sun-drenched ruins are all necessary to put the story together. The story that emerges has the same features of effective organisation of existing equipment to improve results, combined with the use of some new innovations. It reveals the guiding hand of one brilliant figure. He employed contemporary ideas on siege warfare, city defence, ancient artillery and mathematics. He studied war-related operations and carried out analysis which greatly improved the defence of his home. He brought all this together to use a range of technologies and ideas – some created by him – in innovative ways to strike terror into a Roman attacking force and to hold off their direct assault.
Who is this remarkable figure? He is widely considered to be the greatest scientist of antiquity and one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. Come along to learn his identity. Stay to give your view about whether he is, perhaps, the Great**n Grandfather of OR and whether we can draw him into the history of our field to make for an extraordinary story that links OR to the Ancient World and to the very beginning of science.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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