Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis, School of Science
Systems Analysis Laboratory was established in 1984 within the professorship of applied mathematics in the Helsinki University of Technology. Now we are part of the new Aalto University. The founder and director of the laboratory is Professor Raimo P. Hämäläinen. Our other professors are Harri Ehtamo and Ahti Salo. Professor Esa Saarinen from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management is a co-director of our Systems Intelligence Group.
The research interests of the laboratory cover the area of systems science comprehensively ranging from the mathematical theories and algorithms of optimization, control and decision making to the practical interactive computer modeling and decision support systems and risk and technology assessment. The focus of the applications is in complex energy, production and environmental systems. The problems are analyzed with a balanced engineering-economic systems approach. We also have a long tradition in biological modelling. Currently we have a growing effort in studying systems intelligence and applied philosophy in human organizations.
As an university institution the laboratory is unique in Finland. It is responsible for the undergraduate major of Systems sciences and for the graduate major of Systems and operations research in the Engineering Physics and Mathematics programme. We also give general courses in opimization, statistics and modeling. The laboratory is in charge of the national Doctoral Program in Systems Analysis, Decision Making, and Risk Management.
In a forthcoming paper Prof. Hämäläinen with his colleaques coin the term Behavioural Operations Research.To understand the behavioural issues related to OR modelling is of crucial importance today when OR models are being used increasingly in the most challenging problems of mankind like climate change. Abstract
A student was so pleased with the teaching, that he decided to reward teachers Eeva Vilkkumaa and Tuomas Lahtinen with a book and a tasty gift. (Larger picture)