Absolute and relative change might be insufficient to meaningfully compare and interpret the sales volume of different sales channels. The goal of this project was to single out a meaningful indicator which is determined by some economically natural axioms and which allows to compare sales channels of different scales. The indicator proves to be interesting in its own right since it uncovers a relationship between marginal functions and economic elasticity and might be interpreted as a special kind of Cobb-Douglas-Function.
Mechanical modeling of plant growth
Air quality investigations in new and renovated energy-efficient houses
In order to study the air quality in houses, a large collection of data was carried out in new or renovated energy-efficient houses from Western Switzerland. The statistics consisted of analyzing questionnaires completed by the inhabitants as well as the measures of radon, volatile organic compounds and occurrence of molds. We had also to find which parameters (structure of the house, type of ventilation, maintenance,…) have an influence on a high level of radon, of volatile organic compound and mold.
Shape optimisation of a supersonic aircraft
Shape optimisation of a supersonic aircraft using free-form deformation…
indoor air quality at perollino nursery
Our aim is to study and monitor the indoor air quality with up-to-date data management and specific statistical analysis methods. It is important to notice that we could develop a measurement prototype owing to the possible synergies between miscellaneous R&D institutes.
Empirical evaluations of health promotion and part time work schemes in companies
Using a large German data set containing linked employer-employee information over time, we apply flexible statistical evaluation methods to investigate the effectiveness of company-provided health promotion measures and part time work schemes for elderly employees. This is a joint project with Prof. M. Lechner (University of St. Gallen) and Prof. C. Wunsch (University of Basel).
Gambling machines
Gambling machines in public places must involve skill and cannot be based on pure luck. The Federal Gaming Board issues mandates to study the level of skill required in a newly developed gambling machine, using real world tests as well as simulations. These studies serve as a basis to determine whether the machine can be operated in public places.
Adaptive finite elements
Supersonic flow around the space shuttle:
an insufficient discretisation of physical
laws has been automatically detected by an a-posteriori error indicator and improved.
Shape optimization of magnetic coils
Having parameterized the original shape, we look for the optimal values of the shape parameters. The objective is to produce magnetic
fi elds as homogeneous as possible, while satisfying thermal (cooling)
and mechanical (structural) constraints.