Selecting interrelated R & D projects in space technology planning

In this paper a decision support model and solution procedure is presented for selecting interrelated R & D projects in space technology planning. Technical and benefit interactions among projects are explicitly considered. The problem addressed is that of selecting among technologically enabling and value enhancing projects. A 0–1 integer programming model is formulated and solution technique presented that places technology project sets into two categories: 1) those the decision maker should consider, and 2) those that are dominated by sets in the first category. Use of the model and solution techniques is demonstrated in the context of a NASA case example pertaining to earth resources space programs. The efficiency of the model (with the solution technique) in reducing an unmanageably large number of possible technology project sets to a small tractable number of feasible and efficient sets is demonstrated in the example problem. When applied to a technology planning problem involving 12 earth resources programs and 25 technology projects, the model and solution technique eliminated all but three sets of the possible 2
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project sets for any R & D budget level considered. In addition, the results obtained across all budget levels considered clearly indicate to the decision maker which technology projects are critical to future programs, and which are secondary. Lastly, the example results show the impact of disregarding the value of enhancing projects when selecting among interrelated R & D projects.