On constructing a block layout by graph theory

Abstract

This paper examines the problem of developing block layouts using graph theory. It is shown that there are several limitations associated with such layouts, particularly when facility relationships are represented quantitatively by a from-to chart. A modification to conventional construction-type layout procedures is presented which allows a graph theoretic block layout to be developed, regardless of the type of facility relationships used, and without performing all the steps required in the graph theoretic approach. This new method helps to avoid the limitations of the approach and alleviate its computational burden.