PLEASE ANSWER ONLY THIS PART OF THE CASE STUDY! This analysis is a simplified version of the problem that commonwealth pipeline company actually faces. complete your analysis by suggesting several practical considerations that commonwealth would have to consider when choosing the connections to include in its network to produce the best overall network design. can you think of a way that these considerations could be incorporated into your basic model to provide a more comprehensive network design model?

Network Design at Commonwealth Pipeline Company Matthew J. Drake, Duquesne University Introduction Commonwealth Pipeline Company is a major pipeline transportation provider in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwestern United States. The commodities the company hauls most often are refined petroleum products as well as propane, butane, refinery feedstocks, and blending components. Commonwealth operates as a common carrier in accordance with published rates and rules tariffs. Commonwealth also provides its customers with bulk storage services at many terminals throughout its service region. Pipeline Network Repair and Replacement As the company was founded more than 100 years ago, many of its underground pipes are in need of repair and replacement. The pipes serving its Pennsylvania terminals (listed in Exhibit 7.1) are especially worn, and Commonwealth is considering a large-scale replacement of all of its pipes in the state. The firm would like to accomplish this project at the lowest cost. Because the pipes themselves are the most expensive part of the project, Commonwealth wants to identify the 77 best network design that uses the least amount of piping, yet still connects all the terminals in the state. Exhibit 7.2 lists the possible connections and the associated distance between pairs of terminals, and these possible connections are depicted in Exhibit 7.3. Note that distances in Exhibit 7.2 are the driving distances between the terminals, which are obviously different from the amount of pipe that would be needed to make the connections because the pipes are not restricted to traversing road routes. They will, however, serve as a good proxy of the required pipeline distance between the locations for the purposes of this analysis. Your job is to determine the network design that minimizes the total mileage of pipe utilized, such that all 21 of the Commonwealth terminals are connected. Draw the arcs of the optimal pipeline network on the map provided in Exhibit 7.4. This analysis is a simplified version of the problem that Commonwealth Pipeline Company actually faces. Complete your analysis by suggesting several practical considerations that Commonwealth would have to consider when choosing the connections to include in its network to produce the best overall network design. Can you think of a way that these considerations could be incorporated into your basic model to provide a more comprehensive network design model? Exhibits Exhibit 7.1 Commonwealth Pipeline Company's Pennsylvania Terminal Facilities Exhibit 7.2 Possible Connections and Distance Between Commonwealth's Terminals Exhibit 7.3 Map of Commonwealth Pipeline Company's. Facility Locations and Possible Connections Exhibit 7.4 Optimal Pipeline Network Design Network Design at Commonwealth Pipeline Company Matthew J. Drake, Duquesne University Introduction Commonwealth Pipeline Company is a major pipeline transportation provider in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwestern United States. The commodities the company hauls most often are refined petroleum products as well as propane, butane, refinery feedstocks, and blending components. Commonwealth operates as a common carrier in accordance with published rates and rules tariffs. Commonwealth also provides its customers with bulk storage services at many terminals throughout its service region. Pipeline Network Repair and Replacement As the company was founded more than 100 years ago, many of its underground pipes are in need of repair and replacement. The pipes serving its Pennsylvania terminals (listed in Exhibit 7.1) are especially worn, and Commonwealth is considering a large-scale replacement of all of its pipes in the state. The firm would like to accomplish this project at the lowest cost. Because the pipes themselves are the most expensive part of the project, Commonwealth wants to identify the 77 best network design that uses the least amount of piping, yet still connects all the terminals in the state. Exhibit 7.2 lists the possible connections and the associated distance between pairs of terminals, and these possible connections are depicted in Exhibit 7.3. Note that distances in Exhibit 7.2 are the driving distances between the terminals, which are obviously different from the amount of pipe that would be needed to make the connections because the pipes are not restricted to traversing road routes. They will, however, serve as a good proxy of the required pipeline distance between the locations for the purposes of this analysis. Your job is to determine the network design that minimizes the total mileage of pipe utilized, such that all 21 of the Commonwealth terminals are connected. Draw the arcs of the optimal pipeline network on the map provided in Exhibit 7.4. This analysis is a simplified version of the problem that Commonwealth Pipeline Company actually faces. Complete your analysis by suggesting several practical considerations that Commonwealth would have to consider when choosing the connections to include in its network to produce the best overall network design. Can you think of a way that these considerations could be incorporated into your basic model to provide a more comprehensive network design model? Exhibits Exhibit 7.1 Commonwealth Pipeline Company's Pennsylvania Terminal Facilities Exhibit 7.2 Possible Connections and Distance Between Commonwealth's Terminals Exhibit 7.3 Map of Commonwealth Pipeline Company's. Facility Locations and Possible Connections Exhibit 7.4 Optimal Pipeline Network Design