Direct identification of general linear compartmental systems by means of (n−2) compartments measures

Abstract

Purpose

Aims to study direct identification of general linear compartmental systems by means of (n−2) compartmental measures. This is based on two main results.

Design/methodology/approach

The first result presented is related to the existence and uniqueness of identification exchange parameters in linear compartmental systems by using a direct method with less restrictive assumptions. A second result given, permits us to show that (n−2) observations are sufficient to identify the compartmental systems.

Findings

This research study describes a method which shows that in an open linear compartmental systems there exists an energy dissipation from compartmental 1 to the systems exterior. An explicit relationship between the dissipated energy and the exchange parameters was established. The results are probably perfectible and are optimal for n=3, where only an observable compartment is needed.

Practical implications

The identification of exchange parameters is easily obtained by using the matrix of the elementary masses and by solving a linear algebraic system. Among the open problems in compartmental analysis is the problem of minimizing the observable compartments which is studied in this paper.

Originality/value

The study is based on the original work of Yves Cherruault who has already presented methods for proving that a bicompartmental systems is uniquely identified. He has generalised his method for n‐compartments.

Citation

Hebri, B. and Cherruault, Y. (2005), "Direct identification of general linear compartmental systems by means of (n−2) compartments measures", Kybernetes, Vol. 34 No. 7/8, pp. 969-982. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920510605795