Response surface methodology as a means for efficient data storage and retrieval

Managing the volume of experimental and/or simulation data required for large-scale design studies can be a significant problem. This paper describes a method for dealing with this problem, using response surface methodology. The method involves (1) determining a summary parameterization of the response of the underlying process mechanism generating the data, in order to characterize this response in terms of a manageable set of performance measures, and (2) deriving a model of the data in order to summarize the dependence of the performance measures on selected predictor or design variables. The method is illustrated by its application to a problem in vehicle collision research.