Fairer Benchmarking of Optimization Algorithms via Derivative Free Optimization

Research in optimization algorithm design is often accompanied by benchmarking a new al- gorithm. Some benchmarking is done as a proof-of-concept, by demonstrating the new algorithm works on a small number of dicult test problems. Alternately, some benchmarking is done in order to demonstrate that the new algorithm in someway out-performs previous methods. In this … Read more

Portfolio Selection under Model Uncertainty: A Penalized Moment-Based Optimization Approach

We present a new approach for portfolio selection when the underlying distribution of asset returns is uncertain or ambiguous to investors. In particular, we consider the case that an investor can formulate some reference financial models based on his/her prior beliefs or information, but is concerned about misspecification of the reference models and the associated … Read more

The value of rolling horizon policies for risk-averse hydro-thermal planning

We consider the optimal management of a hydro-thermal power system in the mid and long terms. From the optimization point of view, this amounts to a large-scale multistage stochastic linear program, often solved by combining sampling with decomposition algorithms, like stochastic dual dynamic programming. Such methodologies, however, may entail prohibitive computational time, especially when applied … Read more

A Game-Theoretical Dynamic Model for Electricity Markets

We present a game-theoretical dynamic model for competitive electricity markets.We demonstrate that the model can be used to systematically analyze the effects of ramp constraints, initial conditions, dynamic disturbances, forecast horizon, bidding frequency, and some other factors on the price signals.We illustrate the capabilities of the model using a numerical case study ArticleDownload View PDF

Integer Solutions to Cutting Stock Problems

We consider two integer linear programming models for the one-dimensional cutting stock problem that include various difficulties appearing in practical real problems. Our primary goals are the minimization of the trim loss or the minimization of the number of master rolls needed to satisfy the orders. In particular, we study an approach based on the … Read more

Consistency of robust optimization

In recent years the robust counterpart approach, introduced and made popular by Ben-Tal, Nemirovski and El Ghaoui, gained more and more interest among both academics and practitioners. However, to the best of our knowledge, only very few results on the relationship between the original problem instance and the robust counterpart have been established. This exposition … Read more

Safe Feature Elimination in Sparse Supervised Learning

We investigate fast methods that allow to quickly eliminate variables (features) in supervised learning problems involving a convex loss function and a l1 -norm penalty, leading to a potentially substantial reduction in the number of variables prior to running the supervised learning algorithm. The methods are not heuristic: they only eliminate features that are guaranteed … Read more

Trade-off studies in blackbox optimization

This paper proposes a framework for trade-off analyses of blackbox constrained optimization problems. Two strategies are developed to show the trade-off of the optimal objective function value with tightening or loosening general constraints. These are a simple method which may be performed immediately after a single optimization and a detailed method performing biobjective optimization on … Read more

Convex duality in stochastic programming and mathematical finance

This paper proposes a general duality framework for the problem of minimizing a convex integral functional over a space of stochastic processes adapted to a given filtration. The framework unifies many well-known duality frameworks from operations research and mathematical finance. The unification allows the extension of some useful techniques from these two fields to a … Read more

Robust capacity expansion solutions for telecommunication networks with uncertain demands

We consider the capacity planning of telecommunication networks with linear investment costs and uncertain future traffic demands. Transmission capacities must be large enough to meet, with a high quality of service, the range of possible demands, after adequate routings of messages on the created network. We use the robust optimization methodology to balance the need … Read more