A frequently studied problem in the context of digital marketing for online social networks is the influence maximization problem that seeks for an initial seed set of influencers to trigger an information propagation cascade (in terms of active message forwarders) of expected maximum impact. Previously studied problems typically neglect that the probability that individuals passively … Read more
With the recent boom of the gig economy, urban delivery systems have experienced substantial demand growth. In such systems, orders are delivered to customers from local distribution points respecting a delivery time promise. An important example is a restaurant meal delivery system, where delivery times are expected to be minutes after an order is placed. … Read more
We propose a novel, optimization-based method that takes into account the objective and problem structure for reducing the number of scenarios, m, needed for solving two-stage stochastic optimization problems. We develop a corresponding convex optimization-based algorithm, and show that as the number of scenarios increase, the proposed method recovers the SAA solution. We report computational … Read more
Patient scheduling is a difficult task as it involves dealing with stochastic factors such as an unknown arrival flow of patients. Scheduling radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients faces a similar problem. Curative patients need to start their treatment within the recommended deadlines, i.e., 14 or 28 days after their admission while reserving treatment capacity for … Read more
In this paper, we look at the tool indexing problem in which a single copy of each tool is allowed in the tool magazine. We develop problem specific methods to search the neighborhood efficiently and design a Tabu Search algorithm based on them. Computational experiments show that our algorithm is competent. CitationIndian Institute of Management … Read more
The One-Dimensional Cutting Stock Problem with Setup Cost (CSP-S) is a cutting problem that seeks a cutting plan with a minimum number of objects and a minimum number of different patterns. This problem gains relevance in manufacturing settings, where time consuming operations to set up the knives of the cutting machine for the new patterns … Read more
We study a predisaster relief network design problem with uncertain demands. The aim is to determine the prepositioning and reallocation of relief supplies. Motivated by the call of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to leave no one behind, we consider three important practical aspects of humanitarian operations: shortages, equity, … Read more
We study policy optimization for the feature-based newsvendor, which seeks an end-to-end policy that renders an explicit mapping from features to ordering decisions. Unlike existing works that restrict the policies to some parametric class which may suffer from sub-optimality (such as affine class) or lack of interpretability (such as neural networks), we aim to optimize … Read more
This paper addresses a rich variant of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) that involves pickup and delivery activities, customer time windows, heterogeneous fleet, multiple products and the possibility of splitting a customer demand among several routes. This variant generalizes traditional VRP variants by incorporating features that are commonly found in practice. We present two mixed-integer … Read more
Range-extended electric vehicles combine the higher efficiency and environmental benefits of battery-powered electric motors with the longer mileage and autonomy of conventional internal combustion engines. This combination is particularly advantageous for time-constrained delivery routing in dense urban areas, where battery recharging along routes can be too time-consuming to economically justify the use of all-electric vehicles. … Read more