Combinatorial Optimization

A Multi-Reference Relaxation Enforced Neighborhood Search Heuristic in SCIP

  • Suresh Bolusani
  • Gioni Mexi
  • Mathieu Besançon
  • Mark Turner
    • Categories (Mixed) Integer Linear Programming, Branch and Cut Algorithms, Optimization Software and Modeling Systems Tags , , ,

    This paper proposes and evaluates a Multi-Reference Relaxation Enforced Neighborhood Search (MRENS) heuristic within the SCIP solver. This study marks the first integration and evaluation of MRENS in a full-fledged MILP solver, specifically coupled with the recently-introduced Lagromory separator for generating multiple reference solutions. Computational experiments on the MIPLIB 2017 benchmark set show that MRENS, … Read more

    Equity-Driven Workload Allocation for Crowdsourced Last-Mile Delivery

  • Abhay Sobhanan
  • Hadi Charkhgard
  • Iman Dayarian
    • Categories Meta Heuristics, Multi-Criteria Optimization, Transportation Tags , , , ,

    Crowdshipping, a rapidly growing approach in Last-Mile Delivery (LMD), relies on independent crowdworkers for delivery orders. Building a sustainable network of crowdshippers is essential for the survival and growth of such systems, while their participation is primarily motivated by fair pay. Additionally, the financial well-being of crowdworkers is sensitive to fair compensation, especially for those … Read more

    Local Convergence Analysis for Nonisolated Solutions to Derivative-Free Methods of Optimization

  • Dat Tran
    • Categories Approximation Algorithms, Nonlinear Optimization, Unconstrained Optimization

    This paper provides a local convergence analysis for newly developed derivative-free methods in problems of smooth nonconvex optimization. We focus here on local convergence to local minimizers, which might be nonisolated and hence more challenging for convergence analysis. The main results provide efficient conditions for local convergence to arbitrary local minimizers under the fulfillment of … Read more

    Compact Mixed Integer Programming Formulations for the Minimum Biclique Cover Problem

  • Bruno Burin
  • Hamidreza Validi
  • Bochuan Lyu
  • Illya V. Hicks
    • Categories Combinatorial Optimization, Integer Programming, Network Optimization Tags , ,

    Given a simple graph G = (V, E) with vertex set V and edge set E, the minimum biclique cover problem seeks to cover all edges of the graph with a minimum number of bicliques (i.e., complete bipartite subgraphs). This paper proposes two compact mixed integer programming (MIP) formulations for solving the minimum biclique cover … Read more

    Cluster branching for vehicle routing problems

  • Joao Marcos P Silva
  • Eduardo Uchoa
  • Anand Subramanian
    • Categories Applications - OR and Management Sciences, Combinatorial Optimization, Integer Programming Tags , , ,

    This article introduces Cluster Branching, a novel branching strategy for exact algorithms solving Vehicle Routing Problems (VRPs). While branching is crucial for the efficiency of branch-and-bound-based algorithms, existing branching types such as Edge Branching, CutSet Branching, and Ryan&Foster Branching have their limitations. The proposed branching strategy aggregates multiple edge variables into higher-level decision structures corresponding … Read more

    Interdiction of minimum spanning trees and other matroid bases

  • Noah Weninger
  • Ricardo Fukasawa
    • Categories 0-1 Programming, Dynamic Programming, Graphs and Matroids Tags , , , , , ,

    In the minimum spanning tree (MST) interdiction problem, we are given a graph \(G=(V,E)\) with edge weights, and want to find some \(X\subseteq E\) satisfying a knapsack constraint such that the MST weight in \((V,E\setminus X)\) is maximized. Since MSTs of \(G\) are the minimum weight bases in the graphic matroid of \(G\), this problem … Read more

    Computational Methods for the Household Assignment Problem

  • Ulf Friedrich
  • Lucas Moschen
  • Ralf Münnich
  • Martin Schmidt
    • Categories Applications - OR and Management Sciences, Approximation Algorithms, Integer Programming Tags , , , ,

    We consider the problem of assigning the entries of a household data set to real-world address data. This household assignment problem occurs in the geo-referencing step of spatial microsimulation models. The resulting combinatorial optimization model is a maximum weight matching problem with additional side constraints. Even for real-world instances of medium size, such as the … Read more

    A General Framework for Sequential Batch-Testing

  • Rayen Tan
  • Alex Xu
  • Viswanath Nagarajan
    • Categories Approximation Algorithms, Combinatorial Optimization

    We consider sequential testing problems that involve a system of \(n\) stochastic components, each of which is either working or faulty with independent probability. The overall state of the system is a function of the state of its individual components, and the goal is to determine the system state by testing its components at the … Read more

    Globally Convergent Derivative-Free Methods in Nonconvex Optimization with and without Noise

  • Dat Tran
    • Categories Approximation Algorithms, Global Optimization Applications, Unconstrained Optimization

    This paper addresses the study of nonconvex derivative-free optimization problems, where only information of either smooth objective functions or their noisy approximations is available. General derivative-free methods are proposed for minimizing differentiable (not necessarily convex) functions with globally Lipschitz continuous gradients, where the accuracy of approximate gradients is interacting with stepsizes and exact gradient values. … Read more

    Efficient Project Scheduling with Autonomous Learning Opportunities

  • Alessandro Hill
  • Thomas Vossen
    • Categories Combinatorial Optimization, Scheduling

    We consider novel project scheduling problems in which the experience gained from completing selected activities can be used to accelerate subsequent activities. Given a set of potential learning opportunities, our model aims to identify the opportunities that result in a maximum reduction of the project makespan when scheduled in sequence. Accounting for the impact of … Read more