Mixed-Integer Programming Approaches to Generalized Submodular Optimization and its Applications

Submodularity is an important concept in integer and combinatorial optimization. A classical submodular set function models the utility of selecting homogenous items from a single ground set, and such selections can be represented by binary variables. In practice, many problem contexts involve choosing heterogenous items from more than one ground set or selecting multiple copies … Read more

Multi-Stage Robust Mixed-Integer Programming

Multi-stage robust optimization, in which decisions are taken sequentially as new information becomes available about the uncertain problem parameters, is a very versatile yet computationally challenging paradigm for decision-making under uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a new model and solution approach for multi-stage robust mixed-integer programs, which may contain both continuous and discrete decisions … Read more

Test Instances for Multiobjective Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Optimization

A suitable set of test instances, also known as benchmark problems, is a key ingredient to systematically evaluate numerical solution algorithms for a given class of optimization problems. While in recent years several solution algorithms for the class of multiobjective mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems have been proposed, there is a lack of a well-established set … Read more

Integer Programming Approaches for Distributionally Robust Chance Constraints with Adjustable Risks

We study distributionally robust chance constrained programs (DRCCPs)  with individual chance constraints and random right-hand sides. The DRCCPs treat the risk tolerances associated with the distributionally robust chance constraints (DRCCs) as decision variables to trade off between the system cost and risk of violations by penalizing the risk tolerances in the objective function. We consider … Read more

Mixed-Integer Quadratic Optimization and Iterative Clustering Techniques for Semi-Supervised Support Vector Machines

Among the most famous algorithms for solving classification problems are support vector machines (SVMs), which find a separating hyperplane for a set of labeled data points. In some applications, however, labels are only available for a subset of points. Furthermore, this subset can be non-representative, e.g., due to self-selection in a survey. Semi-supervised SVMs tackle … Read more

Safe and Verified Gomory Mixed Integer Cuts in a Rational MIP Framework

This paper is concerned with the exact solution of mixed-integer programs (MIPs) over the rational numbers, i.e., without any roundoff errors and error tolerances. Here, one computational bottleneck that should be avoided whenever possible is to employ large-scale symbolic computations. Instead it is often possible to use safe directed rounding methods, e.g., to generate provably … Read more

A Stochastic Benders Decomposition Scheme for Large-Scale Stochastic Network Design

Network design problems involve constructing edges in a transportation or supply chain network to minimize construction and daily operational costs. We study a stochastic version where operational costs are uncertain due to fluctuating demand and estimated as a sample average from historical data. This problem is computationally challenging, and instances with as few as  100 … Read more

An approximation algorithm for multi-objective mixed-integer convex optimization

In this article we introduce an algorithm that approximates Pareto fronts of multiobjective mixed-integer convex optimization problems. The algorithm constructs an inner and outer approximation of the front exploiting the convexity of the patches and is applicable to problems with an arbitrary number of criteria. In the algorithm, the problem is decomposed into patches, which … Read more

Stable Set Polytopes with High Lift-and-Project Ranks for the Lovász-Schrijver SDP Operator

\(\) We study the lift-and-project rank of the stable set polytopes of graphs with respect to the Lovász-Schrijver SDP operator \( \text{LS}_+\), with a particular focus on a search for relatively small graphs with high \( \text{LS}_+\)-rank (the least number of iterations of the \( \text{LS}_+\) operator on the fractional stable set polytope to compute … Read more

Column Elimination for Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problems

We introduce a column elimination procedure for the capacitated vehicle routing problem. Our procedure maintains a decision diagram to represent a relaxation of the set of feasible routes, over which we define a constrained network flow. The optimal solution corresponds to a collection of paths in the decision diagram and yields a dual bound. The … Read more