The SCIP Optimization Suite 8.0

The SCIP Optimization Suite provides a collection of software packages for mathematical optimization centered around the constraint integer programming framework SCIP. This paper discusses enhancements and extensions contained in version 8.0 of the SCIP Optimization Suite. Major updates in SCIP include improvements in symmetry handling and decomposition algorithms, new cutting planes, a new plugin type … Read more

Multiple-Periods Locally-Facet-Based MIP Formulations for the Unit Commitment Problem

The thermal unit commitment (UC) problem has historically been formulated as a mixed integer quadratic programming (MIQP), which is difficult to solve efficiently, especially for large-scale systems. The tighter characteristic reduces the search space, therefore, as a natural consequence, significantly reduces the computational burden. In literatures, many tightened formulations for a single unit with parts … Read more

A Finitely Convergent Cutting Plane, and a Bender’s Decomposition Algorithm for Mixed-Integer Convex and Two-Stage Convex Programs using Cutting Planes

We consider a general mixed-integer convex program. We first develop an algorithm for solving this problem, and show its nite convergence. We then develop a finitely convergent decomposition algorithm that separates binary variables from integer and continuous variables. The integer and continuous variables are treated as second stage variables. An oracle for generating a parametric … Read more

Lower bound on size of branch-and-bound trees for solving lot-sizing problem

We show that there exists a family of instances of the lot-sizing problem, such that any branch-and-bound tree that solves them requires an exponential number of nodes, even in the case when the branchings are performed on general split disjunctions. ArticleDownload View PDF

Facets of the Total Matching Polytope for bipartite graphs

The Total Matching Polytope generalizes the Stable Set Polytope and the Matching Polytope. In this paper, we give the perfect formulation for Trees and we derive two new families of valid inequalities, the balanced biclique inequalities which are always facet-defining and the non-balanced lifted biclique inequalities obtained by a lifting procedure, which are facet-defining for … Read more

Recognizing Integrality of Weighted Rectangles Partitions

Given a grid of active and inactive pixels, the weighted rectangles partitioning (WRP) problem is to find a maximum-weight partition of the active pixels into rectangles. WRP is formulated as an integer programming problem and instances with an integral relaxation polyhedron are characterized by a balanced problem matrix. A complete characterization of these balanced instances … Read more

Freight-on-Transit for urban last-mile deliveries: A Strategic Planning Approach

We study a delivery strategy for last-mile deliveries in urban areas which combines freight transportation with mass mobility systems with the goal of creating synergies contrasting negative externalities caused by transportation. The idea is to use the residual capacity on public transport means for moving freights within the city. In particular, the system is such … Read more

Modeling Design and Control Problems Involving Neural Network Surrogates

We consider nonlinear optimization problems that involve surrogate models represented by neural net-works. We demonstrate first how to directly embed neural network evaluation into optimization models, highlight a difficulty with this approach that can prevent convergence, and then characterize stationarity of such models. We then present two alternative formulations of these problems in the specific … Read more

Sparse multi-term disjunctive cuts for the epigraph of a function of binary variables

We propose a new method for separating valid inequalities for the epigraph of a function of binary variables. The proposed inequalities are disjunctive cuts defined by disjunctive terms obtained by enumerating a subset $I$ of the binary variables. We show that by restricting the support of the cut to the same set of variables $I$, … Read more

Schreier-Sims Cuts meet Stable Set: Preserving Problem Structure when Handling Symmetries

Symmetry handling inequalities (SHIs) are a popular tool to handle symmetries in integer programming. Despite their successful application in practice, only little is known about the interaction of SHIs with optimization problems. In this article, we focus on SST cuts, an attractive class of SHIs, and investigate their computational and polyhedral consequences for optimization problems. … Read more