A Structure Exploiting Algorithm for Non-Smooth Semi-Linear Elliptic Optimal Control Problems

We investigate optimization problems with a non-smooth partial differential equation as constraint, where the non-smoothness is assumed to be caused by Nemytzkii operators generated by the functions abs, min and max. For the efficient as well as robust solution of such problems, we propose a new optimization method based on abs-linearization, i.e., a special handling … Read more

An exact solution approach for an electric bus dispatch problem

We study how to efficiently plan the daily bus dispatch operation within a public transport terminal working with a fleet of electric buses. This requires to formulate and solve a new variant of the Vehicle Scheduling Problem model, in which one has to assign trip itineraries to each vehicle considering that driving ranges are limited, … Read more

Kernel Distributionally Robust Optimization

We propose kernel distributionally robust optimization (Kernel DRO) using insights from the robust optimization theory and functional analysis. Our method uses reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS) to construct a wide range of convex ambiguity sets, including sets based on integral probability metrics and finite-order moment bounds. This perspective unifies multiple existing robust and stochastic optimization … Read more

An Exact Projection-Based Algorithm for Bilevel Mixed-Integer Problems with Nonlinearities

We propose an exact global solution method for bilevel mixed-integer optimization problems with lower-level integer variables and including nonlinear terms such as, \eg, products of upper-level and lower-level variables. Problems of this type are extremely challenging as a single-level reformulation suitable for off-the-shelf solvers is not available in general. In order to solve these problems … Read more

Planar Maximum Coverage Location Problem with Partial Coverage, Continuous Spatial Demand, and Adjustable Quality of Service

We consider a generalization of the classical planar maximum coverage location problem (PMCLP) in which partial coverage is allowed, facilities have adjustable quality of service (QoS) or service range, and demand zones and service zone of each facility are represented by two-dimensional spatial objects such as rectangles, circles, polygons, etc. We denote this generalization by … Read more

Moreau envelope of supremum functions with applications to infinite and stochastic programming

In this paper, we investigate the Moreau envelope of the supremum of a family of convex, proper, and lower semicontinuous functions. Under mild assumptions, we prove that the Moreau envelope of a supremum is the supremum of Moreau envelopes, which allows us to approximate possibly nonsmooth supremum functions by smooth functions that are also the … Read more

Polyhedral Analysis of Symmetric Multilinear Polynomials over Box Constraints

It is well-known that the convex and concave envelope of a multilinear polynomial over a box are polyhedral functions. Exponential-sized extended and projected formulations for these envelopes are also known. We consider the convexification question for multilinear polynomials that are symmetric with respect to permutations of variables. Such a permutation-invariant structure naturally implies a quadratic-sized … Read more

On the Integrality Gap of Binary Integer Programs with Gaussian Data

For a binary integer program (IP) $\max c^\T x, Ax \leq b, x \in \{0,1\}^n$, where $A \in \R^{m \times n}$ and $c \in \R^n$ have independent Gaussian entries and the right-hand side $b \in \R^m$ satisfies that its negative coordinates have $\ell_2$ norm at most $n/10$, we prove that the gap between the value … Read more

Select, Route and Schedule: Optimizing Community Paramedicine Service Delivery with Mandatory Visits and Patient Prioritization

Healthcare delivery in the United States has been characterized as overly reactive and dependent on emergency department care for safety net coverage, with opportunity for improvement around discharge planning and high readmissions and emergency department bounce-back rates. Community paramedicine is a recent healthcare innovation that enables proactive visitation of patients at home, often shortly after … Read more

Pareto Adaptive Robust Optimality via a Fourier-Motzkin Elimination Lens

We formalize the concept of Pareto Adaptive Robust Optimality (PARO) for linear Adaptive Robust Optimization (ARO) problems. A worst-case optimal solution pair of here-and-now decisions and wait-and-see decisions is PARO if it cannot be Pareto dominated by another solution, i.e., there does not exist another such pair that performs at least as good in all … Read more