Strong mixed-integer formulations for the floor layout problem

The floor layout problem (FLP) tasks a designer with positioning a collection of rectangular boxes on a fixed floor in such a way that minimizes total communication costs between the components. While several mixed integer programming (MIP) formulations for this problem have been developed, it remains extremely challenging from a computational perspective. This work takes … Read more

Robust Nonparametric Testing for Causal Inference in Observational Studies

We consider the decision problem of making causal conclusions from observational data. Typically, using standard matched pairs techniques, there is a source of uncertainty that is not usually quanti fied, namely the uncertainty due to the choice of the experimenter: two di fferent reasonable experimenters can easily have opposite results. In this work we present an alternative … Read more

New Exact Approaches to Row Layout Problems

Given a set of departments, a number of rows and pairwise connectivities between these departments, the multi-row facility layout problem (MRFLP) looks for a non-overlapping arrangement of these departments in the rows such that the weighted sum of the center-to-center distances is minimized. As even small instances of the (MRFLP) are rather challenging, several special … Read more

Another pedagogy for pure-integer Gomory

We present pure-integer Gomory cuts in a way so that they are derived with respect to a “dual form” pure-integer optimization problem and applied on the standard-form primal side as columns, using the primal simplex algorithm. The input integer problem is not in standard form, and so the cuts are derived a bit differently. In … Read more

The Time Dependent Traveling Salesman Planning Problem in Controlled Airspace

The integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into civil airspace is one of the most challenging problems for the automation of the Controlled Airspace, and the optimization of the UAS route is a key step for this process. In this paper, we optimize the planning phase of a UAS mission that consists of departing from … Read more

New computer-based search strategies for extreme functions of the Gomory–Johnson infinite group problem

We describe new computer-based search strategies for extreme functions for the Gomory–Johnson infinite group problem. They lead to the discovery of new extreme functions, whose existence settles several open questions. ArticleDownload View PDF

Sparse optimization for inverse problems in atmospheric modelling

We consider inverse problems in atmospheric modelling. Instead of using the ordinary least squares, we add a weighting matrix based on the topology of measurement points and show the connection with Bayesian modelling. Since the source–receptor sensitivity matrix is usually ill-conditioned, the problem is often regularized, either by perturbing the objective function or by modifying … Read more

Robust Testing for Causal Inference in Observational Studies

A vast number of causal inference studies use matching techniques, where treatment cases are matched with similar control cases. For observational data in particular, we claim there is a major source of uncertainty that is essentially ignored in these tests, which is the way the assignments of matched pairs are constructed. It is entirely possible, … Read more

A Cycle-Based Formulation and Valid Inequalities for DC Power Transmission Problems with Switching

It is well-known that optimizing network topology by switching on and off transmission lines improves the efficiency of power delivery in electrical networks. In fact, the USA Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Section 1223) states that the U.S. should “encourage, as appropriate, the deployment of advanced transmission technologies” including “optimized transmission line configurations”. As such, … Read more

Steiner Trees with Degree Constraints: Structural Results and an Exact Solution Approach

In this paper we study the Steiner tree problem with degree constraints. Motivated by an application in computational biology we first focus on binary Steiner trees in which all node degrees are required to be at most three. We then present results for general degree-constrained Steiner trees. It is shown that finding a binary Steiner … Read more