@misc{Hiller2005, author = {Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Probabilistic Competitive Analysis of a Dial-a-Ride Problem on Trees Under High Load}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8896}, number = {05-56}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In this paper we consider a simple variant of the Online Dial-a-Ride Problem from a probabilistic point of view. To this end, we look at a probabilistic version of this online Dial-a-Ride problem and introduce a probabilistic notion of the competitive ratio which states that an algorithm performs well on the vast majority of the instances. Our main result is that under the assumption of high load a certain online algorithm is probabilistically \$(1+o(1))\$-competitive if the underlying graph is a tree. This result can be extended to general graphs by using well-known approximation techniques at the expense of a distortion factor~\$O(\log\|V\|)\$.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerKrumkeRambau2004, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Krumke, Sven and Rambau, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Reoptimization Gaps versus Model Errors in Online-Dispatching of Service Units for ADAC}, volume = {18}, booktitle = {Latin-American Conference on Combinatorics, Graphs and Applications, Santiago de Chile 2004}, editor = {Liebling, T. and Duran, G. and Matamala, M.}, pages = {157 -- 163}, year = {2004}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerTuchscherer2008, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Real-Time Destination-Call Elevator Group Control on Embedded Microcontrollers}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2007}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {357 -- 362}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerVredeveld2008, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Vredeveld, Tjark}, title = {Probabilistic analysis of Online Bin Coloring algorithms via Stochastic Comparison}, volume = {5193}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 16th esa}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {528 -- 539}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @article{HillerKrumkeRambau2006, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Krumke, Sven and Rambau, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Reoptimization Gaps versus Model Errors in Online-Dispatching of Service Units for ADAC}, volume = {154}, journal = {DISAM}, number = {13}, pages = {1897 -- 1907}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @article{HillerSaitenmacherWalther2021, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Saitenmacher, Ren{\´e} and Walther, Tom}, title = {Improved models for operation modes of complex compressor stations}, volume = {94}, journal = {Mathematical Methods of Operations Research}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00186-021-00745-x}, pages = {171 -- 195}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We study combinatorial structures in large-scale mixed-integer (nonlinear) programming problems arising in gas network optimization. We propose a preprocessing strategy exploiting the observation that a large part of the combinatorial complexity arises in certain subnetworks. Our approach analyzes these subnetworks and the combinatorial structure of the flows within these subnetworks in order to provide alternative models with a stronger combinatorial structure that can be exploited by off-the-shelve solvers. In particular, we consider the modeling of operation modes for complex compressor stations (i.e., ones with several in- or outlets) in gas networks. We propose a refined model that allows to precompute tighter bounds for each operation mode and a number of model variants based on the refined model exploiting these tighter bounds. We provide a procedure to obtain the refined model from the input data for the original model. This procedure is based on a nontrivial reduction of the graph representing the gas flow through the compressor station in an operation mode. We evaluate our model variants on reference benchmark data, showing that they reduce the average running time between 10\% for easy instances and 46\% for hard instances. Moreover, for three of four considered networks, the average number of search tree nodes is at least halved, showing the effectivity of our model variants to guide the solver's search.}, language = {en} } @incollection{GroetschelHillerTuchscherer2009, author = {Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin and Hiller, Benjamin and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Structuring a Dynamic Environment}, booktitle = {Emergence, Analysis and Evolution of Structures. Concepts and Strategies Across Disciplines}, editor = {Lucas, Klaus and Roosen, Peter}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-00870-2}, pages = {199 -- 214}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @misc{GroetschelHillerTuchscherer2007, author = {Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin and Hiller, Benjamin and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Combinatorial Online Optimization: Elevators \& Yellow Angels}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10360}, number = {07-36}, year = {2007}, abstract = {In \emph{classical optimization} it is assumed that full information about the problem to be solved is given. This, in particular, includes that all data are at hand. The real world may not be so nice'' to optimizers. Some problem constraints may not be known, the data may be corrupted, or some data may not be available at the moments when decisions have to be made. The last issue is the subject of \emph{online optimization} which will be addressed here. We explain some theory that has been developed to cope with such situations and provide examples from practice where unavailable information is not the result of bad data handling but an inevitable phenomenon.}, language = {en} } @misc{BeckerHiller2020, author = {Becker, Kai-Helge and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Efficient Enumeration of Acyclic Graph Orientations with Sources or Sinks Revisited}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-77684}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In a recent paper, Conte et al. [CGMR2017] presented an algorithm for enumerating all acyclic orientations of a graph G=(V,E) with a single source (and related orientations) with delay O(|V||E|). In this paper we revisit the problem by going back to an early paper by de Fraysseix et al. [FMR1995], who proposed an algorithm for enumerating all bipolar orientations of a graph based on a recursion formula. We first formalize de Fraysseix et al.'s algorithm for bipolar orientations and determine that its delay is also O(|V||E|). We then apply their recursion formula to the case of Conte et al.'s enumeration problem and show that this yields a more efficient enumeration algorithm with delay O(\sqrt(|V|)|E|). Finally, a way to further streamline the algorithm that leads to a particularly simple implementation is suggested.}, language = {en} } @article{KochSchmidtHilleretal.2020, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Schmidt, Martin and Hiller, Benjamin and Pfetsch, Marc and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Henrion, Ren{\´e} and Joormann, Imke and Martin, Alexander and Morsi, Antonio and R{\"o}misch, Werner and Schewe, Lars and Schultz, R{\"u}diger}, title = {Capacity Evaluation for Large-Scale Gas Networks}, volume = {35}, journal = {German Success Stories in Industrial Mathematics}, isbn = {978-3-030-81454-0}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-81455-7}, pages = {23 -- 28}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @misc{BeckerHiller2019, author = {Becker, Kai-Helge and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Improved optimization models for potential-driven network flow problems via ASTS orientations}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.12752/7534}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-75347}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The class of potential-driven network flow problems provides important models for a range of infrastructure networks that lead to hard-to-solve MINLPs in real-world applications. On large-scale meshed networks the relaxations usually employed are rather weak due to cycles in the network. To address this situation, we introduce the concept of ASTS orientations, a generalization of bipolar orientations, as a combinatorial relaxation of feasible solutions of potential-driven flow problems, study their structure, and show how they can be used to strengthen existing relaxations and thus provide improved optimization models. Our computational results indicate that ASTS orientations can be used to derive much stronger bounds on the flow variables than existing bound tightening methods and to yield significant performance improvements for an existing state-of-the-art MILP model for large-scale gas networks.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AndersonHiller2019, author = {Anderson, Lovis and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {A Sweep-Plane Algorithm for the Computation of the Volume of a Union of Polytopes}, volume = {Operations Research Proceedings}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2018}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-18500-8_12}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Optimization models often feature disjunctions of polytopes as submodels. Such a disjunctive set is initially at best) relaxed to its convex hull, which is then refined by branching. To measure the error of the convex relaxation, the (relative) difference between the volume of the convex hull and the volume of the disjunctive set may be used. This requires a method to compute the volume of the disjunctive set. We propose a revised variant of an old algorithm by Bieri and Nef (1983) for this purpose. The algorithm uses a sweep-plane to incrementally calculate the volume of the disjunctive set as a function of the offset parameter of the sweep-plane.}, language = {en} } @misc{BeckerHiller2018, author = {Becker, Kai-Helge and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {ASTS Orientations on Undirected Graphs: Structural analysis and enumeration}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-69632}, year = {2018}, abstract = {All feasible flows in potential-driven networks induce an orientation on the undirected graph underlying the network. Clearly, these orientations must satisfy two conditions: they are acyclic and there are no "dead ends" in the network, i.e. each source requires outgoing flows, each sink requires incoming flows, and each transhipment vertex requires both an incoming and an outgoing flow. In this paper we will call orientations that satisfy these conditions acyclic source-transhipment-sink orientations (ASTS-orientation) and study their structure. In particular, we characterize graphs that allow for such an orientation, describe a way to enumerate all possible ASTS-orientations of a given graph, present an algorithm to simplify and decompose a graph before such an enumeration and shed light on the role of zero flows in the context of ASTS-orientations.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerBecker2018, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Becker, Kai-Helge}, title = {Improving relaxations for potential-driven network flow problems via acyclic flow orientations}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-69622}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The class of potential-driven network flow problems provides important models for a range of infrastructure networks. For real-world applications, they need to be combined with integer models for switching certain network elements, giving rise to hard-to-solve MINLPs. We observe that on large-scale real-world meshed networks the usually employed relaxations are rather weak due to cycles in the network. We propose acyclic flow orientations as a combinatorial relaxation of feasible solutions of potential-driven flow problems and show how they can be used to strengthen existing relaxations. First computational results indicate that the strengthend model is much tighter than the original relaxation, thus promising a computational advantage.}, language = {en} } @misc{AndersonHiller2018, author = {Anderson, Lovis and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {A Sweep-Plane Algorithm for the Computation of the Volume of a Union of Polytopes}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-69489}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Optimization models often feature disjunctions of polytopes as submodels. Such a disjunctive set is initially (at best) relaxed to its convex hull, which is then refined by branching. To measure the error of the convex relaxation, the (relative) difference between the volume of the convex hull and the volume of the disjunctive set may be used. This requires a method to compute the volume of the disjunctive set. Naively, this can be done via inclusion/exclusion and leveraging the existing code for the volume of polytopes. However, this is often inefficient. We propose a revised variant of an old algorithm by Bieri and Nef (1983) for this purpose. The algorithm uses a sweep-plane to incrementally calculate the volume of the disjunctive set as a function of the offset parameter of the sweep-plane.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerSaitenmacherWalther2018, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Saitenmacher, Ren{\´e} and Walther, Tom}, title = {Analysis of operating modes of complex compressor stations}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-68179}, year = {2018}, abstract = {We consider the modeling of operation modes for complex compressor stations (i.e., ones with several in- or outlets) in gas networks. In particular, we propose a refined model that allows to precompute tighter relaxations for each operation mode. These relaxations may be used to strengthen the compressor station submodels in gas network optimization problems. We provide a procedure to obtain the refined model from the input data for the original model. This procedure is based on a nontrivial reduction of the graph representing the gas flow through the compressor station in an operation mode.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerKrumkeRambau2004, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Krumke, Sven and Rambau, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Reoptimization Gaps versus Model Errors in Online-Dispatching of Service Units for ADAC}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7928}, number = {04-17}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Under high load, the automated dispatching of service vehicles for the German Automobile Association (ADAC) must reoptimize a dispatch for 100--150 vehicles and 400 requests in about ten seconds to near optimality. In the presence of service contractors, this can be achieved by the column generation algorithm ZIBDIP. In metropolitan areas, however, service contractors cannot be dispatched automatically because they may decline. The problem: a model without contractors yields larger optimality gaps within ten seconds. One way-out are simplified reoptimization models. These compute a short-term dispatch containing only some of the requests: unknown future requests will influence future service anyway. The simpler the models the better the gaps, but also the larger the model error. What is more significant: reoptimization gap or reoptimization model error? We answer this question in simulations on real-world ADAC data: only the new model ZIBDIP{\footnotesize dummy} can keep up with ZIBDIP.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerVredeveld2009, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Vredeveld, Tjark}, title = {Stochastic dominance analysis of online bin coloring algorithms}, booktitle = {9th Workshop on Models and Algorithms for Planning and Scheduling Problems}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @misc{Hiller2004, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Bad Guys are Rare}, year = {2004}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hiller2009, author = {Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Online Optimization}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @incollection{BerberichHagenHilleretal.2010, author = {Berberich, Eric and Hagen, Matthias and Hiller, Benjamin and Moser, Hannes}, title = {Experiments}, volume = {5971}, booktitle = {Algorithm Engineering}, editor = {M{\"u}ller-Hannemann, Matthias and Schirra, Stefan}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {325 -- 388}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{HillerVredeveld2012, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Vredeveld, Tjark}, title = {Probabilistic alternatives for competitive analysis}, volume = {27}, journal = {Computer Science - Research and Development}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/s00450-011-0149-1}, pages = {189 -- 196}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @incollection{GeyerHillerMeinert2010, author = {Geyer, Markus and Hiller, Benjamin and Meinert, Sascha}, title = {Modeling}, volume = {5971}, booktitle = {Algorithm Engineering}, editor = {M{\"u}ller-Hannemann, Matthias and Schirra, Stefan}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {16 -- 57}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @misc{Hiller2003, author = {Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Hochlastvarianten des Algorithmus ZIBDIP f{\"u}r die automatische Disposition von ADAC-Einsatzfahrzeugen}, publisher = {Studienarbeit TU Ilmenau\,/\,Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informationstechnik Berlin}, year = {2003}, language = {en} } @misc{FuegenschuhHillerHumpolaetal.2011, author = {F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Szab{\´o}, J{\´a}cint}, title = {Gas Network Topology Optimization for Upcoming Market Requirements}, doi = {10.1109/EEM.2011.5953035}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-12348}, number = {11-09}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Gas distribution networks are complex structures that consist of passive pipes, and active, controllable elements such as valves and compressors. Controlling such network means to find a suitable setting for all active components such that a nominated amount of gas can be transmitted from entries to exits through the network, without violating physical or operational constraints. The control of a large-scale gas network is a challenging task from a practical point of view. In most companies the actual controlling process is supported by means of computer software that is able to simulate the flow of the gas. However, the active settings have to be set manually within such simulation software. The solution quality thus depends on the experience of a human planner. When the gas network is insufficient for the transport then topology extensions come into play. Here a set of new pipes or active elements is determined such that the extended network admits a feasible control again. The question again is how to select these extensions and where to place them such that the total extension costs are minimal. Industrial practice is again to use the same simulation software, determine extensions by experience, add them to the virtual network, and then try to find a feasible control of the active elements. The validity of this approach now depends even more on the human planner. Another weakness of this manual simulation-based approach is that it cannot establish infeasibility of a certain gas nomination, unless all settings of the active elements are tried. Moreover, it is impossible to find a cost-optimal network extension in this way. In order to overcome these shortcomings of the manual planning approach we present a new approach, rigorously based on mathematical optimization. Hereto we describe a model for finding feasible controls and then extend this model such that topology extensions can additionally and simultaneously be covered. Numerical results for real-world instances are presented and discussed.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerVredeveld2012, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Vredeveld, Tjark}, title = {Probabilistic alternatives for competitive analysis}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/s00450-011-0149-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-15131}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In the last 20 years competitive analysis has become the main tool for analyzing the quality of online algorithms. Despite of this, competitive analysis has also been criticized: It sometimes cannot discriminate between algorithms that exhibit significantly different empirical behavior, or it even favors an algorithm that is worse from an empirical point of view. Therefore, there have been several approaches to circumvent these drawbacks. In this survey, we discuss probabilistic alternatives for competitive analysis.}, language = {en} } @article{PfetschFuegenschuhGeissleretal.2014, author = {Pfetsch, Marc and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Geißler, Nina and Gollmer, Ralf and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Martin, Alexander and Morsi, Antonio and R{\"o}vekamp, Jessica and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Stangl, Claudia and Steinbach, Marc and Vigerske, Stefan and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Validation of Nominations in Gas Network Optimization: Models, Methods, and Solutions}, journal = {Optimization Methods and Software}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, doi = {10.1080/10556788.2014.888426}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In this article we investigate methods to solve a fundamental task in gas transportation, namely the validation of nomination problem: Given a gas transmission network consisting of passive pipelines and active, controllable elements and given an amount of gas at every entry and exit point of the network, find operational settings for all active elements such that there exists a network state meeting all physical, technical, and legal constraints. We describe a two-stage approach to solve the resulting complex and numerically difficult feasibility problem. The first phase consists of four distinct algorithms applying linear, and methods for complementarity constraints to compute possible settings for the discrete decisions. The second phase employs a precise continuous programming model of the gas network. Using this setup, we are able to compute high quality solutions to real-world industrial instances that are significantly larger than networks that have appeared in the mathematical programming literature before.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FuegenschuhHillerHumpolaetal.2011, author = {F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Szabo, Jacint}, title = {Gas Network Topology Optimization for Upcoming Market Requirements}, booktitle = {International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM)}, doi = {10.1109/EEM.2011.5953035}, pages = {346 -- 351}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Gas distribution networks are complex structures that consist of passive pipes, and active, controllable elements such as valves and compressors. Controlling such network means to find a suitable setting for all active components such that a nominated amount of gas can be transmitted from entries to exits through the network, without violating physical or operational constraints. The control of a large-scale gas network is a challenging task from a practical point of view. In most companies the actual controlling process is supported by means of computer software that is able to simulate the flow of the gas. However, the active settings have to be set manually within such simulation software. The solution quality thus depends on the experience of a human planner. When the gas network is insufficient for the transport then topology extensions come into play. Here a set of new pipes or active elements is determined such that the extended network admits a feasible control again. The question again is how to select these extensions and where to place them such that the total extension costs are minimal. Industrial practice is again to use the same simulation software, determine extensions by experience, add them to the virtual network, and then try to find a feasible control of the active elements. The validity of this approach now depends even more on the human planner. Another weakness of this manual simulation-based approach is that it cannot establish infeasibility of a certain gas nomination, unless all settings of the active elements are tried. Moreover, it is impossible to find a cost-optimal network extension in this way. In order to overcome these shortcomings of the manual planning approach we present a new approach, rigorously based on mathematical optimization. Hereto we describe a model for finding feasible controls and then extend this model such that topology extensions can additionally and simultaneously be covered. Numerical results for real-world instances are presented and discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{HillerKlugTuchscherer2013, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Klug, Torsten and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {An Exact Reoptimization Algorithm for the Scheduling of Elevator Groups}, journal = {Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal}, doi = {10.1007/s10696-013-9175-6}, pages = {1 -- 24}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{FuegenschuhGeisslerGollmeretal.2013, author = {F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Gollmer, Ralf and Hayn, Christine and Henrion, Ren{\´e} and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Martin, Alexander and Mirkov, Radoslava and Morsi, Antonio and R{\"o}misch, Werner and R{\"o}vekamp, Jessica and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Stangl, Claudia and Steinbach, Marc and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Mathematical optimization for challenging network planning problems in unbundled liberalized gas markets}, volume = {5}, journal = {Energy Systems}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg}, address = {Berlin}, doi = {10.1007/s12667-013-0099-8}, pages = {449 -- 473}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The recently imposed new gas market liberalization rules in Germany lead to a change of business of gas network operators. While previously network operator and gas vendor were united, they were forced to split up into independent companies. The network has to be open to any other gas trader at the same conditions, and free network capacities have to be identified and publicly offered in a non-discriminatory way. We discuss how these changing paradigms lead to new and challenging mathematical optimization problems. This includes the validation of nominations, that asks for the decision if the network's capacity is sufficient to transport a specific amount of flow, the verification of booked capacities and the detection of available freely allocable capacities, and the topological extension of the network with new pipelines or compressors in order to increase its capacity. In order to solve each of these problems and to provide meaningful results for the practice, a mixture of different mathematical aspects have to be addressed, such as combinatorics, stochasticity, uncertainty, and nonlinearity. Currently, no numerical solver is available that can deal with such blended problems out-of-the-box. The main goal of our research is to develop such a solver, that moreover is able to solve instances of realistic size. In this article, we describe the main ingredients of our prototypical software implementations.}, language = {en} } @misc{WitzigGamrathHiller2015, author = {Witzig, Jakob and Gamrath, Gerald and Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Reoptimization Techniques in MIP Solvers}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-20086-6_14}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-54375}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Recently, there have been many successful applications of optimization algorithms that solve a sequence of quite similar mixed-integer programs (MIPs) as subproblems. Traditionally, each problem in the sequence is solved from scratch. In this paper we consider reoptimization techniques that try to benefit from information obtained by solving previous problems of the sequence. We focus on the case that subsequent MIPs differ only in the objective function or that the feasible region is reduced. We propose extensions of the very complex branch-and-bound algorithms employed by general MIP solvers based on the idea to ``warmstart'' using the final search frontier of the preceding solver run. We extend the academic MIP solver SCIP by these techniques to obtain a reoptimizing branch-and-bound solver and report computational results which show the effectiveness of the approach.}, language = {en} } @article{DomschkeGrossHanteetal.2015, author = {Domschke, Pia and Groß, Martin and Hante, Falk M. and Hiller, Benjamin and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin}, title = {Mathematische Modellierung, Simulation und Optimierung von Gastransportnetzwerken}, volume = {156}, journal = {gwf - Gas+Energie}, number = {11}, pages = {880 -- 885}, year = {2015}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{HillerKlugTuchscherer2009, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Klug, Torsten and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Improving the performance of elevator systems using exact reoptimization algorithms}, booktitle = {Proceedings of MAPSP}, pages = {224 -- 226}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerKlugTuchscherer2010, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Klug, Torsten and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Improved destination call elevator control algorithms for up peak traffic}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2010}, publisher = {Springer}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerTuchscherer2008, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Real-Time Destination-Call Elevator Group Control on Embedded Microcontrollers}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings}, editor = {Kalcsics, J{\"o}rg and Nickel, Stefan}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {357 -- 362}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HillerKrumkeSalibaetal.2009, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Krumke, Sven and Saliba, Sleman and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Randomized Online Algorithms for Dynamic Multi-Period Routing Problems}, booktitle = {Proceedings of MAPSP}, pages = {71 -- 73}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MartinGeisslerHeynetal.2011, author = {Martin, Alexander and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Heyn, Christine and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Morsi, Antonio and Pfetsch, Marc and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Steinbach, Marc and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Optimierung Technischer Kapazit{\"a}ten in Gasnetzen}, booktitle = {Optimierung in der Energiewirtschaft}, publisher = {VDI-Verlag, D{\"u}sseldorf}, pages = {105 -- 114}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerSaitenmacherWalther2016, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Saitenmacher, Ren{\´e} and Walther, Tom}, title = {Analysis of operating modes of complex compressor stations}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-61092}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We consider the modeling of operation modes for complex compressor stations (i.e., ones with several in- or outlets) in gas networks. In particular, we propose a refined model that allows to precompute tighter relaxations for each operation mode. These relaxations may be used to strengthen the compressor station submodels in gas network optimization problems. We provide a procedure to obtain the refined model from the input data for the original model.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerWalther2018, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Walther, Tom}, title = {Improving branching for disjunctive polyhedral models using approximate convex decompositions}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-67462}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Disjunctive sets arise in a variety of optimization models and much esearch has been devoted to obtain strong relaxations for them. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the relaxation during the branch-and-bound search process. We argue that the branching possibilities (\ie binary variables) of the usual formulations are unsuitable to obtain strong bounds early in the search process as they do not capture the overall shape of the the entire disjunctive set. To analyze and exploit the shape of the disjunctive set we propose to compute a hierarchy of approximate convex decompositions and show how to extend the known formulations to obtain improved branching behavior.}, language = {en} } @article{HillerKochScheweetal.2018, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Koch, Thorsten and Schewe, Lars and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas}, title = {A System to Evaluate Gas Network Capacities: Concepts and Implementation}, volume = {270}, journal = {European Journal of Operational Research}, number = {3}, pages = {797 -- 808}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In 2005 the European Union liberalized the gas market with a disruptive change and decoupled trading of natural gas from its transport. The gas is now trans- ported by independent so-called transmissions system operators or TSOs. The market model established by the European Union views the gas transmission network as a black box, providing shippers (gas traders and consumers) the opportunity to transport gas from any entry to any exit. TSOs are required to offer the maximum possible capacities at each entry and exit such that any resulting gas flow can be realized by the network. The revenue from selling these capacities more than one billion Euro in Germany alone, but overestimating the capacity might compromise the security of supply. Therefore, evaluating the available transport capacities is extremely important to the TSOs. This is a report on a large project in mathematical optimization, set out to develop a new toolset for evaluating gas network capacities. The goals and the challenges as they occurred in the project are described, as well as the developments and design decisions taken to meet the requirements.}, language = {en} } @misc{MartinGeisslerHaynetal.2012, author = {Martin, Alexander and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Hayn, Christine and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Morsi, Antonio and Pfetsch, Marc and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Steinbach, Marc and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Optimierung Technischer Kapazit{\"a}ten in Gasnetzen}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-15121}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Die mittel- und l{\"a}ngerfristige Planung f{\"u}r den Gastransport hat sich durch {\"A}nderungen in den regulatorischen Rahmenbedingungen stark verkompliziert. Kernpunkt ist die Trennung von Gashandel und -transport. Dieser Artikel diskutiert die hieraus resultierenden mathematischen Planungsprobleme, welche als Validierung von Nominierungen und Buchungen, Bestimmung der technischen Kapazit{\"a}t und Topologieplanung bezeichnet werden. Diese mathematischen Optimierungsprobleme werden vorgestellt und L{\"o}sungsans{\"a}tze skizziert.}, language = {de} } @misc{HillerVredeveld2008, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Vredeveld, Tjark}, title = {Probabilistic analysis of Online Bin Coloring algorithms via Stochastic Comparison}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10726}, number = {08-18}, year = {2008}, abstract = {This paper proposes a new method for probabilistic analysis of online algorithms that is based on the notion of stochastic dominance. We develop the method for the Online Bin Coloring problem introduced by Krumke et al. Using methods for the stochastic comparison of Markov chains we establish the strong result that the performance of the online algorithm GreedyFit is stochastically dominated by the performance of the algorithm OneBin for any number of items processed. This result gives a more realistic picture than competitive analysis and explains the behavior observed in simulations.}, language = {en} } @misc{Hiller2004, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Hiller, Benjamin}, title = {Bad Guys are Rare: Probabilistic Analysis of an Elementary Dial-a-Ride Problem}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10114}, school = {Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB)}, year = {2004}, abstract = {This thesis deals with a Dial-a-Ride problem on trees and considers both offline and online versions of this problem. We study the behavior of certain algorithms on random instances, i.e. we do probabilistic analysis. The focus is on results describing the typical behavior of the algorithms, i.e. results holding with (asymptotically) high probability. For the offline version, we present a simplified proof of a result of Coja-Oghlan, Krumke und Nierhoff. The results states that some heuristic using a minimum spanning tree to approximate a Steiner tree gives optimal results with high probability. This explains why this heuristic produces optimal solutions quite often. In the second part, probabilistic online versions of the problem are introduced. We study the online strategies REPLAN and IGNORE. Regarding the IGNORE strategy we can show that it works almost optimal under high load with high probability.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerKochScheweetal.2018, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Koch, Thorsten and Schewe, Lars and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas}, title = {A System to Evaluate Gas Network Capacities: Concepts and Implementation}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-67438}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In 2005 the European Union liberalized the gas market with a disruptive change and decoupled trading of natural gas from its transport. The gas is now transported by independent so-called transmissions system operators or TSOs. The market model established by the European Union views the gas transmission network as a black box, providing shippers (gas traders and consumers) the opportunity to transport gas from any entry to any exit. TSOs are required to offer the maximum possible capacities at each entry and exit such that any resulting gas flow can be realized by the network. The revenue from selling these capacities more than one billion Euro in Germany alone, but overestimating the capacity might compromise the security of supply. Therefore, evaluating the available transport capacities is extremely important to the TSOs. This is a report on a large project in mathematical optimization, set out to develop a new toolset for evaluating gas network capacities. The goals and the challenges as they occurred in the project are described, as well as the developments and design decisions taken to meet the requirements.}, language = {en} } @incollection{HillerHumpolaLehmannetal.2015, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Lehmann, Thomas and Lenz, Ralf and Morsi, Antonio and Pfetsch, Marc and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Stangl, Claudia and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Computational results for validation of nominations}, volume = {SIAM-MOS series on Optimization}, booktitle = {Evaluating Gas Network Capacities}, isbn = {9781611973686}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The different approaches to solve the validation of nomination problem presented in the previous chapters are evaluated computationally in this chapter. Each approach is analyzed individually, as well as the complete solvers for these problems. We demonstrate that the presented approaches can successfully solve large-scale real-world instances.}, language = {en} } @incollection{HumpolaFuegenschuhHilleretal.2015, author = {Humpola, Jesco and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Hiller, Benjamin and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Lenz, Ralf and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas}, title = {The Specialized MINLP Approach}, volume = {SIAM-MOS series on Optimization}, booktitle = {Evaluating Gas Network Capacities}, isbn = {9781611973686}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We propose an approach to solve the validation of nominations problem using mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) methods. Our approach handles both the discrete settings and the nonlinear aspects of gas physics. Our main contribution is an innovative coupling of mixed-integer (linear) programming (MILP) methods with nonlinear programming (NLP) that exploits the special structure of a suitable approximation of gas physics, resulting in a global optimization method for this type of problem.}, language = {en} } @book{KochHillerPfetschetal.2015, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Hiller, Benjamin and Pfetsch, Marc and Schewe, Lars}, title = {Evaluating Gas Network Capacities}, publisher = {SIAM}, isbn = {978-1-611973-68-6}, pages = {xvi + 376 pages}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerTuchscherer2007, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Tuchscherer, Andreas}, title = {Real-Time Destination-Call Elevator Group Control on Embedded Microcontrollers}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10108}, number = {07-26}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Algorithmic control of elevator systems has been studied for a long time. More recently, a new paradigm for elevator control has emerged. In destination call systems, the passenger specifies not only the direction of his ride, but the destination floor. Such a destination call system is very interesting from an optimization point of view, since more information is available earlier, which should allow improved planning. However, the real-world destination call system envisioned by our industry partner requires that each destination call (i.e. passenger) is assigned to a serving elevator immediately. This early assignment restricts the potential gained from the destination information. Another aspect is that there is no way to specify the destination floor in the cabin. Therefore, the elevator has to stop on every destination floor of an assigned call, although the passenger may not have boarded the cabin, e.g. due to insufficient capacity. In this paper we introduce a new destination call control algorithm suited to this setting. Since the control algorithm for an entire elevator group has to run on embedded microprocessors, computing resources are very scarce. Since exact optimization is not feasible on such hardware, the algorithm is an insertion heuristic using a non-trivial data structure to maintain a set of tours. To assess the performance of our algorithm, we compare it to similar and more powerful algorithms by simulation. We also compare to algorithms for a conventional system and with a more idealized destination call system. This gives an indication of the relative potentials of these systems. In particular, we assess how the above real-world restrictions influence performance. The algorithm introduced has been implemented by our industry partner for real-world use.}, language = {en} } @misc{FuegenschuhGeisslerGollmeretal.2013, author = {F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Gollmer, Ralf and Hayn, Christine and Henrion, Rene and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Martin, Alexander and Mirkov, Radoslava and Morsi, Antonio and R{\"o}misch, Werner and R{\"o}vekamp, Jessica and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Stangl, Claudia and Steinbach, Marc and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Mathematical Optimization for Challenging Network Planning Problems in Unbundled Liberalized Gas Markets}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/s12667-013-0099-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-17821}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The recently imposed new gas market liberalization rules in Germany lead to a change of business of gas network operators. While previously network operator and gas vendor where united, they were forced to split up into independent companies. The network has to be open to any other gas trader at the same conditions, and free network capacities have to be identified and publicly offered in a non-discriminatory way. We show that these new paradigms lead to new and challenging mathematical optimization problems. In order to solve them and to provide meaningful results for practice, all aspects of the underlying problems, such as combinatorics, stochasticity, uncertainty, and nonlinearity, have to be addressed. With such special-tailored solvers, free network capacities and topological network extensions can, for instance, be determined.}, language = {en} } @misc{HillerKlugWitzig2013, author = {Hiller, Benjamin and Klug, Torsten and Witzig, Jakob}, title = {Reoptimization in branch-and-bound algorithms with an application to elevator control}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-38527-8_33}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-17876}, year = {2013}, abstract = {We consider reoptimization (i.e. the solution of a problem based on information available from solving a similar problem) for branch-and-bound algorithms and propose a generic framework to construct a reoptimizing branch-and-bound algorithm. We apply this to an elevator scheduling algorithm solving similar subproblems to generate columns using branch-and-bound. Our results indicate that reoptimization techniques can substantially reduce the running times of the overall algorithm.}, language = {en} } @misc{PfetschFuegenschuhGeissleretal.2012, author = {Pfetsch, Marc and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geißler, Bj{\"o}rn and Geißler, Nina and Gollmer, Ralf and Hiller, Benjamin and Humpola, Jesco and Koch, Thorsten and Lehmann, Thomas and Martin, Alexander and Morsi, Antonio and R{\"o}vekamp, Jessica and Schewe, Lars and Schmidt, Martin and Schultz, R{\"u}diger and Schwarz, Robert and Schweiger, Jonas and Stangl, Claudia and Steinbach, Marc and Vigerske, Stefan and Willert, Bernhard}, title = {Validation of Nominations in Gas Network Optimization: Models, Methods, and Solutions}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1080/10556788.2014.888426}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-16531}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In this article we investigate methods to solve a fundamental task in gas transportation, namely the validation of nomination problem: Given a gas transmission network consisting of passive pipelines and active, controllable elements and given an amount of gas at every entry and exit point of the network, find operational settings for all active elements such that there exists a network state meeting all physical, technical, and legal constraints. We describe a two-stage approach to solve the resulting complex and numerically difficult mixed-integer non-convex nonlinear feasibility problem. The first phase consists of four distinct algorithms facilitating mixed-integer linear, mixed-integer nonlinear, reduced nonlinear, and complementarity constrained methods to compute possible settings for the discrete decisions. The second phase employs a precise continuous nonlinear programming model of the gas network. Using this setup, we are able to compute high quality solutions to real-world industrial instances whose size is significantly larger than networks that have appeared in the literature previously.}, language = {en} }