@article{LubkollSchielaWeiser2017, author = {Lubkoll, Lars and Schiela, Anton and Weiser, Martin}, title = {An affine covariant composite step method for optimization with PDEs as equality constraints}, volume = {32}, journal = {Optimization Methods and Software}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1080/10556788.2016.1241783}, pages = {1132 -- 1161}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We propose a composite step method, designed for equality constrained optimization with partial differential equations. Focus is laid on the construction of a globalization scheme, which is based on cubic regularization of the objective and an affine covariant damped Newton method for feasibility. We show finite termination of the inner loop and fast local convergence of the algorithm. We discuss preconditioning strategies for the iterative solution of the arising linear systems with projected conjugate gradient. Numerical results are shown for optimal control problems subject to a nonlinear heat equation and subject to nonlinear elastic equations arising from an implant design problem in craniofacial surgery.}, language = {en} } @misc{GoetschelMaierhoferMuelleretal.2016, author = {G{\"o}tschel, Sebastian and Maierhofer, Christiane and M{\"u}ller, Jan P. and Rothbart, Nick and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Quantitative Defect Reconstruction in Active Thermography for Fiber-Reinforced Composites}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-58374}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Carbon-fiber reinforced composites are becoming more and more important in the production of light-weight structures, e.g., in the automotive and aerospace industry. Thermography is often used for non-destructive testing of these products, especially to detect delaminations between different layers of the composite. In this presentation, we aim at methods for defect reconstruction from thermographic measurements of such carbon-fiber reinforced composites. The reconstruction results shall not only allow to locate defects, but also give a quantitative characterization of the defect properties. We discuss the simulation of the measurement process using finite element methods, as well as the experimental validation on flat bottom holes. Especially in pulse thermography, thin boundary layers with steep temperature gradients occurring at the heated surface need to be resolved. Here we use the combination of a 1D analytical solution combined with numerical solution of the remaining defect equation. We use the simulations to identify material parameters from the measurements. Finally, fast heuristics for reconstructing defect geometries are applied to the acquired data, and compared for their accuracy and utility in detecting different defects like back surface defects or delaminations.}, language = {en} } @misc{GoetschelHoehneKolkoorietal.2016, author = {G{\"o}tschel, Sebastian and H{\"o}hne, Christian and Kolkoori, Sanjeevareddy and Mitzscherling, Steffen and Prager, Jens and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Ray Tracing Boundary Value Problems: Simulation and SAFT Reconstruction for Ultrasonic Testing}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-58386}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The application of advanced imaging techniques for the ultrasonic inspection of inhomogeneous anisotropic materials like austenitic and dissimilar welds requires information about acoustic wave propagation through the material, in particular travel times between two points in the material. Forward ray tracing is a popular approach to determine traveling paths and arrival times but is ill suited for inverse problems since a large number of rays have to be computed in order to arrive at prescribed end points. In this contribution we discuss boundary value problems for acoustic rays, where the ray path between two given points is determined by solving the eikonal equation. The implementation of such a two point boundary value ray tracer for sound field simulations through an austenitic weld is described and its efficiency as well as the obtained results are compared to those of a forward ray tracer. The results are validated by comparison with experimental results and commercially available UT simulation tools. As an application, we discuss an implementation of the method for SAFT (Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique) reconstruction. The ray tracer calculates the required travel time through the anisotropic columnar grain structure of the austenitic weld. There, the formulation of ray tracing as a boundary value problem allows a straightforward derivation of the ray path from a given transducer position to any pixel in the reconstruction area and reduces the computational cost considerably.}, language = {en} } @book{Weiser2016, author = {Weiser, Martin}, title = {Inside Finite Elements}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, year = {2016}, abstract = {All relevant implementation aspects of finite element methods are discussed in this book. The focus is on algorithms and data structures as well as on their concrete implementation. Theory is covered as far as it gives insight into the construction of algorithms.Throughout the exercises a complete FE-solver for scalar 2D problems will be implemented in Matlab/Octave.}, language = {en} } @misc{VolkweinWeiser2000, author = {Volkwein, Stefan and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Affine Invariant Convergence Analysis for Inexact Augmented Lagrangian-SQP Methods}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6243}, number = {00-56}, year = {2000}, abstract = {An affine invariant convergence analysis for inexact augmented Lagrangian-SQP methods is presented. The theory is used for the construction of an accuracy matching between iteration errors and truncation errors, which arise from the inexact linear system solves. The theoretical investigations are illustrated numerically by an optimal control problem for the Burgers equation.}, language = {en} } @misc{WeiserDeuflhard2001, author = {Weiser, Martin and Deuflhard, Peter}, title = {The Central Path towards the Numerical Solution of Optimal Control Problems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6380}, number = {01-12}, year = {2001}, abstract = {A new approach to the numerical solution of optimal control problems including control and state constraints is presented. Like hybrid methods, the approach aims at combining the advantages of direct and indirect methods. Unlike hybrid methods, however, our method is directly based on interior-point concepts in function space --- realized via an adaptive multilevel scheme applied to the complementarity formulation and numerical continuation along the central path. Existence of the central path and its continuation towards the solution point is analyzed in some theoretical detail. An adaptive stepsize control with respect to the duality gap parameter is worked out in the framework of affine invariant inexact Newton methods. Finally, the performance of a first version of our new type of algorithm is documented by the successful treatment of the well-known intricate windshear problem.}, language = {en} } @misc{Weiser2002, author = {Weiser, Martin}, title = {Linear convergence of an interior point method for linear control constrained optimal control problems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6809}, number = {02-13}, year = {2002}, abstract = {The paper provides a detailed analysis of a short step interior point algorithm applied to linear control constrained optimal control problems. Using an affine invariant local norm and an inexact Newton corrector, the well-known convergence results from finite dimensional linear programming can be extended to the infinite dimensional setting of optimal control. The present work complements a recent paper of Weiser and Deuflhard, where convergence rates have not been derived. The choice of free parameters, i.e. the corrector accuracy and the number of corrector steps, is discussed.}, language = {en} } @misc{Weiser2007, author = {Weiser, Martin}, title = {Pointwise Nonlinear Scaling for Reaction-Diffusion-Equations}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10493}, number = {07-45}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Parabolic reaction-diffusion systems may develop sharp moving reaction fronts which pose a challenge even for adaptive finite element methods. We propose a method to transform the equation into an equivalent form that usually exhibits solutions which are easier to discretize, giving higher accuracy for a given number of degrees of freedom. The transformation is realized as an efficiently computable pointwise nonlinear scaling that is optimized for prototypical planar travelling wave solutions of the underlying reaction-diffusion equation. The gain in either performance or accuracy is demonstrated on different numerical examples.}, language = {en} } @misc{SchenkWaechterWeiser2007, author = {Schenk, Olaf and W{\"a}chter, Andreas and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Inertia Revealing Preconditioning For Large-Scale Nonconvex Constrained Optimization}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-10314}, number = {07-32}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Fast nonlinear programming methods following the all-at-once approach usually employ Newton's method for solving linearized Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) systems. In nonconvex problems, the Newton direction is only guaranteed to be a descent direction if the Hessian of the Lagrange function is positive definite on the nullspace of the active constraints, otherwise some modifications to Newton's method are necessary. This condition can be verified using the signs of the KKT's eigenvalues (inertia), which are usually available from direct solvers for the arising linear saddle point problems. Iterative solvers are mandatory for very large-scale problems, but in general do not provide the inertia. Here we present a preconditioner based on a multilevel incomplete \$LBL^T\$ factorization, from which an approximation of the inertia can be obtained. The suitability of the heuristics for application in optimization methods is verified on an interior point method applied to the CUTE and COPS test problems, on large-scale 3D PDE-constrained optimal control problems, as well as 3D PDE-constrained optimization in biomedical cancer hyperthermia treatment planning. The efficiency of the preconditioner is demonstrated on convex and nonconvex problems with \$150^3\$ state variables and \$150^2\$ control variables, both subject to bound constraints.}, language = {en} } @misc{GriesseWeiser2005, author = {Griesse, Roland and Weiser, Martin}, title = {On the Interplay Between Interior Point Approximation and Parametric Sensitivities in Optimal Control}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8773}, number = {05-44}, year = {2005}, abstract = {This paper is concerned with the sensitivities of function space oriented interior point approximations in parameter dependent problems. For an abstract setting that covers control constrained optimal control problems, the convergence of interior point sensitivities to the sensitivities of the optimal solution is shown. Error bounds for \$L_q\$ norms are derived and illustrated with numerical examples.}, language = {en} } @misc{WeiserHubigShanmugamSubramaniam2025, author = {Weiser, Martin and Hubig, Michael and Shanmugam Subramaniam, Jayant}, title = {Reconstructing Ambient Temperature Changes in Death Time Estimation with a Bayesian Double-Exponential Approach}, journal = {Zenodo}, doi = {10.5281/zenodo.17702240}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Code and data for the reconstruction of ambient temperature drop in time of death estimation We provide Octave code and temperature measurement data for - empirircally estimating thermal sensor likelihood - estimating time and amplitude of a single sudden ambient temperature drop from temperature measurement data in two thermally different compartments.}, language = {en} } @misc{VillaniWeiser2024, author = {Villani, Paolo and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Adaptive Gaussian process regression for inverse problems. ALGORITMY 2024}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This submission contains the code used for the proceedings paper for ALGORITMY 2024, concerning surrogate model-based inverse problems. Version 2 modified plot appearances and fixed some minor typos.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SemlerWeiser2025, author = {Semler, Phillip and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Adaptive gradient-enhanced Gaussian process surrogates for inverse problems}, booktitle = {Mathematical Optimization for Machine Learning: Proceedings of the MATH+ Thematic Einstein Semester 2023}, editor = {Fackeldey, Konstantin and Kannan, Aswin and Pokutta, Sebastian and Sharma, Kartikey and Walter, Daniel and Walther, Andrea and Weiser, Martin}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2404.01864}, doi = {10.1515/9783111376776-005}, pages = {59 -- 78}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Generating simulated training data needed for constructing sufficiently accurate surrogate models to be used for efficient optimization or parameter identification can incur a huge computational effort in the offline phase. We consider a fully adaptive greedy approach to the computational design of experiments problem using gradient-enhanced Gaussian process regression as surrogates. Designs are incrementally defined by solving an optimization problem for accuracy given a certain computational budget. We address not only the choice of evaluation points but also of required simulation accuracy, both of values and gradients of the forward model. Numerical results show a significant reduction of the computational effort compared to just position-adaptive and static designs as well as a clear benefit of including gradient information into the surrogate training.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{VillaniUngerWeiser2024, author = {Villani, Paolo and Unger, J{\"o}rg F. and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Adaptive Gaussian Process Regression for Bayesian inverse problems}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Conference Algoritmy 2024}, pages = {214 -- 224}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We introduce a novel adaptive Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) methodology for efficient construction of surrogate models for Bayesian inverse problems with expensive forward model evaluations. An adaptive design strategy focuses on optimizing both the positioning and simulation accuracy of training data in order to reduce the computational cost of simulating training data without compromising the fidelity of the posterior distributions of parameters. The method interleaves a goal-oriented active learning algorithm selecting evaluation points and tolerances based on the expected impact on the Kullback-Leibler divergence of surrogated and true posterior with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling of the posterior. The performance benefit of the adaptive approach is demonstrated for two simple test problems.}, language = {en} } @article{AndresArconesWeiserKoutsourelakisetal.2023, author = {Andr{\´e}s Arcones, Daniel and Weiser, Martin and Koutsourelakis, Faidon-Stelios and Unger, J{\"o}rg F.}, title = {A Bayesian Framework for Simulation-based Digital Twins of Bridges}, volume = {6}, journal = {EUROSTRUCT 2023:European Association on Quality Control of Bridges and Structures: Digital Transformation in Sustainability}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1002/cepa.2177}, pages = {734 -- 740}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Simulation-based digital twins have emerged as a powerful tool for evaluating the mechanical response of bridges. As virtual representations of physical systems, digital twins can provide a wealth of information that complements traditional inspection and monitoring data. By incorporating virtual sensors and predictive maintenance strategies, they have the potential to improve our understanding of the behavior and performance of bridges over time. However, as bridges age and undergo regular loading and extreme events, their structural characteristics change, often differing from the predictions of their initial design. Digital twins must be continuously adapted to reflect these changes. In this article, we present a Bayesian framework for updating simulation-based digital twins in the context of bridges. Our approach integrates information from measurements to account for inaccuracies in the simulation model and quantify uncertainties. Through its implementation and assessment, this work demonstrates the potential for digital twins to provide a reliable and up-to-date representation of bridge behavior, helping to inform decision-making for maintenance and management.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AndresArconesWeiserKoutsourelakisetal.2023, author = {Andr{\´e}s Arcones, Daniel and Weiser, Martin and Koutsourelakis, Faidon-Stelios and Unger, J{\"o}rg F.}, title = {Evaluation of Model Bias Identification Approaches Based on Bayesian Inference and Applications to Digital Twins}, booktitle = {5th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Uncertainty Quantification in Computational Sciences and Engineering}, pages = {1 -- 15}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In recent years, the use of simulation-based digital twins for monitoring and assessment of complex mechanical systems has greatly expanded. Their potential to increase the information obtained from limited data makes them an invaluable tool for a broad range of real-world applications. Nonetheless, there usually exists a discrepancy between the predicted response and the measurements of the system once built. One of the main contributors to this difference in addition to miscalibrated model parameters is the model error. Quantifying this socalled model bias (as well as proper values for the model parameters) is critical for the reliable performance of digital twins. Model bias identification is ultimately an inverse problem where information from measurements is used to update the original model. Bayesian formulations can tackle this task. Including the model bias as a parameter to be inferred enables the use of a Bayesian framework to obtain a probability distribution that represents the uncertainty between the measurements and the model. Simultaneously, this procedure can be combined with a classic parameter updating scheme to account for the trainable parameters in the original model. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different model bias identification approaches based on Bayesian inference methods. This includes more classical approaches such as direct parameter estimation using MCMC in a Bayesian setup, as well as more recent proposals such as stat-FEM or orthogonal Gaussian Processes. Their potential use in digital twins, generalization capabilities, and computational cost is extensively analyzed.}, language = {en} } @article{MaierWeiserConrad2025, author = {Maier, Kristina and Weiser, Martin and Conrad, Tim}, title = {Hybrid PDE-ODE Models for Efficient Simulation of Infection Spread in Epidemiology}, volume = {481}, journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society A}, number = {2306}, publisher = {Royal Society}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2405.12938}, doi = {10.1098/rspa.2024.0421}, year = {2025}, abstract = {This paper introduces a novel hybrid model combining Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) to simulate infectious disease dynamics across geographic regions. By leveraging the spatial detail of PDEs and the computational efficiency of ODEs, the model enables rapid evaluation of public health interventions. Applied to synthetic environments and real-world scenarios in Lombardy, Italy, and Berlin, Germany, the model highlights how interactions between PDE and ODE regions affect infection dynamics, especially in high-density areas. Key findings reveal that the placement of model boundaries in densely populated regions can lead to inaccuracies in infection spread, suggesting that boundaries should be positioned in areas of lower population density to better reflect transmission dynamics. Additionally, regions with low population density hinder infection flow, indicating a need for incorporating, e.g., jumps in the model to enhance its predictive capabilities. Results indicate that the hybrid model achieves a balance between computational speed and accuracy, making it a valuable tool for policymakers in real-time decision-making and scenario analysis in epidemiology and potentially in other fields requiring similar modeling approaches.}, language = {en} } @article{AndresArconesWeiserKoutsourelakisetal.2024, author = {Andr{\´e}s Arcones, Daniel and Weiser, Martin and Koutsourelakis, Faidon-Stelios and Unger, J{\"o}rg F.}, title = {Model bias identification for Bayesian calibration of stochastic digital twins of bridges}, volume = {41}, journal = {Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1002/asmb.2897}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Simulation-based digital twins must provide accurate, robust and reliable digital representations of their physical counterparts. Quantifying the uncertainty in their predictions plays, therefore, a key role in making better-informed decisions that impact the actual system. The update of the simulation model based on data must be then carefully implemented. When applied to complex standing structures such as bridges, discrepancies between the computational model and the real system appear as model bias, which hinders the trustworthiness of the digital twin and increases its uncertainty. Classical Bayesian updating approaches aiming to infer the model parameters often fail at compensating for such model bias, leading to overconfident and unreliable predictions. In this paper, two alternative model bias identification approaches are evaluated in the context of their applicability to digital twins of bridges. A modularized version of Kennedy and O'Hagan's approach and another one based on Orthogonal Gaussian Processes are compared with the classical Bayesian inference framework in a set of representative benchmarks. Additionally, two novel extensions are proposed for such models: the inclusion of noise-aware kernels and the introduction of additional variables not present in the computational model through the bias term. The integration of such approaches in the digital twin corrects the predictions, quantifies their uncertainty, estimates noise from unknown physical sources of error and provides further insight into the system by including additional pre-existing information without modifying the computational model.}, language = {en} } @article{GoebelHuynhCheginietal.2025, author = {G{\"o}bel, Fritz and Huynh, Ngoc Mai Monica and Chegini, Fatemeh and Pavarino, Luca and Weiser, Martin and Scacchi, Simone and Anzt, Hartwig}, title = {A BDDC Preconditioner for the Cardiac EMI Model in three Dimensions}, journal = {SIAM J. Sci. Comput.}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2502.07722}, year = {2025}, abstract = {We analyze a Balancing Domain Decomposition by Constraints (BDDC) preconditioner for the solution of three dimensional composite Discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of reaction-diffusion systems of ordinary and partial differential equations arising in cardiac cell-by-cell models like the Extracellular space, Membrane and Intracellular space (EMI) Model. These microscopic models are essential for the understanding of events in aging and structurally diseased hearts which macroscopic models relying on homogenized descriptions of the cardiac tissue, like Monodomain and Bidomain models, fail to adequately represent. The modeling of each individual cardiac cell results in discontinuous global solutions across cell boundaries, requiring the careful construction of dual and primal spaces for the BDDC preconditioner. We provide a scalable condition number bound for the precondition operator and validate the theoretical results with extensive numerical experiments.}, language = {en} } @article{AndresArconesWeiserKoutsourelakisetal.2024, author = {Andr{\´e}s Arcones, Daniel and Weiser, Martin and Koutsourelakis, Phaedon-Stelios and Unger, J{\"o}rg F.}, title = {Bias Identification Approaches for Model Updating of Simulation-based Digital Twins of Bridges}, volume = {2}, journal = {Structural Health Monitoring in the Light of Climate Impact and Data Science. Research and Review Journal of Nondestructive Testing}, number = {2}, doi = {10.58286/30524}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Simulation-based digital twins of bridges have the potential not only to serve as monitoring devices of the current state of the structure but also to generate new knowledge through physical predictions that allow for better-informed decisionmaking. For an accurate representation of the bridge, the underlying models must be tuned to reproduce the real system. Nevertheless, the necessary assumptions and simplifications in these models irremediably introduce discrepancies between measurements and model response. We will show that quantifying the extent of the uncertainties introduced through the models that lead to such discrepancies provides a better understanding of the real system, enhances the model updating process, and creates more robust and trustworthy digital twins. The inclusion of an explicit bias term will be applied to a representative demonstrator case based on the thermal response of the Nibelungenbr{\"u}cke of Worms. The findings from this work are englobed in the initiative SPP 100+, whose main aim is the extension of the service life of structures, especially through the implementation of digital twins.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{CheginiKopanicakovaWeiseretal.2022, author = {Chegini, Fatemeh and Kopanicakova, Alena and Weiser, Martin and Krause, Rolf}, title = {Quantitative Analysis of Nonlinear MultifidelityOptimization for Inverse Electrophysiology}, booktitle = {Domain Decomposition Methods in Science and Engineering XXVI}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {65 -- 76}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The electric conductivity of cardiac tissue determines excitation propagation and is important for quantifying ischemia and scar tissue and for building personalized models. Estimating conductivity distributions from endocardial mapping data is a challenging inverse problem due to the computational complexity of the monodomain equation, which describes the cardiac excitation. For computing a maximum posterior estimate, we investigate different optimization approaches based on adjoint gradient computation: steepest descent, limited memory BFGS, and recursive multilevel trust region methods, which are using mesh hierarchies or heterogeneous model hierarchies. We compare overall performance, asymptotic convergence rate, and pre-asymptotic progress on selected examples in order to assess the benefit of our multifidelity acceleration.}, language = {en} } @article{AlhaddadFoerstnerGrothetal.2022, author = {Alhaddad, Samer and F{\"o}rstner, Jens and Groth, Stefan and Gr{\"u}newald, Daniel and Grynko, Yevgen and Hannig, Frank and Kenter, Tobias and Pfreundt, F.J. and Plessl, Christian and Schotte, Merlind and Steinke, Thomas and Teich, J. and Weiser, Martin and Wende, Florian}, title = {The HighPerMeshes Framework for Numerical Algorithms on Unstructured Grids}, volume = {34}, journal = {Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience}, number = {14}, doi = {10.1002/cpe.6616}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Solving PDEs on unstructured grids is a cornerstone of engineering and scientific computing. Heterogeneous parallel platforms, including CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs, enable energy-efficient and computationally demanding simulations. In this article, we introduce the HPM C++-embedded DSL that bridges the abstraction gap between the mathematical formulation of mesh-based algorithms for PDE problems on the one hand and an increasing number of heterogeneous platforms with their different programming models on the other hand. Thus, the HPM DSL aims at higher productivity in the code development process for multiple target platforms. We introduce the concepts as well as the basic structure of the HPM DSL, and demonstrate its usage with three examples. The mapping of the abstract algorithmic description onto parallel hardware, including distributed memory compute clusters, is presented. A code generator and a matching back end allow the acceleration of HPM code with GPUs. Finally, the achievable performance and scalability are demonstrated for different example problems.}, language = {en} } @misc{WeiserChegini2022, author = {Weiser, Martin and Chegini, Fatemeh}, title = {Higher-order time integration using spectral deferred correction method (SDC) in a cell by cell discretization of cardiac excitation}, doi = {10.35097/716}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This C++ code implements a cell-by-cell model of cardiac excitation using a piecewise-continuous finite element discretization and spectral deferred correction time stepping. The code is based on the Kaskade 7 finite element toolbox and forms a prototype for the µCarp code to be implemented in the Microcard project.}, language = {en} } @article{NiemannUramWolfetal.2024, author = {Niemann, Jan-Hendrik and Uram, Samuel and Wolf, Sarah and Conrad, Natasa Djurdjevac and Weiser, Martin}, title = {Multilevel Optimization for Policy Design with Agent-Based Epidemic Models}, volume = {77}, journal = {Computational Science}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02281}, doi = {10.1016/j.jocs.2024.102242}, pages = {102242}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Epidemiological models can not only be used to forecast the course of a pandemic like COVID-19, but also to propose and design non-pharmaceutical interventions such as school and work closing. In general, the design of optimal policies leads to nonlinear optimization problems that can be solved by numerical algorithms. Epidemiological models come in different complexities, ranging from systems of simple ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to complex agent-based models (ABMs). The former allow a fast and straightforward optimization, but are limited in accuracy, detail, and parameterization, while the latter can resolve spreading processes in detail, but are extremely expensive to optimize. We consider policy optimization in a prototypical situation modeled as both ODE and ABM, review numerical optimization approaches, and propose a heterogeneous multilevel approach based on combining a fine-resolution ABM and a coarse ODE model. Numerical experiments, in particular with respect to convergence speed, are given for illustrative examples.}, language = {en} }