@misc{BleyGroetschelWessaely1998, author = {Bley, Andreas and Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Design of Broadband Virtual Private Networks: Model and Heuristics for the B-WiN}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-3565}, number = {SC-98-13}, year = {1998}, abstract = {We investigate the problem of designing survivable broadband virtual private networks that employ the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing protocol to route the packages. The capacities available for the links of the network are a minimal capacity plus multiples of a unit capacity. Given the directed communication demands between all pairs of nodes, we wish to select the capacities in a such way, that even in case of a single node or a single link failure a specified percentage of each demand can be satisfied and the costs for these capacities are minimal. We present a mixed--integer linear programming formulation of this problem and several heuristics for its solution. Furthermore, we report on computational results with real-world data.}, language = {en} } @misc{HoangKoch2012, author = {Hoang, Nam-Dung and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Steiner Tree Packing Revisited}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/s00186-012-0391-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-14625}, number = {12-02}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The Steiner tree packing problem (STPP) in graphs is a long studied problem in combinatorial optimization. In contrast to many other problems, where there have been tremendous advances in practical problem solving, STPP remains very difficult. Most heuristics schemes are ineffective and even finding feasible solutions is already NP-hard. What makes this problem special is that in order to reach the overall optimal solution non-optimal solutions to the underlying NP-hard Steiner tree problems must be used. Any non-global approach to the STPP is likely to fail. Integer programming is currently the best approach for computing optimal solutions. In this paper we review some "classical" STPP instances which model the underlying real world application only in a reduced form. Through improved modelling, including some new cutting planes, and by emplyoing recent advances in solver technology we are for the first time able to solve those instances in the original 3D grid graphs to optimimality.}, language = {en} } @misc{Gleixner2009, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Gleixner, Ambros}, title = {Solving Large-scale Open Pit Mining Production Scheduling Problems by Integer Programming}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11389}, school = {Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB)}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Since the initial application of mathematical optimisation methods to mine planning in 1965, the Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm for computing the ultimate pit limit, operations researchers have worked on a variety of challenging problems in the area of open pit mining. This thesis focuses on the open pit mining production scheduling problem: Given the discretisation of an orebody as a block model, determine the sequence in which the blocks should be removed from the pit, over the lifespan of the mine, such that the net present value of the mining operation is maximised. In practise, when some material has been removed from the pit, it must be processed further in order to extract the valuable elements contained therein. If the concentration of valuable elements is not sufficiently high, the material is discarded as waste or stockpiled. Realistically-sized block models can contain hundreds of thousands of blocks. A common approach to render these problem instances computationally tractable is the aggregation of blocks to larger scheduling units. The thrust of this thesis is the investigation of a new mixed-integer programming formulation for the open pit mining production scheduling problem, which allows for processing decisions to be made at block level, while the actual mining schedule is still computed at aggregate level. A drawback of this model in its full form is the large number of additional variables needed to model the processing decisions. One main result of this thesis shows how these processing variables can be aggregated efficiently to reduce the problem size significantly, while practically incurring no loss in net present value. The second focus is on the application of lagrangean relaxation to the resource constraints. Using a result of M{\"o}hring et al. (2003) for project scheduling, the lagrangean relaxation can be solved efficiently via minimum cut computations in a weighted digraph. Experiments with a bundle algorithm implementation by Helmberg showed how the lagrangean dual can be solved within a small fraction of the time required by standard linear programming algorithms, while yielding practically the same dual bound. Finally, several problem-specific heuristics are presented together with computational results: two greedy sub-MIP start heuristics and a large neighbourhood search heuristic. A combination of a lagrangean-based start heuristic followed by a large neighbourhood search proved to be effective in generating solutions with objective values within a 0.05\% gap of the optimum.}, language = {en} } @misc{BleyGleixnerKochetal.2009, author = {Bley, Andreas and Gleixner, Ambros and Koch, Thorsten and Vigerske, Stefan}, title = {Comparing MIQCP solvers to a specialised algorithm for mine production scheduling}, organization = {ZIB}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-25707-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11507}, number = {09-32}, year = {2009}, abstract = {In this paper we investigate the performance of several out-of-the box solvers for mixed-integer quadratically constrained programmes (MIQCPs) on an open pit mine production scheduling problem with mixing constraints. We compare the solvers BARON, Couenne, SBB, and SCIP to a problem-specific algorithm on two different MIQCP formulations. The computational results presented show that general-purpose solvers with no particular knowledge of problem structure are able to nearly match the performance of a hand-crafted algorithm.}, language = {en} } @misc{VuLitzelKoch2025, author = {Vu, Thi Huong and Litzel, Ida and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Similarity-based fuzzy clustering scientific articles: potentials and challenges from mathematical and computational perspectives}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2506.04045}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Fuzzy clustering, which allows an article to belong to multiple clusters with soft membership degrees, plays a vital role in analyzing publication data. This problem can be formulated as a constrained optimization model, where the goal is to minimize the discrepancy between the similarity observed from data and the similarity derived from a predicted distribution. While this approach benefits from leveraging state-of-the-art optimization algorithms, tailoring them to work with real, massive databases like OpenAlex or Web of Science -- containing about 70 million articles and a billion citations -- poses significant challenges. We analyze potentials and challenges of the approach from both mathematical and computational perspectives. Among other things, second-order optimality conditions are established, providing new theoretical insights, and practical solution methods are proposed by exploiting the problem's structure. Specifically, we accelerate the gradient projection method using GPU-based parallel computing to efficiently handle large-scale data.}, language = {en} } @misc{Bley2003, author = {Bley, Andreas}, title = {A Lagrangian Approach for Integrated Network Design and Routing in IP Networks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7515}, number = {03-29}, year = {2003}, abstract = {We consider the problem of designing a network that employs a non-bifurcated shortest path routing protocol. The network's nodes and the set of potential links are given together with a set of forecasted end-to-end traffic demands. All relevant hardware components installable at links or nodes are considered. The goal is to simultaneously choose the network's topology, to decide which hardware components to install on which links and nodes, and to find appropriate routing weights such that the overall network cost is minimized. In this paper, we present a mathematical optimization model for this problem and an algorithmic solution approach based on a Lagrangian relaxation. Computational results achieved with this approach for several real-world network planning problems are reported.}, language = {en} } @misc{EisenblaetterKosterWallbaumetal.2002, author = {Eisenbl{\"a}tter, Andreas and Koster, Arie M.C.A. and Wallbaum, Randolf and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Load Balancing in Signaling Transfer Points}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7179}, number = {02-50}, year = {2002}, abstract = {Signaling is crucial to the operation of modern telecommunication networks. A breakdown in the signaling infrastructure typically causes customer service failures, incurs revenue losses, and hampers the company image. Therefore, the signaling network has to be highest reliability and survivability. This in particular holds for the routers in such a network, called \textit{signaling transfer points\/} (STPs). The robustness of an STP can be improved by equally distributing the load over the internal processing units. Several constraints have to be taken into account. The load of the links connected to a processing unit changes over time introducing an imbalance of the load. In this paper, we show how integer linear programming can be applied to reduce the imbalance within an STP, while keeping the number of changes small. Two alternative models are presented. Computational experiments validate the integer programming approach in practice. The GSM network operator E-Plus saves substantial amounts of time and money by employing the proposed approach.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZymolkaKosterWessaely2002, author = {Zymolka, Adrian and Koster, Arie M.C.A. and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Transparent optical network design with sparse wavelength conversion}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7017}, number = {02-34}, year = {2002}, abstract = {We consider the design of transparent optical networks from a practical perspective. Network operators aim at satisfying the communication demands at minimum cost. Such an optimization involves three interdependent planning issues: the dimensioning of the physical topology, the routing of lightpaths, and the wavelength assignment. Further topics include the reliability of the configuration and sparse wavelength conversion for efficient use of the capacities. In this paper, we investigate this extensive optical network design task. Using a flexible device-based model, we present an integer programming formulation that supports greenfield planning as well as expansion planning on top of an existing network. As solution method, we propose a suitable decomposition approach that separates the wavelength assignment from the dimensioning and routing. Our method in particular provides a lower bound on the total cost which allows to rate the solution quality. Computational experiments on realistic networks approve the solution approach to be appropriate.}, language = {en} } @misc{BleyKoch2002, author = {Bley, Andreas and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Integer programming approaches to access and backbone IP-network planning}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7081}, number = {02-41}, year = {2002}, abstract = {In this article we study the problem of designing a nation-wide communication network. Such networks usually consist of an access layer, a backbone layer, and maybe several intermediate layers. The nodes of each layer must be connected to those of the next layer in a tree-like fashion. The backbone layer has to satisfy certain survivability and routing constraints. Given the node locations, the demands between them, the possible connections and hardware configurations, and various other technical and administrational constraints, the goal is to decide, which node is assigned to which network level, how the nodes are connected, what hardware must be installed, and how traffic is routed in the backbone. Mixed integer linear programming models and solution methods are presented for both the access and the backbone network design problem. The focus is on the design of IP-over-SDH networks, but the access network design model and large parts of the backbone network design models are general and also applicable for other types of communication networks. Results obtained with these methods in the planning of the German research network are presented.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Koch2005, author = {Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Rapid Mathematical Programming}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8346}, number = {04-58}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The thesis deals with the implementation and application of out-of-the-box tools in linear and mixed integer programming. It documents the lessons learned and conclusions drawn from five years of implementing, maintaining, extending, and using several computer codes to solve real-life industrial problems. By means of several examples it is demonstrated how to apply algebraic modeling languages to rapidly devise mathematical models of real-world problems. It is shown that today's MIP solvers are capable of solving the resulting mixed integer programs, leading to an approach that delivers results very quickly. Even though, problems are tackled that not long ago required the implementation of specialized branch-and-cut algorithms. In the first part of the thesis the modeling language Zimpl is introduced. Chapter 2 contains a complete description of the language. In the subsequent chapter details of the implementation are described. Both theoretical and practical considerations are discussed. Aspects of software engineering, error prevention, and detection are addressed. In the second part several real-world projects are examined that employed the methodology and the tools developed in the first part. Chapter 4 presents three projects from the telecommunication industry dealing with facility location problems. Chapter 5 characterizes questions that arise in UMTS planning. Problems, models, and solutions are discussed. Special emphasis is put on the dependency of the precision of the input data and the results. Possible reasons for unexpected and undesirable solutions are explained. Finally, the Steiner tree packing problem in graphs, a well-known hard combinatorial problem, is revisited. A formerly known, but not yet used model is applied to combine switchbox wire routing and via minimization. All instances known from the literature are solved by this approach, as are some newly generated bigger problem instances.}, language = {en} } @misc{HelmbergRoehl2005, author = {Helmberg, Christoph and R{\"o}hl, Stefan}, title = {A Case Study of Joint Online Truck Scheduling and Inventory Management for Multiple Warehouses}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8454}, number = {05-11}, year = {2005}, abstract = {For a real world problem --- transporting pallets between warehouses in order to guarantee sufficient supply for known and additional stochastic demand --- we propose a solution approach via convex relaxation of an integer programming formulation, suitable for online optimization. The essential new element linking routing and inventory management is a convex piecewise linear cost function that is based on minimizing the expected number of pallets that still need transportation. For speed, the convex relaxation is solved approximately by a bundle approach yielding an online schedule in 5 to 12 minutes for up to 3 warehouses and 40000 articles; in contrast, computation times of state of the art LP-solvers are prohibitive for online application. In extensive numerical experiments on a real world data stream, the approximate solutions exhibit negligible loss in quality; in long term simulations the proposed method reduces the average number of pallets needing transportation due to short term demand to less than half the number observed in the data stream.}, language = {en} } @misc{Koster2005, author = {Koster, Arie M.C.A.}, title = {Wavelength Assignment in Multi-Fiber WDM Networks by Generalized Edge Coloring}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8478}, number = {05-13}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In this paper, we study wavelength assignment problems in multi-fiber WDM networks. We focus on the special case that all lightpaths have at most two links. This in particular holds in case the network topology is a star. As the links incident to a specific node in a meshed topology form a star subnetwork, results for stars are also of interest for general meshed topologies. We show that wavelength assignment with at most two links per lightpath can be modeled as a generalized edge coloring problem. By this relation, we show that for a network with an even number of fibers at all links and at most two links per lightpath, all lightpaths can be assigned a wavelength without conversion. Moreover, we derive a lower bound on the number of lightpaths to be converted for networks with arbitrary numbers of fibers at the links. A comparison with linear programming lower bounds reveals that the bounds coincide for problems with at most two links per lightpath. For meshed topologies, the cumulative lower bound over all star subnetworks equals the best known solution value for all realistic wavelength assignment instances available, by this proving optimality.}, language = {en} } @misc{BienstockBley2000, author = {Bienstock, Daniel and Bley, Andreas}, title = {Capacitated Network Design with Multicast Commodities}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-5823}, number = {00-14}, year = {2000}, abstract = {This paper addresses the problem of designing a minimum cost network whose capacities are sufficiently large to allow a feasible routing of a given set of multicast commodities. A multicast commodity consists of a set of two or mo re terminals that need to be connected by a so called broadcast tree, which consumes on all of its edges a capacity as large as the demand value associated with that commodity. We model the network design problem with multicast commodities as the problem of packing capacitated Steiner trees in a graph. In the first part of the paper we present three mixed-integer programming formulations for this problem. The first natural formulation uses only one integer capacity variable for each edge and and one binary tree variable for each commodity-edge pair. Applying well-known techniques from the Steiner tree problem, we then develop a stronger directed and a multicommodity flow based mixed-integer programming formulation. In the second part of the paper we study the associated polyhedra and derive valid and even facet defining inequalities for the natural formulation. Finally, we describe separation algorithms for these inequalities and present computational results that demonstrate the strength of our extended formulations.}, language = {en} } @misc{Koster2000, author = {Koster, Arie M.C.A.}, title = {Re-Optimization of Signaling Transfer Points}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-5863}, number = {00-18}, year = {2000}, abstract = {In this paper we describe the results of a computational study towards the (re)optimization of signaling transfer points (STPs) in telecommunication networks. The best performance of an STP is achieved whenever the traffic load is evenly distributed among the internal components. Due to the continuously changing traffic pattern, the load of the components has to be re-optimized on a regular basis. Besides the balancing objective also the number of rearrangements have to be taken into account. In this paper we present two alternative formulations to deal with both requirements. Computational results show that for both formulations (near) optimal solutions can be obtained within reasonable time limits.}, language = {en} } @misc{HoeselKosterLeenseletal.2000, author = {Hoesel, Stan P.M. van and Koster, Arie M.C.A. and Leensel, Robert L.M.J. van de and Savelsbergh, Martin W.P.}, title = {Polyhedral Results for the Edge Capacity Polytope}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-5907}, number = {00-22}, year = {2000}, abstract = {Network loading problems occur in the design of telecommunication networks, in many different settings. The polyhedral structure of this problem is important in developing solution methods for the problem. In this paper we investigate the polytope of the problem restricted to one edge of the network (the edge capacity problem). We describe classes of strong valid inequalities for the edge capacity polytope, and we derive conditions under which these constraints define facets. As the edge capacity problem is a relaxation of the network loading problem, their polytopes are intimately related. We, therefore, also give conditions under which the inequalities of the edge capacity polytope define facets of the network loading polytope. Furthermore, some structural properties are derived, such as the relation of the edge capacity polytope to the knapsack polytope. We conclude the theoretical part of this paper with some lifting theorems, where we show that this problem is polynomially solvable for most of our classes of valid inequalities. In a computational study the quality of the constraints is investigated. Here, we show that the valid inequalities of the edge capacity polytope are not only important for solving the edge capacity problem, but also for the network loading problem, showing that the edge capacity problem is an important subproblem.}, language = {en} } @misc{Groetschel2000, author = {Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin}, title = {Mathematik in der Industrie: interessante Branchen und zuk{\"u}nftige Einsatzfelder}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6125}, number = {00-44}, year = {2000}, abstract = {Dieser kurze Artikel hat keine umfassende {\"U}bersicht zum Ziel. Basierend auf eigenen Erfahrungen durch Projekte mit Industriefirmen m{\"o}chte ich einige Branchen erw{\"a}hnen, bei denen nach meiner Einsch{\"a}tzung Mathematik in Zukunft zunehmend Anwendung finden wird. Ich werde das anhand konkreter Beispiele erl{\"a}utern. Mathematik ersetzt in der Regel traditionelle Analyse-, Planungs- und Entwurfstechniken. Den (nicht leichten) Schritt zum Einsatz mathematischer Methoden macht ein Praktiker nur, wenn es sich f{\"u}r ihn ``lohnt''. Wann sich dies lohnt, ist schwer abzusch{\"a}tzen. Man kann aber einige Indikatoren daf{\"u}r finden, ob eine Branche f{\"u}r den Einsatz von Mathematik ``reif'' ist. Ob es dann dazu kommt, h{\"a}ngt von vielen Faktoren ab, nicht zuletzt von der Psychologie und dem sozialen Umfeld der beteiligten Personen sowie der Bereitschaft, sich auf ein so schwieriges Terrain zu begeben und Kompromisse einzugehen. Gerade letzteres f{\"a}llt Mathematikern gelegentlich schwer.}, language = {de} } @misc{AbboudGroetschelKoch2006, author = {Abboud, Nadine and Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Mathematical Methods for Physical Layout of Printed Circuit Boards: An Overview}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-9231}, number = {06-29}, year = {2006}, abstract = {This article surveys mathematical models and methods used for physical PCB layout, i.e., component placement and wire routing. The main concepts are briefly described together with relevant references.}, language = {en} } @misc{HeinzSchlechteStephanetal.2011, author = {Heinz, Stefan and Schlechte, Thomas and Stephan, R{\"u}diger and Winkler, Michael}, title = {Solving steel mill slab design problems}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/s10601-011-9113-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-14089}, number = {11-38}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The steel mill slab design problem from the CSPLIB is a combinatorial optimization problem motivated by an application of the steel industry. It has been widely studied in the constraint programming community. Several methods were proposed to solve this problem. A steel mill slab library was created which contains 380 instances. A closely related binpacking problem called the multiple knapsack problem with color constraints, originated from the same industrial problem, was discussed in the integer programming community. In particular, a simple integer program for this problem has been given by Forrest et al. The aim of this paper is to bring these different studies together. Moreover, we adapt the model of Forrest et al. for the steel mill slab design problem. Using this model and a state-of-the-art integer program solver all instances of the steel mill slab library can be solved efficiently to optimality. We improved, thereby, the solution values of 76 instances compared to previous results. Finally, we consider a recently introduced variant of the steel mill slab design problem, where within all solutions which minimize the leftover one is interested in a solution which requires a minimum number of slabs. For that variant we introduce two approaches and solve all instances of the steel mill slab library with this slightly changed objective function to optimality.}, language = {en} } @misc{PossRaack2011, author = {Poss, Michael and Raack, Christian}, title = {Affine recourse for the robust network design problem: between static and dynamic routing}, doi = {10.1002/net.21482}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-12122}, number = {11-03}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Affinely-Adjustable Robust Counterparts provide tractable alternatives to (two-stage) robust programs with arbitrary recourse. We apply them to robust network design with polyhedral demand uncertainty, introducing the affine routing principle. We compare the affine routing to the well-studied static and dynamic routing schemes for robust network design. All three schemes are embedded into the general framework of two-stage network design with recourse. It is shown that affine routing can be seen as a generalization of the widely used static routing still being tractable and providing cheaper solutions. We investigate properties on the demand polytope under which affine routings reduce to static routings and also develop conditions on the uncertainty set leading to dynamic routings being affine. We show however that affine routings suffer from the drawback that (even totally) dominated demand vectors are not necessarily supported by affine solutions. Uncertainty sets have to be designed accordingly. Finally, we present computational results on networks from SNDlib. We conclude that for these instances the optimal solutions based on affine routings tend to be as cheap as optimal network designs for dynamic routings. In this respect the affine routing principle can be used to approximate the cost for two-stage solutions with free recourse which are hard to compute.}, language = {en} } @misc{BorndoerferHoangKarbsteinetal.2013, author = {Bornd{\"o}rfer, Ralf and Hoang, Nam-Dung and Karbstein, Marika and Koch, Thorsten and Martin, Alexander}, title = {How Many Steiner Terminals Can You Connect in 20 Years?}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-38189-8_10}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-42524}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Steiner trees are constructed to connect a set of terminal nodes in a graph. This basic version of the Steiner tree problem is idealized, but it can effectively guide the search for successful approaches to many relevant variants, from both a theoretical and a computational point of view. This article illustrates the theoretical and algorithmic progress on Steiner tree type problems on two examples, the Steiner connectivity and the Steiner tree packing problem.}, language = {en} }