@inproceedings{Koch2006, author = {Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Rapid Mathematical Programming or How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles in a few Seconds}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2005}, editor = {Haasis, Hans-Dietrich and Kopfer, Herbert and Sch{\"o}nberger, J{\"o}rn}, pages = {21 -- 26}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AchterbergHeinzKoch2008, author = {Achterberg, Tobias and Heinz, Stefan and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Counting Solutions of Integer Programs Using Unrestricted Subtree Detection}, volume = {5015}, booktitle = {Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems, 5th International Conference, CPAIOR 2008}, editor = {Perron, Laurent and Trick, Michael}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {278 -- 282}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{EisenblaetterKochMartinetal.2003, author = {Eisenbl{\"a}tter, Andreas and Koch, Thorsten and Martin, Alexander and Achterberg, Tobias and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Koster, Arie M.C.A. and Wegel, Oliver and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Modelling Feasible Network Configurations for UMTS}, booktitle = {Telecommunications Network Design and Management}, editor = {Anandalingam, G. and Raghavan, S.}, publisher = {Kluver}, year = {2003}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{EisenblaetterFuegenschuhGeerdesetal.2003, author = {Eisenbl{\"a}tter, Andreas and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geerdes, Hans-Florian and Junglas, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten and Martin, Alexander}, title = {Optimisation Methods for UMTS Radio Network Planning}, booktitle = {Operation Research Proceedings 2003}, editor = {Ahr, Dino and Fahrion, Roland and Oswald, Marcus and Reinelt, Gerhard}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-17022-5_5}, pages = {31 -- 38}, year = {2003}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BleyKochWessaely2004, author = {Bley, Andreas and Koch, Thorsten and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Large-Scale hierarchical networks: How to compute an optimal architecture?}, booktitle = {Networks 2004}, editor = {Kaindl, H.}, publisher = {VDE Verlag}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {3-8007-2840-0}, pages = {429 -- 434}, year = {2004}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KochWessaely2004, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Wess{\"a}ly, Roland}, title = {Hierarchical Infrastructure Planning in Networks}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 3rd Conference on Applied Infrastructure Research, 9. October 2004, Berlin}, editor = {Elmer, Carl-Friedrich and von Hirschhausen, Christian}, year = {2004}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HadjidimitriouLippiNastroetal.2024, author = {Hadjidimitriou, Natalia Selini and Lippi, Marco and Nastro, Raffaele and Koch, Thorsten and Mamei, Marco}, title = {Short-Term Forecasting of Energy Consumption and Production in Local Energy Communities}, booktitle = {2024 32nd International Conference on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises (WETICE)}, publisher = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/WETICE64632.2024.00022}, pages = {74 -- 79}, year = {2024}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HadjidimitriouKochLippietal.2024, author = {Hadjidimitriou, Natalia Selini and Koch, Thorsten and Lippi, Marco and Petkovic, Milena and Mamei, Marco}, title = {Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 and Russo-Ukraine War on Natural Gas Flow Using Time Series Forecasting}, booktitle = {Preceedings of the 16th International Conference on Management of Digital Ecosystems}, year = {2024}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PedersenHoppmannBaumZitteletal.2022, author = {Pedersen, Jaap and Hoppmann-Baum, Kai and Zittel, Janina and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Blending hydrogen into natural gas: An assessment of the capacity of the German gas grid}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2021}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08623-6_28}, pages = {182 -- 187}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In the transition towards a pure hydrogen infrastructure, repurposing the existing natural gas infrastructure is considered. In this study, the maximal technically feasible injection of hydrogen into the existing German natural gas transmission network is analysed with respect to regulatory limits regarding the gas quality. We propose a transient tracking model based on the general pooling problem including linepack. The analysis is conducted using real-world hourly gas flow data on a network of about 10,000 km length.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RehfeldtKoch2021, author = {Rehfeldt, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Implications, conflicts, and reductions for Steiner trees}, booktitle = {Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization: 22th International Conference, IPCO 2021}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-73879-2_33}, pages = {473 -- 487}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GleixnerKempkeKochetal.2020, author = {Gleixner, Ambros and Kempke, Nils-Christian and Koch, Thorsten and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Uslu, Svenja}, title = {First Experiments with Structure-Aware Presolving for a Parallel Interior-Point Method}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2019}, edition = {1}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-48439-2_13}, pages = {105 -- 111}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In linear optimization, matrix structure can often be exploited algorithmically. However, beneficial presolving reductions sometimes destroy the special structure of a given problem. In this article, we discuss structure-aware implementations of presolving as part of a parallel interior-point method to solve linear programs with block-diagonal structure, including both linking variables and linking constraints. While presolving reductions are often mathematically simple, their implementation in a high-performance computing environment is a complex endeavor. We report results on impact, performance, and scalability of the resulting presolving routines on real-world energy system models with up to 700 million nonzero entries in the constraint matrix.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ShinanoRehfeldtKoch2019, author = {Shinano, Yuji and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Building Optimal Steiner Trees on Supercomputers by Using up to 43,000 Cores}, volume = {11494}, booktitle = {Integration of Constraint Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and Operations Research. CPAIOR 2019}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-19212-9_35}, pages = {529 -- 539}, year = {2019}, abstract = {SCIP-JACK is a customized, branch-and-cut based solver for Steiner tree and related problems. ug [SCIP-JACK, MPI] extends SCIP-JACK to a massively parallel solver by using the Ubiquity Generator (UG) framework. ug [SCIP-JACK, MPI] was the only solver that could run on a distributed environment at the (latest) 11th DIMACS Challenge in 2014. Furthermore, it could solve three well-known open instances and updated 14 best-known solutions to instances from the benchmark libary STEINLIB. After the DIMACS Challenge, SCIP-JACK has been considerably improved. However, the improvements were not reflected on ug [SCIP- JACK, MPI]. This paper describes an updated version of ug [SCIP-JACK, MPI], especially branching on constrains and a customized racing ramp-up. Furthermore, the different stages of the solution process on a supercomputer are described in detail. We also show the latest results on open instances from the STEINLIB.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RehfeldtShinanoKoch2021, author = {Rehfeldt, Daniel and Shinano, Yuji and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {SCIP-Jack: An exact high performance solver for Steiner tree problems in graphs and related problems}, booktitle = {Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Complex Processes HPSC 2018}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-55240-4_10}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Steiner tree problem in graphs is one of the classic combinatorial optimization problems. Furthermore, many related problems, such as the rectilinear Steiner tree problem or the maximum-weight connected subgraph problem, have been described in the literature—with a wide range of practical applications. To embrace this wealth of problem classes, the solver SCIP-JACK has been developed as an exact framework for classic Steiner tree and 11 related problems. Moreover, the solver comes with both shared- and distributed memory extensions by means of the UG framework. Besides its versatility, SCIP-JACK is highly competitive for most of the 12 problem classes it can solve, as for instance demonstrated by its top ranking in the recent PACE 2018 Challenge. This article describes the current state of SCIP-JACK and provides up-to-date computational results, including several instances that can now be solved for the first time to optimality.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{YuekselErguenKochZittel2025, author = {Yueksel-Erguen, Inci and Koch, Thorsten and Zittel, Janina}, title = {Consistent flow scenario generation based on open data for operational analysis of European gas transport networks}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2023. OR 2023}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-58405-3_63}, pages = {493 -- 499}, year = {2025}, abstract = {In recent years, European gas transport has been affected by major disruptive events like political issues such as, most recently, the Russian war on Ukraine. To incorporate the impacts of such events into decision-making during the energy transition, more complex models for gas network analysis are required. However, the limited availability of consistent data presents a significant obstacle in this endeavor. We use a mathematical-modeling-based scenario generator to deal with this obstacle. The scenario generator consists of capacitated network flow models representing the gas network at different aggregation levels. In this study, we present the coarse-to-fine approach utilized in this scenario generator.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KochRehfeldtShinano2025, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Shinano, Yuji}, title = {On the state of QUBO solving}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2023. OR 2023}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-58405-3_46}, pages = {357 -- 365}, year = {2025}, abstract = {It is regularly claimed that quantum computers will bring breakthrough progress in solving challenging combinatorial optimization problems relevant in practice. In particular, Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems are said to be the model of choice for use in (adiabatic) quantum systems during the noisy intermediate- scale quantum (NISQ) era. Even the first commercial quantum-based systems are advertised to solve such problems. Theoretically, any Integer Program can be converted into a QUBO. In practice, however, there are some caveats, as even for problems that can be nicely modeled as a QUBO, this might not be the most effective way to solve them. We review the state of QUBO solving on digital and quantum computers and provide insights regarding current benchmark instances and modeling.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BleyGleixnerKochetal.2012, author = {Bley, Andreas and Gleixner, Ambros and Koch, Thorsten and Vigerske, Stefan}, title = {Comparing MIQCP Solvers to a Specialised Algorithm for Mine Production Scheduling}, booktitle = {Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Complex Processes. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on High Performance Scientific Computing, March 2-6, 2009, Hanoi, Vietnam}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-25707-0_3}, pages = {25 -- 39}, year = {2012}, 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} } @inproceedings{TurnerBertholdBesanconetal.2023, author = {Turner, Mark and Berthold, Timo and Besan{\c{c}}on, Mathieu and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Cutting Plane Selection with Analytic Centers and Multiregression}, volume = {13884}, booktitle = {Integration of Constraint Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and Operations Research. CPAIOR 2023.}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-33271-5_4}, pages = {52 -- 68}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Cutting planes are a crucial component of state-of-the-art mixed-integer programming solvers, with the choice of which subset of cuts to add being vital for solver performance. We propose new distance-based measures to qualify the value of a cut by quantifying the extent to which it separates relevant parts of the relaxed feasible set. For this purpose, we use the analytic centers of the relaxation polytope or of its optimal face, as well as alternative optimal solutions of the linear programming relaxation. We assess the impact of the choice of distance measure on root node performance and throughout the whole branch-and-bound tree, comparing our measures against those prevalent in the literature. Finally, by a multi-output regression, we predict the relative performance of each measure, using static features readily available before the separation process. Our results indicate that analytic center-based methods help to significantly reduce the number of branch-and-bound nodes needed to explore the search space and that our multiregression approach can further improve on any individual method.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{StomporZittelKochetal.2025, author = {Stompor, Tomasz and Zittel, Janina and Koch, Thorsten and Rusch, Beate}, title = {Fully Algorithmic Librarian: Large-Scale Citation Experiments}, booktitle = {20th International Society of Scientometrics and Informetrics Conference 2025, June 23-27, 2025 | Yerevan, Armenia}, doi = {10.51408/issi2025_204}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The Fully Algorithmic Librarian (FAN) project explores application scenarios for algorithmic-intelligence(AI)-supported methods in academic libraries as central institutions for research support. To this end, the study builds on two algorithmic approaches for analyzing large-scale citation networks. A comparison of Web of Science (WoS) and OpenAlex structures using the PageRank algorithm reveals key differences. Additionally, a multi-label clustering technique designed for large-scale citation networks accounts for disciplinary variations in publication practices.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BreuerBussieckCaoetal.2018, author = {Breuer, Thomas and Bussieck, Michael and Cao, Karl-Kien and Cebulla, Felix and Fiand, Frederik and Gils, Hans Christian and Gleixner, Ambros and Khabi, Dmitry and Koch, Thorsten and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Wetzel, Manuel}, title = {Optimizing Large-Scale Linear Energy System Problems with Block Diagonal Structure by Using Parallel Interior-Point Methods}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2017}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-89920-6_85}, pages = {641 -- 647}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Current linear energy system models (ESM) acquiring to provide sufficient detail and reliability frequently bring along problems of both high intricacy and increasing scale. Unfortunately, the size and complexity of these problems often prove to be intractable even for commercial state-of-the-art linear programming solvers. This article describes an interdisciplinary approach to exploit the intrinsic structure of these large-scale linear problems to be able to solve them on massively parallel high-performance computers. A key aspect are extensions to the parallel interior-point solver PIPS-IPM originally developed for stochastic optimization problems. Furthermore, a newly developed GAMS interface to the solver as well as some GAMS language extensions to model block-structured problems will be described.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RehfeldtKoch2018, author = {Rehfeldt, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {SCIP-Jack—a solver for STP and variants with parallelization extensions: An update}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2017}, pages = {191 -- 196}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The Steiner tree problem in graphs is a classical problem that commonly arises in practical applications as one of many variants. Although the different Steiner tree problem variants are usually strongly related, solution approaches employed so far have been prevalently problem-specific. Against this backdrop, the solver SCIP-Jack was created as a general-purpose framework that can be used to solve the classical Steiner tree problem and 11 of its variants. This versatility is achieved by transforming various problem variants into a general form and solving them by using a state-of-the-art MIP-framework. Furthermore, SCIP-Jack includes various newly developed algorithmic components such as preprocessing routines and heuristics. The result is a high-performance solver that can be employed in massively parallel environments and is capable of solving previously unsolved instances. After the introduction of SCIP-Jack at the 2014 DIMACS Challenge on Steiner problems, the overall performance of the solver has considerably improved. This article provides an overview on the current state.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BreuerBussieckCaoetal.2020, author = {Breuer, Thomas and Bussieck, Michael and Cao, Karl-Kien and Fiand, Fred and Gils, Hans-Christian and Gleixner, Ambros and Khabi, Dmitry and Kempke, Nils and Koch, Thorsten and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Wetzel, Manuel}, title = {BEAM-ME: Accelerating Linear Energy Systems Models by a Massively Parallel Interior Point Method}, volume = {50}, booktitle = {NIC Symposium 2020}, pages = {345 -- 352}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AchterbergBertholdKochetal.2008, author = {Achterberg, Tobias and Berthold, Timo and Koch, Thorsten and Wolter, Kati}, title = {Constraint Integer Programming: A New Approach to Integrate CP and MIP}, volume = {5015}, booktitle = {Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems, 5th International Conference, CPAIOR 2008}, editor = {Perron, Laurent and Trick, Michael}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-540-68155-7_4}, pages = {6 -- 20}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BleyKoch2008, author = {Bley, Andreas and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Integer programming approaches to access and backbone IP-network planning}, booktitle = {Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Complex Processes, Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on High Performance Scientific Computing, March 6-10, Hanoi, Vietnam}, publisher = {Springer}, pages = {87 -- 110}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{EisenblaetterFuegenschuhGeerdesetal.2004, author = {Eisenbl{\"a}tter, Andreas and F{\"u}genschuh, Armin and Geerdes, Hans-Florian and Junglas, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten and Martin, Alexander}, title = {Integer Programming Methods for UMTS Radio Network Planning}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the WiOpt'04, Cambridge, UK}, year = {2004}, 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} } @inproceedings{BertholdGleixnerHeinzetal.2012, author = {Berthold, Timo and Gleixner, Ambros and Heinz, Stefan and Koch, Thorsten and Shinano, Yuji}, title = {SCIP Optimization Suite を利用した 混合整数(線形/非線形) 計画問題の解法}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 24th RAMP symposium. The Operations Society of Japan, RAMP: Research Association of Mathematical Programming}, pages = {165 -- 192}, year = {2012}, abstract = {この論文ではソフトウェア・パッケージSCIP Optimization Suite を紹介し,その3つの構成要素:モデリン グ言語Zimpl, 線形計画(LP: linear programming) ソルバSoPlex, そして,制約整数計画(CIP: constraint integer programming) に対するソフトウェア・フレームワークSCIP, について述べる.本論文では,この3つの 構成要素を利用して,どのようにして挑戦的な混合整数線形計画問題(MIP: mixed integer linear optimization problems) や混合整数非線形計画問題(MINLP: mixed integer nonlinear optimization problems) をモデル化 し解くのかを説明する.SCIP は,現在,最も高速なMIP,MINLP ソルバの1つである.いくつかの例により, Zimpl, SCIP, SoPlex の利用方法を示すとともに,利用可能なインタフェースの概要を示す.最後に,将来の開 発計画の概要について述べる.}, language = {ja} } @inproceedings{ShinanoAchterbergBertholdetal.2012, author = {Shinano, Yuji and Achterberg, Tobias and Berthold, Timo and Heinz, Stefan and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {ParaSCIP: a parallel extension of SCIP}, booktitle = {Competence in High Performance Computing 2010}, editor = {Bischof, Christian and Hegering, Heinz-Gerd and Nagel, Wolfgang and Wittum, Gabriel}, publisher = {Springer}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-24025-6_12}, pages = {135 -- 148}, year = {2012}, 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} } @inproceedings{KochLeoeveyMirkovetal.2011, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Le{\"o}vey, Hernan and Mirkov, Radoslava and R{\"o}misch, Werner and Wegner-Specht, Isabel}, title = {Szenariogenerierung zur Modellierung der stochastischen Ausspeiselasten in einem Gastransportnetz}, booktitle = {Optimierung in der Energiewirtschaft}, publisher = {VDI-Verlag, D{\"u}sseldorf}, pages = {115 -- 125}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{CookKochSteffyetal.2011, author = {Cook, William and Koch, Thorsten and Steffy, Daniel and Wolter, Kati}, title = {An Exact Rational Mixed-Integer Programming Solver}, volume = {6655}, booktitle = {IPCO 2011}, editor = {G{\"u}nl{\"u}k, Oktay and Woeginger, Gerhard}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-20807-2_9}, pages = {104 -- 116}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ShinanoAchterbergBertholdetal.2016, author = {Shinano, Yuji and Achterberg, Tobias and Berthold, Timo and Heinz, Stefan and Koch, Thorsten and Winkler, Michael}, title = {Solving Open MIP Instances with ParaSCIP on Supercomputers using up to 80,000 Cores}, booktitle = {Proc. of 30th IEEE International Parallel \& Distributed Processing Symposium}, doi = {10.1109/IPDPS.2016.56}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This paper describes how we solved 12 previously unsolved mixed-integer program- ming (MIP) instances from the MIPLIB benchmark sets. To achieve these results we used an enhanced version of ParaSCIP, setting a new record for the largest scale MIP computation: up to 80,000 cores in parallel on the Titan supercomputer. In this paper we describe the basic parallelization mechanism of ParaSCIP, improvements of the dynamic load balancing and novel techniques to exploit the power of parallelization for MIP solving. We give a detailed overview of computing times and statistics for solving open MIPLIB instances.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ShinanoAchterbergBertholdetal.2014, author = {Shinano, Yuji and Achterberg, Tobias and Berthold, Timo and Heinz, Stefan and Koch, Thorsten and Winkler, Michael}, title = {Solving Hard MIPLIP2003 Problems with ParaSCIP on Supercomputers: An Update}, booktitle = {IPDPSW'14 Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE, International Parallel \& Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops}, editor = {IEEE,}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, address = {Washington, DC, USA}, isbn = {978-1-4799-4117-9}, doi = {10.1109/IPDPSW.2014.174}, pages = {1552 -- 1561}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{TurnerChmielaKochetal.2025, author = {Turner, Mark and Chmiela, Antonia and Koch, Thorsten and Winkler, Michael}, title = {PySCIPOpt-ML: Embedding Trained Machine Learning Models into Mixed-Integer Programs}, volume = {15763}, booktitle = {Integration of Constraint Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and Operations Research. CPAIOR 2025}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-95976-9_14}, year = {2025}, abstract = {A standard tool for modelling real-world optimisation problems is mixed-integer programming (MIP). However, for many of these problems there is either incomplete information describing variable relations, or the relations between variables are highly complex. To overcome both these hurdles, machine learning (ML) models are often used and embedded in the MIP as surrogate models to represent these relations. Due to the large amount of available ML frameworks, formulating ML models into MIPs is highly non-trivial. In this paper we propose a tool for the automatic MIP formulation of trained ML models, allowing easy integration of ML constraints into MIPs. In addition, we introduce a library of MIP instances with embedded ML constraints. The project is available at https://github.com/Opt-Mucca/PySCIPOpt-ML.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PedersenLindnerRehfeldtetal.2026, author = {Pedersen, Jaap and Lindner, Niels and Rehfeldt, Daniel and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Comparing Branching Rules for the Quota Steiner Tree Problem with Interference}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2025}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Branching decisions play a crucial role in branch-and-bound algorithms for solving combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper, we investigate several branching rules applied to the Quota Steiner Tree Problem with Interference (QSTPI). The Quota Steiner Tree Problem (QSTP) generalizes the classical Steiner Tree Problem (STP) in graphs by seeking a minimum-cost tree that connects a subset of profit-associated vertices whose cumulative profit meets or exceeds a given quota. The QSTPI introduces interference among vertices: Selecting certain vertices simultaneously reduces their individual contributions to the overall profit. This problem arises, for example, in positioning and connecting wind turbines, where turbines possibly shadow other turbines, reducing their energy yield. Unlike classical STP variants, large QSTPI instances require significantly more branching to compute provably optimal solutions. In contrast to branching on variables, we utilize the combinatorial structure of the QSTPI by branching on the graph's vertices. We adapt classical and problem-specific branching rules and present a comprehensive computational study comparing the effectiveness of these branching strategies.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KochKempkeLindneretal.2026, author = {Koch, Thorsten and Kempke, Nils-Christian and Lindner, Niels and Mehl, Lukas and Wetzel, Manuel and Zittel, Janina}, title = {High-Performance Robust Energy System Planning with Storage: A Single-LP Approach}, booktitle = {Proceedings of URBSENSE 2026 - 1st International Workshop on URBan SENSEmaking and Intelligence for Safer Cities}, year = {2026}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KuntBuchholzKhebourietal.2025, author = {Kunt, Tim and Buchholz, Annika and Khebouri, Imene and Koch, Thorsten and Litzel, Ida and Vu, Thi Huong}, title = {Mapping the Web of Science, a large-scale graph and text-based dataset with LLM embeddings}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2025. OR 2025}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.12752/10064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-100646}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Large text data sets, such as publications, websites, and other text-based media, inherit two distinct types of features: (1) the text itself, its information conveyed through semantics, and (2) its relationship to other texts through links, references, or shared attributes. While the latter can be described as a graph structure and can be handled by a range of established algorithms for classification and prediction, the former has recently gained new potential through the use of LLM embedding models. Demonstrating these possibilities and their practicability, we investigate the Web of Science dataset, containing ~56 million scientific publications through the lens of our proposed embedding method, revealing a self-structured landscape of texts.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RiedmuellerZittelKoch2026, author = {Riedm{\"u}ller, Stephanie and Zittel, Janina and Koch, Thorsten}, title = {Warm-starting Strategies in Scalarization Methods for Multi-Objective Optimization}, booktitle = {Operations Research Proceedings 2025}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21933}, year = {2026}, abstract = {We explore how warm-starting strategies can be integrated into scalarization-based approaches for multi-objective optimization in (mixed) integer linear programming. Scalarization methods remain widely used classical techniques to compute Pareto-optimal solutions in applied settings. They are favored due to their algorithmic simplicity and broad applicability across continuous and integer programs with an arbitrary number of objectives. While warm-starting has been applied in this context before, a systematic methodology and analysis remain lacking. We address this gap by providing a theoretical characterization of warm-starting within scalarization methods, focusing on the sequencing of subproblems. However, optimizing the order of subproblems to maximize warm-start efficiency may conflict with alternative criteria, such as early identification of infeasible regions. We quantify these trade-offs through an extensive computational study.}, language = {en} }