TY - GEN A1 - Borndörfer, Ralf A1 - Eisenblätter, Andreas A1 - Grötschel, Martin A1 - Martin, Alexander T1 - Frequency Assignment in Cellular Phone Networks N2 - We present a graph-theoretic model for the \emph{frequency assignment problem} in Cellular Phone Networks: Obeying several technical and legal restrictions, frequencies have to be assigned to transceivers so that interference is as small as possible. This optimization problem is NP-hard. Good approximation cannot be guaranteed, unless P = NP. We describe several assignment heuristics. These heuristics are simple and not too hard to implement. We give an assessment of the heuristics' efficiency and practical usefulness. For this purpose, typical instances of frequency assignment problems with up to 4240 transceivers and 75 frequencies of a German cellular phone network operator are used. The results are satisfying from a practitioner's point of view. The best performing heuristics were integrated into a network planning system used in practice. T3 - ZIB-Report - SC-97-35 Y1 - 1997 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-3044 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Abdel-Hamid, Atef Abdel-Aziz A1 - Borndörfer, Ralf T1 - On the Complexity of Storage Assignment Problems. N2 - {\def\NP{\hbox{$\cal N\kern-.1667em\cal P$}} The {\sl storage assignment problem} asks for the cost minimal assignment of containers with different sizes to storage locations with different capacities. Such problems arise, for instance, in the optimal control of automatic storage devices in flexible manufacturing systems. This problem is known to be $\NP$-hard in the strong sense. We show that the storage assignment problem is $\NP$-hard for {\sl bounded sizes and capacities}, even if the sizes have values $1$ and~$2$ and the capacities value~$2$ only, a case we encountered in practice. Moreover, we prove that no polynomial time $\epsilon$-approximation algorithm exists. This means that almost all storage assignment problems arising in practice are indeed hard.} T3 - ZIB-Report - SC-94-14 Y1 - 1994 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-1430 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Borndörfer, Ralf A1 - Grötschel, Martin A1 - Löbel, Andreas T1 - Optimization of Transportation Systems N2 - The world has experienced two hundred years of unprecedented advances in vehicle technology, transport system development, and traffic network extension. Technical progress continues but seems to have reached some limits. Congestion, pollution, and increasing costs have created, in some parts of the world, a climate of hostility against transportation technology. Mobility, however, is still increasing. What can be done? There is no panacea. Interdisciplinary cooperation is necessary, and we are going to argue in this paper that {\em Mathematics\/} can contribute significantly to the solution of some of the problems. We propose to employ methods developed in the {\em Theory of Optimization\/} to make better use of resources and existing technology. One way of optimization is better planning. We will point out that {\em Discrete Mathematics\/} provides a suitable framework for planning decisions within transportation systems. The mathematical approach leads to a better understanding of problems. Precise and quantitative models, and advanced mathematical tools allow for provable and reproducible conclusions. Modern computing equipment is suited to put such methods into practice. At present, mathematical methods contribute, in particular, to the solution of various problems of {\em operational planning}. We report about encouraging {\em results\/} achieved so far. T3 - ZIB-Report - SC-98-09 KW - Transportation Systems KW - Optimization KW - Discrete Mathematics Y1 - 1998 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-3529 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Borndörfer, Ralf A1 - Grötschel, Martin A1 - Herzog, Werner A1 - Klostermeier, Fridolin A1 - Konsek, Wilhelm A1 - Küttner, Christian T1 - Kürzen muß nicht Kahlschlag heißen - das Beispiel Telebus-Behindertenfahrdienst Berlin N2 - Müssen Etatkürzungen bei staatlichen Dienstleistungseinrichtungen notwendig zu Leistungseinschränkungen oder Gebührenerhöhungen führen? Wir zeigen am Beispiel des Berliner Behindertenfahrdienstes {\em Telebus}, da\ss{} Sparzwang auch als Chance zur Verbesserung der eigenen Verwaltungs- und Arbeitsabläufe genutzt werden kann. Durch stärkere Dienstleistungsorientierung, Vereinfachung der Arbeitsabläufe und durch den Einsatz von moderner EDV und von mathematischen Optimierungsmethoden zur Fahrzeugeinsatzplanung werden bei Telebus heute staatliche Leistungen trotz geringeren Etats besser erbracht als vorher. T3 - ZIB-Report - SC-96-41 Y1 - 1996 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-2510 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Borndörfer, Ralf A1 - Grötschel, Martin A1 - Löbel, Andreas T1 - Duty Scheduling in Public Transit N2 - This article is about \emph{adaptive column generation techniques} for the solution of duty scheduling problems in public transit. The current optimization status is exploited in an adaptive approach to guide the subroutines for duty generation, LP resolution, and schedule construction toward relevant parts of a large problem. Computational results for three European scenarios are reported. T3 - ZIB-Report - 01-02 KW - Duty Scheduling KW - Constraint Shortest Paths Problem KW - Column Generation Y1 - 2001 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6286 ER -