TY - GEN A1 - Bley, Andreas A1 - Koch, Thorsten T1 - Integer programming approaches to access and backbone IP-network planning N2 - 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. T3 - ZIB-Report - 02-41 KW - Network design KW - Traffic enineering KW - Internet routing KW - Mixed-integer programming Y1 - 2002 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7081 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Eisenblätter, Andreas A1 - Fügenschuh, Armin A1 - Koch, Thorsten A1 - Koster, Arie M.C.A. A1 - Martin, Alexander A1 - Pfender, Tobias A1 - Wegel, Oliver A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - Modelling Feasible Network Configurations for UMTS N2 - A model for the optimisation of the location and configuration of base stations in a UMTS network is described. The focus is primarily on modelling the configuration problem sufficiently accurate using mixed-integer variables and (essentially) linear constraints. These constraints reflect the limited downlink code capacity in each cell, the interference limitations for successful up- and downlink transmissions, the need for sufficiently strong (cell) pilot signals, and the potential gain for mobiles from being in soft(er) hand-over. It is also explained how to use the model as a basis for rating network configurations. T3 - ZIB-Report - 02-16 KW - UMTS KW - radio interface KW - network planning KW - configuration KW - perfect power control KW - mathematical model KW - mixed integer programming KW - MOMENTUM KW - IST-20 Y1 - 2002 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-6837 ER - TY - THES A1 - Koch, Thorsten T1 - Rapid Mathematical Programming N2 - 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. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-58 KW - Modelling Languages KW - Mixed Integer Programming KW - Steiner Tree Packing in Graphs KW - Location Planning in Telecommunications KW - UMTS Y1 - 2005 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8346 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Achterberg, Tobias A1 - Berthold, Timo T1 - Improving the Feasibility Pump N2 - The Feasibility Pump of Fischetti, Glover, Lodi, and Bertacco has proved to be a very successful heuristic for finding feasible solutions of mixed integer programs. The quality of the solutions in terms of the objective value, however, tends to be poor. This paper proposes a slight modification of the algorithm in order to find better solutions. Extensive computational results show the success of this variant: in 89 out of 121 MIP instances the modified version produces improved solutions in comparison to the original Feasibility Pump. T3 - ZIB-Report - 05-42 KW - mixed integer programming KW - primal heuristics KW - feasibility pump Y1 - 2005 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8754 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Burgschweiger, Jens A1 - Gnädig, Bernd A1 - Steinbach, Marc T1 - Optimization Models for Operative Planning in Drinking Water Networks N2 - The topic of this paper is minimum cost operative planning of pressurized water supply networks over a finite horizon and under reliable demand forecast. Since this is a very hard problem, it is desirable to employ sophisticated mathematical algorithms, which in turn calls for carefully designed models with suitable properties. The paper develops a nonlinear mixed integer model and a nonlinear programming model with favorable properties for gradient-based optimization methods, based on smooth component models for the network elements. In combination with further nonlinear programming techniques (to be reported elsewhere), practically satisfactory near-optimum solutions even for large networks can be generated in acceptable time using standard optimization software on a PC workstation. Such an optimization system is in operation at Berliner Wasserbetriebe. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-48 KW - Drinking water supply KW - distribution network KW - minimum cost operative planning KW - continuous time model KW - mixed integer model KW - nonlinear programming m Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8237 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Orlowski, Sebastian A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - An Integer Programming Model for Multi-Layer Network Design N2 - We present an integer linear programming model for the design of multi-layer telecommunication networks. The formulation integrates hardware, capacity, routing, and grooming decisions in \emph{any} n umber of network layers. Practical hardware restrictions and cost can accurately be taken into account for technologies based on connection-oriented routing protocols. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-49 KW - multi-layer networks KW - integer programming KW - network design KW - routing KW - grooming Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8248 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Bley, Andreas A1 - Koch, Thorsten A1 - Niu, Lingfeng T1 - Experiments with nonlinear extensions to SCIP N2 - This paper describes several experiments to explore the options for solving a class of mixed integer nonlinear programming problems that stem from a real-world mine production planning project. The only type of nonlinear constraints in these problems are bilinear equalities involving continuous variables, which enforce the ratios between elements in mixed material streams. A branch-and-bound algorithm to handle the integer variables has been tried in another project. However, this branch-and-bound algorithm is not effective for handling the nonlinear constraints. Therefore state-of-the-art nonlinear solvers are utilized to solve the resulting nonlinear subproblems in this work. The experiments were carried out using the NEOS server for optimization. After finding that current nonlinear programming solvers seem to lack suitable preprocessing capabilities, we preprocess the instances beforehand and use an heuristic approach to solve the nonlinear subproblems. In the appendix, we explain how to add a polynomial constraint handler that uses IPOPT as embedded nonlinear programming solver for the constraint programming framework SCIP. This is one of the crucial steps for implementing our algorithm in SCIP. We briefly described our approach and give an idea of the work involved. T3 - ZIB-Report - 08-28 Y1 - 2008 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8300 SN - 1438-0064 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Koch, Thorsten A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - Hierarchical Infrastructure Planning in Networks N2 - In this article, strategical infrastructure planning problems in the design of large-scale telecommunication networks are discussed based on experiences from three projects with industrial partners: The access network planning of the German Gigabit-Wissenschaftsnetz (G-WiN) for DFN (Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes e.V.), the mobile network switching center location planning project for E-Plus Mobilfunk, and the fixed network switching center location planning project for TELEKOM AUSTRIA. We introduce a mathematical model for a hierarchical multi-commodity capacitated facility location problem, present adaptions of this basic model to the specific requirements within the different projects and discuss the individual peculiarities and model decisions made. Eventually, we present and discuss computational results of three associated case studies, illustrating '"how we did the job`` with mathematical methods. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-42 KW - Facility Location KW - Telecommunication KW - Mixed Integer Programming Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-8174 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Bley, Andreas T1 - A Lagrangian Approach for Integrated Network Design and Routing in IP Networks N2 - 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. T3 - ZIB-Report - 03-29 KW - Network Planning KW - Routing KW - IP Routing KW - Lagrangian relaxation Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7515 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Orlowski, Sebastian A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - Comparing Restoration Concepts using Optimal Network Configurations with Integrated Hardware and Routing Decisions N2 - We investigate the impact of link and path restoration on the cost of telecommunication networks. The surprising result is the following: the cost of an optimal network configuration is almost independent of the restoration concept if (i) the installation of network elements (ADMs, DXCs, or routers) and interface cards, (ii) link capacities, and (iii) working and restoration routings are simultaneously optimized. We present a mixed-integer programming model which integrates all these decisions. Using a branch-and-cut algorithm (with column generation to deal with all potential routing paths), we solve structurally different real-world problem instances and show that the cost of optimal solutions is almost independent of the used restoration concept. In addition, we optimize spare capacities for given shortest working paths which are predetermined with respect to different link metrics. In comparison to simultaneous optimization of working and restoration routings, it turns out that this approach does not allow to obtain predictably good results. T3 - ZIB-Report - 03-09 KW - survivable network design KW - link and path restoration KW - hardware configuration KW - branch-and-cut algorithm KW - routing Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7316 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Achterberg, Tobias T1 - SCIP - a framework to integrate Constraint and Mixed Integer Programming N2 - Constraint Programs and Mixed Integer Programs are closely related optimization problems originating from different scientific areas. Today's state-of-the-art algorithms of both fields have several strategies in common, in particular the branch-and-bound process to recursively divide the problem into smaller sub problems. On the other hand, the main techniques to process each sub problem are different, and it was observed that they have complementary strenghts. We propose a programming framework {\sffamily SCIP} that integrates techniques from both fields in order to exploit the strenghts of both, Constraint Programming and Mixed Integer Programming. In contrast to other proposals of recent years to combine both fields, {\sffamily SCIP} does not focus on easy implementation and rapid prototyping, but is tailored towards expert users in need of full, in-depth control and high performance. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-19 KW - Mixed Integer Programming KW - MIP KW - Constraint Programming KW - CP KW - branch-and-bound Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7947 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Orlowski, Sebastian A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - The Effect of Hop Limits on Optimal Cost in Survivable Network Design N2 - We investigate the impact of hop-limited routing paths on the total cost of a telecommunication network. For different survivability settings (dedicated protection, link and path restoration), the optimal network cost without restrictions on the admissible path set is compared to the results obtained with two strategies to impose hop limits on routing paths. In a thorough computational study on optimal solutions for nine real-world based problem instances, we show that hop limits should be avoided if the technology allows it and network cost is a major planning issue. In this case, column generation should be employed to deal with all routing paths. If hop-limits are required, these should be defined for each demand individually and as large as possible. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-23 KW - survivable network design KW - hop limits KW - routing KW - restoration KW - branch-and-cut algorithm KW - mixed-integer programming Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7980 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Eisenblätter, Andreas A1 - Geerdes, Hans-Florian A1 - Koch, Thorsten A1 - Martin, Alexander A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - UMTS Radio Network Evaluation and Optimization beyond Snapshots N2 - This paper is concerned with UMTS radio network design. Our task is to reconfigure antennas and the related cells as to improve network quality. In contrast to second generation GSM networks, \emph{interference} plays a paramount role when designing third generation radio networks. A known compact formulation for assessing the interference characteristics of a radio network as coupling relations between cells based on user snapshots is generalized to statistical average load. This enables us to overcome the notorious difficulties of snapshot-based network optimization approaches. We recall a mixed-integer programming model for the network design problem that is based on user snapshots and contrast it with a new network design model based on the average coupling formulation. Exemplarily focusing on the important problem of optimizing antenna tilts, we give computational results for a fast local search algorithm and the application of a MIP solver to both models. These results demonstrate that our new average-based approaches outperform state-of-the-art snapshot models for UMTS radio network optimization. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-15 KW - UMTS KW - Network planning KW - Network design KW - Optimization Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7903 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kröller, Alexander A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - Integrated Optimization of Hardware Configuration and Capacity. Dimensioning in SDH and opaque WDM networks N2 - We suggest a new model for the design of telecommunication networks which integrates decisions about the topology, configuration of the switching hardware, link dimensioning, and protected routing of communication demands. Applying the branch-and-cut-algorithm implemented in our network planning and optimization tool DISCNET, we demonstrate that real-world based network planning instances of such an enhanced model can be solved. T3 - ZIB-Report - 03-49 KW - Survivable Network Design KW - Integer Programming KW - Hardware Configuration KW - Routing KW - Network Models KW - Network Planning KW - Resource Allocation KW - Surviva Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7714 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Bley, Andreas A1 - Koch, Thorsten A1 - Wessäly, Roland T1 - Large-scale hierarchical networks: How to compute an optimal architecture? N2 - In this article, we present a mathematical model and an algorithm to support one of the central strategic planning decisions of network operators: How to organize a large number of locations into a hierarchical network? We propose a solution approach that is based on mixed-integer programming and Lagrangian relaxation techniques. As major advantage, our approach provides not only solutions but also worst-case quality guarantees. Real-world scenarios with more than 750 locations have been solved within 30 minutes to less than 1\% off optimality. T3 - ZIB-Report - 04-04 KW - Hierarchical Networks KW - Mixed-Integer Programming KW - Lagrangian Relaxation Y1 - 2004 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7799 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Geerdes, Hans-Florian A1 - Karl, Holger T1 - The Potential of Relaying in Cellular Networks N2 - Relaying is a protocol extension for cellular wireless computer networks; in order to utilize radio resources more efficiently, several hops are allowed within one cell. This paper investigates the principle potential of relaying by casting transmission scheduling as a mathematical optimization problem, namely, a linear program. We analyze the throughput gains showing that, irrespective of the concrete scheduling algorithm, performance gains of up to 30\% on average for concrete example networks are achievable. T3 - ZIB-Report - 03-42 KW - Wireless ad hoc networks KW - Resource Allocation KW - Integer Programming KW - Routing KW - Scheduling KW - Operation Research KW - Network Performance Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7641 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Geerdes, Hans-Florian T1 - Assessing Capacity Improvements by Relaying in Cellular Networks N2 - Relaying -- allowing multiple wireless hops -- is a protocol extension for cellular networks conceived to improve data throughput. Its benefits have only been quantified for small example networks. For assessing its general potential, we define a complex resource allocation\slash{}scheduling problem. Several mathematical models are presented for this problem; while a time-expanded MIP approach turns out intractable, a sophisticated column generation scheme leads to good computational results. We thereby show that for selected cases relaying can increase data throughput by 30\% on the average. T3 - ZIB-Report - 03-43 KW - Wireless ad hoc networks KW - Resource Allocation KW - Integer Programming KW - Routing KW - Scheduling KW - Operation Research KW - Network Performance Y1 - 2003 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-7651 ER - TY - THES A1 - Achterberg, Tobias T1 - Constraint Integer Programming N2 - This thesis introduces the novel paradigm of "constraint integer programming" (CIP), which integrates constraint programming (CP) and mixed integer programming (MIP) modeling and solving techniques. It is supplemented by the software SCIP, which is a solver and framework for constraint integer programming that also features SAT solving techniques. SCIP is freely available in source code for academic and non-commercial purposes. Our constraint integer programming approach is a generalization of MIP that allows for the inclusion of arbitrary constraints, as long as they turn into linear constraints on the continuous variables after all integer variables have been fixed. The constraints, may they be linear or more complex, are treated by any combination of CP and MIP techniques: the propagation of the domains by constraint specific algorithms, the generation of a linear relaxation and its solving by LP methods, and the strengthening of the LP by cutting plane separation. The current version of SCIP comes with all of the necessary components to solve mixed integer programs. In the thesis, we cover most of these ingredients and present extensive computational results to compare different variants for the individual building blocks of a MIP solver. We focus on the algorithms and their impact on the overall performance of the solver. In addition to mixed integer programming, the thesis deals with chip design verification, which is an important topic of electronic design automation. Chip manufacturers have to make sure that the logic design of a circuit conforms to the specification of the chip. Otherwise, the chip would show an erroneous behavior that may cause failures in the device where it is employed. An important subproblem of chip design verification is the property checking problem, which is to verify whether a circuit satisfies a specified property. We show how this problem can be modeled as constraint integer program and provide a number of problem-specific algorithms that exploit the structure of the individual constraints and the circuit as a whole. Another set of extensive computational benchmarks compares our CIP approach to the current state-of-the-art SAT methodology and documents the success of our method. N2 - Diese Arbeit stellt einen integrierten Ansatz aus "Constraint Programming" (CP) und Gemischt-Ganzzahliger Programmierung ("Mixed Integer Programming", MIP) vor, den wir "Constraint Integer Programming" (CIP) nennen. Sowohl Modellierungs- als auch Lösungstechniken beider Felder fließen in den neuen integrierten Ansatz ein, um die unterschiedlichen Stärken der beiden Gebiete zu kombinieren. Als weiteren Beitrag stellen wir der wissenschaftlichen Gemeinschaft die Software SCIP zur Verfügung, die ein Framework für Constraint Integer Programming darstellt und zusätzlich Techniken des SAT-Lösens beinhaltet. SCIP ist im Source Code für akademische und nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke frei erhältlich. Unser Ansatz des Constraint Integer Programming ist eine Verallgemeinerung von MIP, die zusätzlich die Verwendung beliebiger Constraints erlaubt, solange sich diese durch lineare Bedingungen ausdrücken lassen falls alle ganzzahligen Variablen auf feste Werte eingestellt sind. Die Constraints werden von einer beliebigen Kombination aus CP- und MIP-Techniken behandelt. Dies beinhaltet insbesondere die "Domain Propagation", die Relaxierung der Constraints durch lineare Ungleichungen, sowie die Verstärkung der Relaxierung durch dynamisch generierte Schnittebenen. Die derzeitige Version von SCIP enthält alle Komponenten, die für das effiziente Lösen von Gemischt-Ganzzahligen Programmen benötigt werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert eine ausführliche Beschreibung dieser Komponenten und bewertet verschiedene Varianten in Hinblick auf ihren Einfluß auf das Gesamt-Lösungsverhalten anhand von aufwendigen praktischen Experimenten. Dabei wird besonders auf die algorithmischen Aspekte eingegangen. Ein weiterer Hauptteil der Arbeit befasst sich mit der Chip-Design-Verifikation, die ein wichtiges Thema innerhalb des Fachgebiets der "Electronic Design Automation" darstellt. Chip-Hersteller müssen sicherstellen, dass der logische Entwurf einer Schaltung der gegebenen Spezifikation entspricht. Andernfalls würde der Chip fehlerhaftes Verhalten aufweisen, dass zu Fehlfunktionen innerhalb des Gerätes führen kann, in dem der Chip verwendet wird. Ein wichtiges Teilproblem in diesem Feld ist das Eigenschafts-Verifikations-Problem, bei dem geprüft wird, ob der gegebene Schaltkreisentwurf eine gewünschte Eigenschaft aufweist. Wir zeigen, wie dieses Problem als Constraint Integer Program modelliert werden kann und geben eine Reihe von problemspezifischen Algorithmen an, die die Struktur der einzelnen Constraints und der Gesamtschaltung ausnutzen. Testrechnungen auf Industrie-Beispielen vergleichen unseren Ansatz mit den bisher verwendeten SAT-Techniken und belegen den Erfolg unserer Methode. KW - Ganzzahlige Programmierung KW - Constraint Programmierung KW - SAT KW - Chip-Verifikation KW - Mathematische Programmierung KW - Integer Programming KW - Constraint Programming KW - SAT KW - Chip Verification KW - Mathematical Programming Y1 - 2009 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11129 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Berthold, Timo A1 - Heinz, Stefan A1 - Vigerske, Stefan T1 - Extending a CIP framework to solve MIQCPs N2 - This paper discusses how to build a solver for mixed integer quadratically constrained programs (MIQCPs) by extending a framework for constraint integer programming (CIP). The advantage of this approach is that we can utilize the full power of advanced MIP and CP technologies. In particular, this addresses the linear relaxation and the discrete components of the problem. For relaxation, we use an outer approximation generated by linearization of convex constraints and linear underestimation of nonconvex constraints. Further, we give an overview of the reformulation, separation, and propagation techniques that are used to handle the quadratic constraints efficiently. We implemented these methods in the branch-cut-and-price framework SCIP. Computational experiments indicates the potential of the approach. T3 - ZIB-Report - 09-23 KW - mixed integer quadratically constrained programming KW - constraint integer programming KW - convex relaxation KW - nonconvex Y1 - 2009 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11371 SN - 1438-0064 ER - TY - THES A1 - Gleixner, Ambros T1 - Solving Large-scale Open Pit Mining Production Scheduling Problems by Integer Programming N2 - 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 Möhring 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. Y1 - 2009 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11389 ER -