90C27 Combinatorial optimization
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We consider multi-commodity flow problems in which capacities are installed on paths. In this setting, it is often important to distinguish between flows on direct connection routes, using single paths, and flows that include path switching. We derive a feasibility condition for path capacities supporting such direct connection flows similar to the feasibility condition for arc capacities in ordinary multi-commodity flows.
The concept allows to solve large-scale real-world line planning problems in public transport including a novel passenger routing model that favors direct connections over connections with transfers.
The Vehicle Positioning Problem (VPP) is a classical combinatorial optimization problem in public transport planning. A number of models and approaches have been suggested in the literature, which work for small problems, but not for large ones. We propose in this article a novel set partitioning model and an associated column generation solution approach for the VPP. The model provides a tight linear description of the problem. The pricing problem, and hence the LP relaxation itself, can be solved in polynomial resp. pseudo-polynomial time for some versions of the problems.
Line planning is an important step in the strategic planning process of a public transportation system. In this paper, we discuss an optimization model for this problem in order to minimize operation costs while guaranteeing a certain level of quality of service, in terms of available transport capacity. We analyze the problem for path and tree network topologies as well as several categories of line operation that are important for the Quito Trolebus system. It turns out that, from a computational complexity worst case point of view, the problem is hard in all but the most simple variants. In practice, however, instances based on real data from the Trolebus System in Quito can be solved quite well, and significant optimization potentials can be demonstrated.
Line planning is an important step in the strategic planning process of a public transportation system. In this paper, we discuss an optimization model for this problem in order to minimize operation costs while guaranteeing a certain level of quality of service, in terms of available transport capacity. We analyze the problem for path and tree network topologies as well as several categories of line operation that are important for the Quito Trolebus system. It turns out that, from a computational complexity worst case point of view, the problem is hard in all but the most simple variants. In practice, however, instances based on real data from the Trolebus System in Quito can be solved quite well, and significant optimization potentials can be demonstrated.
Pseudo-Boolean problems generalize SAT problems by allowing linear constraints and a linear objective function. Different solvers, mainly having their roots in the SAT domain, have been proposed and compared,for instance, in Pseudo-Boolean evaluations. One can also formulate Pseudo-Boolean models as integer programming models. That is,Pseudo-Boolean problems lie on the border between the SAT domain and the integer programming field. In this paper, we approach Pseudo-Boolean problems from the integer programming side. We introduce the framework SCIP that implements constraint integer programming techniques. It integrates methods from constraint programming, integer programming, and SAT-solving: the solution of linear programming relaxations, propagation of linear as well as nonlinear constraints, and conflict analysis. We argue that this approach is suitable for Pseudo-Boolean instances containing general linear constraints, while it is less efficient for pure SAT problems. We present extensive computational experiments on the test set used for the Pseudo-Boolean evaluation 2007. We show that our approach is very efficient for optimization instances and competitive for feasibility problems. For the nonlinear parts, we also investigate the influence of linear programming relaxations and propagation methods on the performance. It turns out that both techniques are helpful for obtaining an efficient solution method.
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.
In this thesis we study and solve integer programs with block structure, i.\,e., problems that after the removal of certain rows (or columns) of the constraint matrix decompose into independent subproblems. The matrices associated with each subproblem are called blocks and the rows (columns) to be removed linking constraints (columns). Integer programs with block structure come up in a natural way in many real-world applications. The methods that are widely used to tackle integer programs with block structure are decomposition methods. The idea is to decouple the linking constraints (variables) from the problem and treat them at a superordinate level, often called master problem. The resulting residual subordinate problem then decomposes into independent subproblems that often can be solved more efficiently. Decomposition methods now work alternately on the master and subordinate problem and iteratively exchange information to solve the original problem to optimality. In Part I we follow a different approach. We treat the integer programming problem as a whole and keep the linking constraints in the formulation. We consider the associated polyhedra and investigate the polyhedral consequences of the involved linking constraints. The variety and complexity of the new inequalities that come into play is illustrated on three different types of real-world problems. The applications arise in the design of electronic circuits, in telecommunication and production planning. We develop a branch-and-cut algorithm for each of these problems, and our computational results show the benefits and limits of the polyhedral approach to solve these real-world models with block structure. Part II of the thesis deals with general mixed integer programming problems, that is integer programs with no apparent structure in the constraint matrix. We will discuss in Chapter 5 the main ingredients of an LP based branch-and-bound algorithm for the solution of general integer programs. Chapter 6 then asks the question whether general integer programs decompose into certain block structures and investigate whether it is possible to recognize such a structure. The remaining two chapters exploit information about the block structure of an integer program. In Chapter 7 we parallelize parts of the dual simplex algorithm, the method that is commonly used for the solution of the underlying linear programs within a branch-and-cut algorithm. In Chapter 8 we try to detect small blocks in the constraint matrix and to derive new cutting planes that strengthen the integer programming formulation. These inequalities may be associated with the intersection of several knapsack problems. We will see that they significantly improve the quality of the general integer programming solver introduced in Chapter 5.