Module 4: Modeling Transport and Logistics Systems
Course Description:
This module covers fundamental operational research techniques for the analysis of logistics and transport systems in terms of mathematical models of flows in networks.
Contents
- Introduction to OR and Linear Programming (LP)
Introduction to mathematical modeling, formulation of optimization problems: defining decision variables, objective function, constraints. Solving LPs: graphical method and excel solver. Sensitivity analysis and interpretation of results.
- Mixed Integer Programming (MIP)
Formulating logistics and transportation network problems as mixed integer programming models, concepts of optimal and approximate solutions.
- Network Flow Models
Linear models of network flows: flows of minimum cost, maximum flow, roads and trees of minimum cost. Introduction to graph theory, Multi-commodity and capacitated flow problems. Basic network flow problems: TSP, routing problems, pick-up and delivery problems, problems with time windows. Basic heuristics for solutions.
- Robust Optimization Techniques
Scenario-based models: robust counterparts for shortest path, spanning tree and assignment problems.