Network Flows And Monotropic Optimization

A rigorous and comprehensive treatment of network flow theory and monotropic optimization by one of the world's most renowned applied mathematicians. This classic textbook covers extensively the duality theory and the algorithms of linear and nonlinear network optimization optimization, and their significant extensions to monotropic programming (separable convex constrained optimization problems, including linear programs). It complements our other book on the subject of network optimization Network Optimization: Continuous and Discrete Models (Athena Scientific, 1998). Monotropic programming problems are characterized by a rich interplay between combinatorial structure and convexity properties. Rockafellar develops, for the first time, algorithms and a remarkably complete duality theory for these problems. Among its special features the book: (a) Treats in-depth the duality theory for linear and nonlinear network optimization (b) Uses a rigorous step-by-step approach to develop the principal network optimization algorithms (c) Covers the main algorithms for specialized network problems, such as max-flow, feasibility, assignment, and shortest path (d) Develops in detail the theory of monotropic programming, based on the author's highly acclaimed research (e) Contains many examples, illustrations, and exercises (f) Contains much new material not found in any other textbook

Bringing together the classic and the contemporary aspects of the field, this comprehensive introduction to network flows provides an integrative view of theory, algorithms, and applications.It offers in-depth and self-contained treatments of shortest path, maximum flow, and minimum cost flow problems, including a description of new and novel polynomial-time algorithms for these core models.For professionals working with network flows, optimization, and network programming.

An insightful, comprehensive, and up-to-date treatment of linear, nonlinear, and discrete/combinatorial network optimization problems, their applications, and their analytical and algorithmic methodology. It covers extensively theory, algorithms, and applications, and it aims to bridge the gap between linear and nonlinear network optimization on one hand, and integer/combinatorial network optimization on the other. It complements several of our books: Convex Optimization Theory (Athena Scientific, 2009), Convex Optimization Algorithms (Athena Scientific, 2015), Introduction to Linear Optimization (Athena Scientific, 1997), Nonlinear Programming (Athena Scientific, 1999), as well as our other book on the subject of network optimization Network Flows and Monotropic Optimization (Athena Scientific, 1998).

In the past few decades, there has been a large amount of work on algorithms for linear network flow problems, special classes of network problems such as assignment problems (linear and quadratic), Steiner tree problem, topology network design and nonconvex cost network flow problems. Network optimization problems find numerous applications in transportation, in communication network design, in production and inventory planning, in facilities location and allocation, and in VLSI design. The purpose of this book is to cover a spectrum of recent developments in network optimization problems, from linear networks to general nonconvex network flow problems. Contents:Greedily Solvable Transportation Networks and Edge-Guided Vertex Elimination (I Adler & R Shamir)Networks Minimizing Length Plus the Number of Steiner Points (T Colthurst et al.)Practical Experiences Using an Interactive Optimization Procedure for Vehicle Scheduling (J R Daduna et al.)Subset Interconnection Designs: Generalizations of Spanning Trees and Steiner Trees (D-Z Du & P M Pardalos)Polynomial and Strongly Polynomial Algorithms for Convex Network Optimization (D S Hochbaum)Hamiltonian Circuits for 2-Regular Interconnection Networks (F K Hwang & W-C W Li)Equivalent Formulations for the Steiner Problem in Graphs (B N Khoury et al.)Minimum Concave-Cost Network Flow Problems with a Single Nonlinear Arc Cost (B Klinz & H Tuy)A Method for Solving Network Flow Problems with General Nonlinear Arc Costs (B W Lamar)Application of Global Line Search in Optimization of Networks (J Mockus)Solving Nonlinear Programs with Embedded Network Structures (M Ç Pinar & S A Zenios)On Algorithms for Nonlinear Dynamic Networks (W B Powell et al.)Strategic and Tactical Models and Algorithms for the Coal Industry Under the 1990 Clean Air Act (H D Sherali & Q J Saifee)Multi-Objective Routing in Stochastic Evacuation Networks (J M Smith)A Simplex Method for Network Programs with Convex Separable Piecewise Linear Costs and Its Application to Stochastic Transshipment Problems (J Sun et al.)A Bibliography on Network Flow Problems (M Veldhorst)Tabu Search: Applications and Prospects (S Voß)The Shortest Path Network and Its Applications in Bicriteria Shortest Path Problems (G-L Xue & S-Z Sun)A Network Formalism for Pure Exchange Economic Equilibria (L Zhao & A Nagurney)Steiner Problem in Multistage Computer Networks (S Bhattacharya & B Dasgupta) Readership: Applied mathematicians. keywords:“This volume reflects the wide spectrum of recent research activities in the design and analysis of algorithms and the applications of networks.”Journal of Global Optimization

Problems in network optimization arise in all areas of technology and industrial management. The topic of network flows has applications in diverse fields such as chemistry, engineering, management science, scheduling and transportation, to name a few. Network Optimization introduces the subject to undergraduate and graduate students in computer science, mathematics and operations research. The focus is mainly on developing the mathematical underpinnings of the techniques that make it possible to solve the several optimization problems covered in the text. The text discusses such topics as optimal branching problems, transshipment problems, shortest path problems, minimum cost flow problems, maximum flow problems, matching in bipartite and nonbipartite graphs and many applications to combinatorics. Also included is a large number of exercises.

Network flow and network design problems arise in various application areas of combinatorial optimization, e.g., in transportation, production, or telecommunication. This thesis contributes new results to four different problem classes from this area, providing models and algorithms with immediate practical impact as well as theoretical insights into complexity and combinatorial structure of network optimization problems: (i) We introduce a new model for tactical transportation planning that employs a cyclic network expansion to integrate routing and inventory decisions into a unified capacitated network design formulation. We also devise several algorithmic approaches to solve the resulting optimization problem and demonstrate the applicability of our approach on a set of real-world logistic networks. (ii) We present approximation algorithms for combined location and network design problems, including the first constant factor approximation for capacitated location routing. (iii) We derive a max-flow/min-cut theorem for abstract flows over time, a generalization of the well-known work of Ford and Fulkerson that restricts to a minimal set of structural requirements. (iv) We devise algorithms for finding orientations of embedded graphs with degree constraints on vertices and faces, answering an open question by Frank.

Network optimization is important in the modeling of problems and processes from such fields as engineering, computer science, operations research, transportation, telecommunication, decision support systems, manufacturing, and airline scheduling. Recent advances in data structures, computer technology, and algorithm development have made it possible to solve classes of network optimization problems that until recently were intractable. The refereed papers in this volume reflect the interdisciplinary efforts of a large group of scientists from academia and industry to model and solve complicated large-scale network optimization problems.

This text describes a series of models, propositions, and algorithms developed in recent years on time-varying networks. References and discussions on relevant problems and studies that have appeared in the literature are integrated in the book. Its eight chapters consider problems including the shortest path problem, the minimum-spanning tree problem, the maximum flow problem, and many more. The time-varying traveling salesman problem and the Chinese postman problem are presented in a chapter together with the time-varying generalized problem. While these topics are examined within the framework of time-varying networks, each chapter is self-contained so that each can be read – and used – separately.