EEEN40580 Optimisation Techniques for Engineers

Academic Year 2022/2023

Mathematical optimization is concerned with finding the best available value of an objective function through appropriately choosing controllable variables/designer parameters within a set of given constraints. A broad variety of problems arising from diverse applications including production optimization in manufacturing, inverse modeling for oil and gas exploration and water management, crew scheduling and aircraft assignment for airlines, optimal production and distribution of electricity or portfolio management in finance, can be formulated as mathematical optimization problems. This module presents the mathematical concepts and algorithmic tools for modeling and solving practical optimization problems.

1. Linear programming (the simplex algorithm, manufacturing, multiperiod models)

2. Integer programming (Assignment problems, optimization problems on graphs, shortest path problems, branch & bound)

3. Duality (Lagrange dual, weak & strong duality)

4. Convex optimization (convex functions, optimality conditions, Fenchel duality, quadratic optimization)

5. Non-convex optimization (local vs. global optimization, optimality conditions, convex relaxations, )

6. Nonlinear optimization algorithms (gradient descent methods, quasi-Newton methods, interior-point methods, sub-gradients)

7. Optimization under uncertainty (uncertainty modeling, stochastic programming, robust optimization, minimax)


The coding language will be Python in this module

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1. Be able to formulate real world optimization problems and incorporate uncertainty.

2. Be capable of implementing optimization solvers.

3. Convert problems to their dual formulation.

4. Be able to prove basic results on convex optimization.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Tutorial

16
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Online Learning

24
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
1. Lectures first introduce the ideas behind the theory that is going to be developed;
2. The formalisation of the idea leads to the development of the theory;
3. Whenever possible, software is used to develop experiments illustrating the main features of the theory;
4. During each lecture, the links with the lecture before and after are outlined so as to gain the logical links between the topics 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

A good facility with computer scripting, as well as a solid grasp on numerical methods will ground a student well for this module. A good familiarity with MATLAB or C++ or Python, Julia or GAMS will be very helpful.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Lab Report: Solving some optimisation problems , interpreting the results, coding Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Examination: Online exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam Yes Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Online exam, Mix of theoretical and practical questions Week 7 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Lab Report: Solving some optimisation problems , interpreting the results, coding Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

The coding language in this module will be Python

Suggested books:
Theory:
A gentle introduction to optimization, by B. Guenin, J. Konemann, J. Tuncel. Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Boyd, Stephen, Stephen P. Boyd, and Lieven Vandenberghe. Convex optimization. Cambridge university press, 2004.

Practical examples and tools:
Hart, William E., et al. Pyomo-optimization modeling in python. Vol. 67. Berlin: Springer, 2017.
Soroudi, Alireza. Power system optimization modeling in GAMS. Vol. 78. Switzerland: Springer, 2017.
Name Role
Dr Deepu John Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Andrew Keane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Alireza Nouri Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mohammad Afkousi-Paqaleh Tutor
Ms Rui Cai Tutor
Cliodhna Gartland Tutor