Network Optimization

Linear Network Optimization presents a thorough treatment of classical approaches to network problems such as shortest path, max-flow, assignment, transportation, and minimum cost flow problems.

Introduction and basic building blocks. Adding costs to two echelon supply chains. Advanced modeling and expanding to multiple echelons. How to get industrial streng results. Case study wrap up.

Network Optimization and Control is the ideal starting point for a mature reader with little background on the subject of congestion control to understand the basic concepts underlying network resource allocation.

Network models are critical tools in business, management, science and industry. “Network Models and Optimization” presents an insightful, comprehensive, and up-to-date treatment of multiple objective genetic algorithms to network optimization problems in many disciplines, such as engineering, computer science, operations research, transportation, telecommunication, and manufacturing. The book extensively covers algorithms and applications, including shortest path problems, minimum cost flow problems, maximum flow problems, minimum spanning tree problems, traveling salesman and postman problems, location-allocation problems, project scheduling problems, multistage-based scheduling problems, logistics network problems, communication network problem, and network models in assembly line balancing problems, and airline fleet assignment problems. The book can be used both as a student textbook and as a professional reference for practitioners who use network optimization methods to model and solve problems.

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./a

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.

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.

People are facing more and more NP-complete or NP-hard problems of a combinatorial nature and of a continuous nature in economic, military and management practice. There are two ways in which one can enhance the efficiency of searching for the solutions of these problems. The first is to improve the speed and memory capacity of hardware. We all have witnessed the computer industry's amazing achievements with hardware and software developments over the last twenty years. On one hand many computers, bought only a few years ago, are being sent to elementary schools for children to learn the ABC's of computing. On the other hand, with economic, scientific and military developments, it seems that the increase of intricacy and the size of newly arising problems have no end. We all realize then that the second way, to design good algorithms, will definitely compensate for the hardware limitations in the case of complicated problems. It is the collective and parallel computation property of artificial neural net works that has activated the enthusiasm of researchers in the field of computer science and applied mathematics. It is hard to say that artificial neural networks are solvers of the above-mentioned dilemma, but at least they throw some new light on the difficulties we face. We not only anticipate that there will be neural computers with intelligence but we also believe that the research results of artificial neural networks might lead to new algorithms on von Neumann's computers.

Unique in that it focuses on formulation and case studies ratherthan solutions procedures covering applications for pure,generalized and integer networks, equivalent formulations plussuccessful techniques of network models. Every chapter contains asimple model which is expanded to handle more complicateddevelopments, a synopsis of existing applications, one or more casestudies, at least 20 exercises and invaluable references. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all theproblems in the book is available upon request from the Wileyeditorial department.

As the cost of building and upgrading complex, large-scale networks skyrockets, carefully crafted network designs become critical- a savings of as little as 5% in your network can amount to tens of thousands of dollars per month. Wide Area Network Design: Concepts and Tools for Optimization provides the information you need to tackle the challenges of designing a network that meets your performance goals within the cost constraints of your organization. If you are considering public service alternatives such as frame relay, designing your own network with the tools provided in this book will empower you to estimate cost savings and evaluate bids from competing carriers. Intended for network designers, planners, and architects, this book enables you to estimate traffic flows and requirements in your network and explains how to use various algorithms to design a network which must meets these requirements. Features: Presents underlying design principles to help you understand emerging and future networking protocols and technologies Provides cost and traffic generators for estimating these parameters in your network Introduces the unique IncreMENTOR algorithm which can help avert disaster when the traffic flows in your network have changed