Article: Jury simulation using SimPy
We design and build a SimPy model of jury summoning to reduce the number of people required.
This model highlights a key lesson for simulation modelling in general: details matter, sometimes a lot.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/jury-si...

Efficient jury empanelling: Respecting people's time

We describe a simulation model of the jury selection process. The goal is to explore how the needs of the justice system can be met while respecting the time of people who report for jury service.

#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/efficie...

The muffin problem: A slice of recreational maths
We solve 'The Muffin Problem': divide muffins equally between students, maximizing the smallest piece.
Our MILP model is solved in parallel with symmetry-breaking constraints and objective bounds.
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/the-muf...

Pivot irrigators in a 100 acre field
We formulate a non-linear, non-convex model for optimizing the layout of centre-pivot irrigators in a field.
Several solvers fail to find good solutions. Can the MINLP-BB solver via NEOS find an optimal solution?
#orms #Python
www.solvermax.com/blog/pivot-i...

Locational marginal pricing of potatoes

We apply Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) to the supply of potatoes. The article describes the model, calculation of LMPs, and scenarios for how the suppliers and contractors may respond to the price signals.
#orms #pyomo
www.solvermax.com/blog/locatio...

Permission granted: A role mining model

We implement a recently published role mining model using both constraint programming and mixed integer linear programming, then compare their relative performance while solving several examples.

www.solvermax.com/blog/permiss...

#orms #pyomo #ortools

New item in our list of #orms resources:

Collection of videos from Associate Professor Alberto Del Pia, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
There are around 100 videos, collated into playlists relating to specific optimization papers taught at the university.
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...

Optimal rational approximation using SciPy

In this article we solve a non-linear curve fitting problem using the SciPy library. We illustrate SciPy's curve_fit and minimize functions and look at some good practices.
#python #scipy #orms
www.solvermax.com/blog/optimal...
@johndcook.bsky.social

We've added the "Book Proofs" blog by Laurent Lessard @laurentlessard.bsky.social to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...

We've added the "Feasible" blog, written by Borja Menéndez, to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...

We've added the "Princeton Consultants' Optimization" blog to our list of #orms resources:
www.solvermax.com/resources/li...

We've added the Cornell "Computational optimization open textbook" to our list of #orms resources: www.solvermax.com/resources/li...

Blog: Can AI code an entire optimization model?
We report our experience of using Copilot to write a non-trivial optimization model for us. We focus on what went well and what didn't go well, plus some general lessons from the process.
www.solvermax.com/blog/can-ai-...
#orms #copilot #llm #ai

Academics, please publish your data and code

We implore academics to publish working code and data to accompany their papers.

In this blog, we explore an optimization model where publishing has been done well.

www.solvermax.com/blog/academi...

#orms #Python

Objectives matter: Sorting using a MIP model
While solving a feasibility problem that is taking forever, we try using an alternative objective function to reduce the HiGHS solver's run time. The impact is dramatic.
www.solvermax.com/blog/objecti...
#Python #orms