MATLAB Programs for Various Discrete Optimization Methods

Application Background Optimization techniques are ubiquitous in our society, with applications ranging from scheduling aircraft and crew members to coordinating steel production and managing iron ore transportation from mines to ports. These techniques facilitate the clearing of day-ahead and real-time electricity markets, enabling power supply to millions. Additionally, optimization supports kidney transplant coordination, cancer treatment planning, and aids scientists in understanding fundamental life structures, controlling complex chemical reactions, and designing drugs with potential benefits for billions. This course introduces discrete optimization and presents fundamental concepts and algorithms in the field. It covers constraint programming, local search, and mixed-integer programming, progressing from basics to their application in solving complex real-world problems like scheduling, vehicle routing, supply chain optimization, and resource allocation. The curriculum includes extensive MATLAB implementations of core algorithms with detailed code explanations.