Optimization under moment, robust, and data-driven models of uncertainty
Author(s)
Doan, Xuan Vinh![Thumbnail](/bitstream/handle/1721.1/57538/635510942-MIT.pdf.jpg?sequence=5&isAllowed=y)
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Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Operations Research Center.
Advisor
Dimitris J. Bertsimas.
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We study the problem of moments and present two diverse applications that apply both the hierarchy of moment relaxation and the moment duality theory. We then propose a moment-based uncertainty model for stochastic optimization problems, which addresses the ambiguity of probability distributions of random parameters with a minimax decision rule. We establish the model tractability and are able to construct explicitly the extremal distributions. The quality of minimax solutions is compared with that of solutions obtained from other approaches such as data-driven and robust optimization approach. Our approach shows that minimax solutions hedge against worst-case distributions and usually provide low cost variability. We also extend the moment-based framework for multi-stage stochastic optimization problems, which yields a tractable model for exogenous random parameters and affine decision rules. Finally, we investigate the application of data-driven approach with risk aversion and robust optimization approach to solve staffing and routing problem for large-scale call centers. Computational results with real data of a call center show that a simple robust optimization approach can be more efficient than the data-driven approach with risk aversion.
Description
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Operations Research Center, 2010. This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-156).
Date issued
2010Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Operations Research Center; Sloan School of ManagementPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Operations Research Center.