From Single Commodity to Multiattribute Models for Locomotive Optimization: A Comparison of Optimal Integer Programming and Approximate Dynamic Programming

Belgacem Bouzaiene-Ayari (), Clark Cheng (), Sourav Das (), Ricardo Fiorillo () and Warren B. Powell ()
Additional contact information
Belgacem Bouzaiene-Ayari: Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
Clark Cheng: Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Sourav Das: Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Ricardo Fiorillo: Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Warren B. Powell: Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544

Transportation Science, 2016, vol. 50, issue 2, 366-389

Abstract: We present a general optimization framework for locomotive models that captures different levels of detail, ranging from single and multicommodity flow models that can be solved using commercial integer programming solvers, to a much more detailed multiattribute model that we solve using approximate dynamic programming (ADP). Both models have been successfully implemented at Norfolk Southern for different planning applications. We use these models, presented using a common notational framework, to demonstrate the scope of different modeling and algorithmic strategies, all of which add value to the locomotive planning problem. We demonstrate how ADP can be used for both deterministic and stochastic models that capture locomotives and trains at a very high level of detail.

Keywords: approximate dynamic programming; locomotive planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2014.0536 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:50:y:2016:i:2:p:366-389

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Transportation Science from INFORMS Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Asher ().