Robust Reformulation Methods. Many decision problems in engineering, business and economics are modeled as nonlinear continuous optimization problems. Often these are made difficult by the existence of constraints. In this project, we reformulate such problems as constrained nonsmooth equations, rather than optimization problems, and develop generalized Newton and quasi-Newton methods for solving them. The expected outcomes of this project include a systematic theory of reformulation methods, ....Robust Reformulation Methods. Many decision problems in engineering, business and economics are modeled as nonlinear continuous optimization problems. Often these are made difficult by the existence of constraints. In this project, we reformulate such problems as constrained nonsmooth equations, rather than optimization problems, and develop generalized Newton and quasi-Newton methods for solving them. The expected outcomes of this project include a systematic theory of reformulation methods, and robust and efficient algorithms for solving some important nonlinear continuous optimization problems. There is high potential for applications in engineering, business and finance.Read moreRead less
Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications. The mathematics community will benefit from infusion of new computer-assisted techniques and modalities for research and training post-graduate students, both from my pure research project and through development of an associated research centre. Ultimately, this should also help more school students learn mathematics well and so play a part in addressing Australia's skill shortage. Also, the work on optimization algorithms promises to ....Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications. The mathematics community will benefit from infusion of new computer-assisted techniques and modalities for research and training post-graduate students, both from my pure research project and through development of an associated research centre. Ultimately, this should also help more school students learn mathematics well and so play a part in addressing Australia's skill shortage. Also, the work on optimization algorithms promises to improve the performance and quality of many practical signal reconstruction methods. These are used by varied Australian industries from telecommunication to mining and by researchers in the digital arts and fields such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, bioscience, geoscience, engineering and medicine.Read moreRead less
Rapid optimisation in underground mining network design. This project represents a major advance in the problem of optimising the infrastructure of underground mines and providing powerful planning tools for management. The software tools we are developing will prove important to the mining industry because of their accuracy, flexibility and generality. Not only can they be used for benchmarking in the design of specific mines, but they also provide a reliable method for testing the cost-benefi ....Rapid optimisation in underground mining network design. This project represents a major advance in the problem of optimising the infrastructure of underground mines and providing powerful planning tools for management. The software tools we are developing will prove important to the mining industry because of their accuracy, flexibility and generality. Not only can they be used for benchmarking in the design of specific mines, but they also provide a reliable method for testing the cost-benefit of emerging technologies. This is an important project for ensuring that Australia's mining industry remains efficient and internationally competitive. Given our economic dependence on mineral resources, it will also benefit Australia as a whole.Read moreRead less
Stationarity and regularity in variational analysis with applications to optimization. This project will significantly develop the theoretical basis of variational analysis and optimization. Improving the understanding of regularity and stationarity issues in optimization theory will lead to major national benefits in increasing efficiencies and reducing costs in many fields of human endeavour on a national and international level.
Integrating dynamic and optimization models for efficient pipeline system operations in an evolving water and energy market. Developing an integrated dynamical and optimisation model for a piped water distribution system will advance Australia's capacity to deploy the most recent optimisation approaches to achieve the high level of efficiency required in the delivery of water to dryland regions. The outcomes of this project will be readily transferable to other regions and indeed other water d ....Integrating dynamic and optimization models for efficient pipeline system operations in an evolving water and energy market. Developing an integrated dynamical and optimisation model for a piped water distribution system will advance Australia's capacity to deploy the most recent optimisation approaches to achieve the high level of efficiency required in the delivery of water to dryland regions. The outcomes of this project will be readily transferable to other regions and indeed other water distribution systems. This will provide capability in securing Australia's water supplies and delivery systems. There may also be associated benefits to other pipeline operators in the oil and gas industries.Read moreRead less
Designing minimum-cost networks that are robust and avoid obstacles. The goal of this project is to construct a mathematical framework for the design of minimum-cost networks that are robust and avoid obstacles. Physical networks such as those required for communication, power and transportation are vital for our society, but are costly from economic and environmental viewpoints. There is a need for mathematical optimisation tools to design minimum-cost networks that take into account practical ....Designing minimum-cost networks that are robust and avoid obstacles. The goal of this project is to construct a mathematical framework for the design of minimum-cost networks that are robust and avoid obstacles. Physical networks such as those required for communication, power and transportation are vital for our society, but are costly from economic and environmental viewpoints. There is a need for mathematical optimisation tools to design minimum-cost networks that take into account practical considerations such as surviving local connectivity failures and avoiding pre-existing obstacles. These are recognised as mathematically challenging problems. Current approaches employ restrictive models that do not capture the flexibility of modern infrastructure networks. This project aims to develop geometric design methods using variable ‘Steiner points’, leading to fast algorithms for optimally solving these problems.Read moreRead less
Quadratic Support Function Technique to Solving Hard Global Nonconvex Optimization Problems. Optimization techniques are becoming increasingly beneficial to modern Australian society in areas such as manufacturing and commerce by improving technical and management decisions. The proposed research is expected to produce enhanced optimization techniques that can be applied to solve a wider range of important problems too complex to be currently solved. The proposed research also represents an inte ....Quadratic Support Function Technique to Solving Hard Global Nonconvex Optimization Problems. Optimization techniques are becoming increasingly beneficial to modern Australian society in areas such as manufacturing and commerce by improving technical and management decisions. The proposed research is expected to produce enhanced optimization techniques that can be applied to solve a wider range of important problems too complex to be currently solved. The proposed research also represents an international collaboration which will improve Australia's ability to participate effectively in international research and innovation and to produce globally competitive mathematical technologiesRead moreRead less
Stability of Generalised Equations and Variational Systems. This project seeks to advance a new mathematical theory of variational analysis which may lead to applications in optimisation. The emphasis will be on extensions of regularity concepts appropriate for studying stability (the ‘radius of good behaviour’) of solutions to optimisation problems, particularly those of semi-infinite optimisation and programs with equilibrium constraints, when standard assumptions are not satisfied. The expect ....Stability of Generalised Equations and Variational Systems. This project seeks to advance a new mathematical theory of variational analysis which may lead to applications in optimisation. The emphasis will be on extensions of regularity concepts appropriate for studying stability (the ‘radius of good behaviour’) of solutions to optimisation problems, particularly those of semi-infinite optimisation and programs with equilibrium constraints, when standard assumptions are not satisfied. The expected outcomes may have an impact in enhancing the convergence of numerical methods and facilitating the post-optimal analysis of solutions. It may also generate new tools for increasing efficiencies and cost reductions in engineering, logistics, economics, financial systems, and environmental science.Read moreRead less
Maximisation of value in underground mine access design. This project represents a major advance in the problem of optimising the mine value associated with the access infrastructure of underground mines and providing powerful planning tools for management. The usefulness to the mining industry of the methods and algorithms the project is pioneering lies in their accuracy, flexibility and generality. Not only can they be used for benchmarking value in the design of specific mines, but they can ....Maximisation of value in underground mine access design. This project represents a major advance in the problem of optimising the mine value associated with the access infrastructure of underground mines and providing powerful planning tools for management. The usefulness to the mining industry of the methods and algorithms the project is pioneering lies in their accuracy, flexibility and generality. Not only can they be used for benchmarking value in the design of specific mines, but they can also determine the profitability or viability of mines under the use of new technologies. This is an important project for ensuring that Australia's mining industry remains efficient and internationally competitive. Given Australia’s economic dependence on mineral resources, it will also benefit the country as a whole.Read moreRead less
Continuous Optimization with Linear Matrix Inequality Constraints. The proposed research is expected to lead to new insights and new joint collaborative work for both Autralian and Korean partners. Joining forces of the two teams will ensure that a full range of techniques can be utilized to provide rapid successful research outcomes. The proposed collaboration will give better opportunity to increase the visibility of the work from Korea in Australia, and vice versa. One of the key national be ....Continuous Optimization with Linear Matrix Inequality Constraints. The proposed research is expected to lead to new insights and new joint collaborative work for both Autralian and Korean partners. Joining forces of the two teams will ensure that a full range of techniques can be utilized to provide rapid successful research outcomes. The proposed collaboration will give better opportunity to increase the visibility of the work from Korea in Australia, and vice versa. One of the key national benefits is that the proposed research collaboration will provide extremly fertile ground for training postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in one of the most applicable areas of mathematics.Read moreRead less