New Theory and Algorithms for Nonsmooth Optimisation with Application to Integer Programming. Mathematical optimisation plays a key role in a wide variety of applications in business, industry, engineering and science. For example, airlines cannot fly and radiation treatment for cancer cannot be delivered without solving (a series of) optimisation problems. Some classes of optimisation problem are very well solved, with clear mathematical foundations, efficient algorithms, and reliable software ....New Theory and Algorithms for Nonsmooth Optimisation with Application to Integer Programming. Mathematical optimisation plays a key role in a wide variety of applications in business, industry, engineering and science. For example, airlines cannot fly and radiation treatment for cancer cannot be delivered without solving (a series of) optimisation problems. Some classes of optimisation problem are very well solved, with clear mathematical foundations, efficient algorithms, and reliable software implementations. Both nonsmooth and integer optimisation problems have a good mathematical basis, but there are "gaps"; existing methods cannot always solve real industrial problems. This project will deliver better methods, built on better theory, and so will yield better solutions for important applications.Read moreRead less
Improving train flows with connected driver advice systems. The project aims to develop new train control theory to determine the efficient movement of multiple trains, and to demonstrate a practical system for coordinating trains, on busy intercity rail corridors. Railways around the world are now deploying driver advice systems developed by the research team and the partner organisation, TTG Transportation Technology. The project is designed to enable these systems to coordinate the movements ....Improving train flows with connected driver advice systems. The project aims to develop new train control theory to determine the efficient movement of multiple trains, and to demonstrate a practical system for coordinating trains, on busy intercity rail corridors. Railways around the world are now deploying driver advice systems developed by the research team and the partner organisation, TTG Transportation Technology. The project is designed to enable these systems to coordinate the movements of many trains on a congested rail network to improve timekeeping, smooth the flow of traffic, increase capacity and reduce energy use.Read moreRead less
Optimal Transforms of Random Vectors. This proposal focusses on development of optimal transforms to describe and model nonlinear phenomena when only statistical information is known. An optimal transform is a mathematical procedure that enables us to process information in a way that is most suited to the task in hand. These transforms have been successfully used in approximation, information theory, communications, control theory and signal and image processing. Applications include modelli ....Optimal Transforms of Random Vectors. This proposal focusses on development of optimal transforms to describe and model nonlinear phenomena when only statistical information is known. An optimal transform is a mathematical procedure that enables us to process information in a way that is most suited to the task in hand. These transforms have been successfully used in approximation, information theory, communications, control theory and signal and image processing. Applications include modelling of physical, chemical and biological systems, filtering and compression of signals and data classification and clustering. We propose two new hybrid models for realistic transforms in a general structural framework.
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Perturbation and approximation methods for linear operators with applications to train control, water resource management and evolution of physical systems. Linear equations are used to solve practical problems. In realistic problems the equations and their solutions depend on parameters obtained by measurement of physical quantities and on data derived from observations and experiments. Changes to the values of the key parameters will lead to changes in the solutions. This project will devel ....Perturbation and approximation methods for linear operators with applications to train control, water resource management and evolution of physical systems. Linear equations are used to solve practical problems. In realistic problems the equations and their solutions depend on parameters obtained by measurement of physical quantities and on data derived from observations and experiments. Changes to the values of the key parameters will lead to changes in the solutions. This project will develop methods to better understand the relationships between the key parameters and the solutions and will apply the new insights to practical problems such as the minimization of fuel consumption in trains, optimal resource management in water supply systems and the evolution of physical systems.Read moreRead less
A comparative study of generalised solution concepts for elliptic partial differential equations using nonsmooth analysis techniques. The solution of ellpitic partial differential equations is central to science and engineering. There are a number of solution concepts, such as those of weak solutions and viscosity solutions, but the relations between these are incompletely understood. We shall investigate this major question using recent advances in optimisation theory and nonsmooth analysis. ....A comparative study of generalised solution concepts for elliptic partial differential equations using nonsmooth analysis techniques. The solution of ellpitic partial differential equations is central to science and engineering. There are a number of solution concepts, such as those of weak solutions and viscosity solutions, but the relations between these are incompletely understood. We shall investigate this major question using recent advances in optimisation theory and nonsmooth analysis. Our approach is to use various approximations and their associated second-order subdifferentials, each of which implies a generalised solution concept and associated abstract convexity. Particular attention, including computational details, will be given to equations which have very different solutions of one type from those of another.Read moreRead less
A new perturbation method for solving singular operator equations with applications to complex systems. This project will develop new methods for analysis of web-based search routines such as Google PageRank, a new algorithm for optimal estimation of random signals, more accurate error analysis in the approximate solution of singular systems of equations and enhanced understanding of models for the simulated management of urban stormwater. The project will involve collaboration between two Aus ....A new perturbation method for solving singular operator equations with applications to complex systems. This project will develop new methods for analysis of web-based search routines such as Google PageRank, a new algorithm for optimal estimation of random signals, more accurate error analysis in the approximate solution of singular systems of equations and enhanced understanding of models for the simulated management of urban stormwater. The project will involve collaboration between two Australian universities and a leading European Research Institute. It will provide employment and vital training for two postdoctoral Research fellows and research projects for three postgraduate students and two honours students.Read moreRead less
The design and development of a novel high power-to-weight actuator. Powerful and compact actuators are becoming increasingly in demand due to the sophistication in a range of uses varying from aerospace to automotive accessories. The aim of this project is to develop an actuator with high performance and power-to-weight ratio, suitable for use in cutting-edge applications. In the first instance, the focus will be on developing an automotive mirror actuator in close collaboration with the indust ....The design and development of a novel high power-to-weight actuator. Powerful and compact actuators are becoming increasingly in demand due to the sophistication in a range of uses varying from aerospace to automotive accessories. The aim of this project is to develop an actuator with high performance and power-to-weight ratio, suitable for use in cutting-edge applications. In the first instance, the focus will be on developing an automotive mirror actuator in close collaboration with the industrial partner, but the generic research outcomes will be applicable to development of actuators for other purposes. The new generation actuators will contribute to Australian manufacturing exports to become internationally competitive.Read moreRead less
Construction of utility functions from observations of consumer behaviour with application to resource modelling and water management strategies. The optimisation techniques developed will be on the forefront of applied mathematical sciences and will increase the prestige of the Australian mathematical community. The expected results will also be of value because they can be used to improve the CGE modelling technique. The implementation of the CGE model of one of Victoria's agricultural regions ....Construction of utility functions from observations of consumer behaviour with application to resource modelling and water management strategies. The optimisation techniques developed will be on the forefront of applied mathematical sciences and will increase the prestige of the Australian mathematical community. The expected results will also be of value because they can be used to improve the CGE modelling technique. The implementation of the CGE model of one of Victoria's agricultural regions will be used to improve the accuracy of regional economic models and will contribute to efficient regional resource management. This has the potential to positively affect the economic growth and employment in the region. The expected outcomes of the project are especially important taking into account the need for predicting the socio-economic consequences of the 1994 COAG water reforms. Read moreRead less
Structured barrier and penalty functions in infinite dimensional optimisation and analysis. Very large scale tightly-constrained optimisation problems are ubiquitous and include water management, traffic flow, and imaging at telescopes and hospitals. Massively parallel computers can solve such problems and provide physically realisable solution only if subtle design issues are mastered. Resolving such issues is the goal of this project.
New Analytical Perspectives on the Algorithmic Complexity of the Hamiltonian Cycle Problem. Hamiltonian Cycle Problem (HCP), known - in the complexity theory of
algorithms -to be NP-hard is proposed for study, from three innovative,
separate (yet related) analytical perspectives: singularly perturbed
(controlled) Markov chains, that links the HCP with systems and control
theories; parametric nonconvex optimization, that links HCP with fast
interior point methods of modern optimization an ....New Analytical Perspectives on the Algorithmic Complexity of the Hamiltonian Cycle Problem. Hamiltonian Cycle Problem (HCP), known - in the complexity theory of
algorithms -to be NP-hard is proposed for study, from three innovative,
separate (yet related) analytical perspectives: singularly perturbed
(controlled) Markov chains, that links the HCP with systems and control
theories; parametric nonconvex optimization, that links HCP with fast
interior point methods of modern optimization and the spectral approach
based on a novel adaptation of Ihara-Selberg trace formula for regular
graphs. Our mathematical approach to this archetypal complex problem of graph
theory and discrete optimization promises to enhance the fundamental
understanding - and ultimate "managibility" - of the underlying
difficulty of HCP.
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