An Introduction to Robust Combinatorial Optimization: Concepts, Models and Algorithms for Decision Making under Uncertainty

This book offers a self-contained introduction to the world of robust combinatorial optimization. It explores decision-making using the min-max and min-max regret criteria, while also delving into the two-stage and recoverable robust optimization paradigms. It begins by introducing readers to general results for interval, discrete, and budgeted uncertainty sets, and subsequently provides a comprehensive examination of specific combinatorial problems, including the selection, shortest path, spanning tree, assignment, knapsack, and traveling salesperson problems. The book equips both students and newcomers to the field with a grasp of the fundamental questions and ongoing advancements in robust optimization. Based on the authors’ years of teaching and refining numerous courses, it not only offers essential tools but also highlights the open questions that define this subject area.