11 research outputs found
NICE: Robust Scheduling through Reinforcement Learning-Guided Integer Programming
Integer programs provide a powerful abstraction for representing a wide range
of real-world scheduling problems. Despite their ability to model general
scheduling problems, solving large-scale integer programs (IP) remains a
computational challenge in practice. The incorporation of more complex
objectives such as robustness to disruptions further exacerbates the
computational challenge. We present NICE (Neural network IP Coefficient
Extraction), a novel technique that combines reinforcement learning and integer
programming to tackle the problem of robust scheduling. More specifically, NICE
uses reinforcement learning to approximately represent complex objectives in an
integer programming formulation. We use NICE to determine assignments of pilots
to a flight crew schedule so as to reduce the impact of disruptions. We compare
NICE with (1) a baseline integer programming formulation that produces a
feasible crew schedule, and (2) a robust integer programming formulation that
explicitly tries to minimize the impact of disruptions. Our experiments show
that, across a variety of scenarios, NICE produces schedules resulting in 33\%
to 48\% fewer disruptions than the baseline formulation. Moreover, in more
severely constrained scheduling scenarios in which the robust integer program
fails to produce a schedule within 90 minutes, NICE is able to build robust
schedules in less than 2 seconds on average.Comment: Accepted in 36th AAAI Conference. 7 pages + 2 pages appendix, 1
figure. Code available at https://github.com/nsidn98/NIC
Composition Portfolio Commentary
This portfolio of work aims to explore the physics of sound and psychoacoustics as a means for musical composition, utilising experimental music techniques and electronic music. These four binaural, acousmatic pieces take inspiration from spectral music, acoustic phenomena, minimalism, ambient music, beating tones, and space as a compositional parameter. The structure of this commentary will begin with a brief outline of my personal reasons for creating this music before examining some historical context and key terms surrounding the works. Finally, I will discuss my four compositions
Composition Portfolio Commentary
This portfolio of work aims to explore the physics of sound and psychoacoustics as a means for musical composition, utilising experimental music techniques and electronic music. These four binaural, acousmatic pieces take inspiration from spectral music, acoustic phenomena, minimalism, ambient music, beating tones, and space as a compositional parameter. The structure of this commentary will begin with a brief outline of my personal reasons for creating this music before examining some historical context and key terms surrounding the works. Finally, I will discuss my four compositions
The Astropy Problem
The Astropy Project (http://astropy.org) is, in its own words, "a community
effort to develop a single core package for Astronomy in Python and foster
interoperability between Python astronomy packages." For five years this
project has been managed, written, and operated as a grassroots,
self-organized, almost entirely volunteer effort while the software is used by
the majority of the astronomical community. Despite this, the project has
always been and remains to this day effectively unfunded. Further, contributors
receive little or no formal recognition for creating and supporting what is now
critical software. This paper explores the problem in detail, outlines possible
solutions to correct this, and presents a few suggestions on how to address the
sustainability of general purpose astronomical software
Arizona\u27s Vulnerable Populations
Arizona’s vulnerable populations are struggling on a daily basis but usually do so in silence, undetected by traditional radar and rankings, often unaware themselves of their high risk for being pushed or pulled into a full crisis. Ineligible for financial assistance under strict eligibility guidelines, they don’t qualify as poor because vulnerable populations are not yet in full crisis. To be clear, this report is not about the “poor,” at least not in the limited sense of the word. It is about our underemployed wage earners, our single-parent households, our deployed or returning military members, our under-educated and unskilled workforce, our debt-ridden neighbors, our uninsured friends, our family members with no savings for an emergency, much less retirement
Survey and Excavation at the Henges of the Wharfe Valley, North Yorkshire, 2013-15
YesGeophysical survey at the three major henge monuments in the Wharfe Valley has provided details of survival and internal features. Excavation at Yarnbury has confirmed its Bronze Age date and has recovered material matching that from previous unrecorded excavations. The excavation has provided environmental data for the construction of the henge. The sites are placed in their regional context.British Academ