Pre-Conference Workshops

On Sunday July 2nd before the conference there will be number of workshops prepared by various software vendors and the EUROPT working group. Here is a list of the workshops scheduled:

To register for the workshop please log into the web site and fill out the Workshops Registration Form. Please contact info@euro2006.org if you have any questions.

Maximal Software, Inc Askja N-132
Optimization Modeling with MPL: Integrating Optimization in Real-World Business Applications Sunday, 10 am - 1pm
The workshop focuses on optimization modeling and how to embed optimization models into applications. It is designed to teach the participants how to develop their own optimization models, link them to data sources and solve the models using state-of-the-art, industrial-strength solvers. The speakers will take you through all the steps of an optimization project using optimization software tools from Maximal Software, ILOG and ARKI Consulting. Participants will leave with an excellent overview of optimization modeling and a good working knowledge of how to successfully build optimization applications. Schedule   9:45 - 10:00 am Registration, software installation and coffee 10:00 - 11:00 am Introduction to Optimization Modeling and Solving 11:00 - 11:20 am Real-World Optimization Applications 11:20 - 11:40 am Coffee break 11:40 - 12:00 am Connecting to Databases and Spreadsheets 12:00 - 12:20 pm Introduction to Open-Source Coin-OR and CoinMP 12:20 - 13:00 pm Embedding Optimization in Applications For more details, please go to : http://www.maximalsoftware.com/seminar/IcelandJul06

GAMS Development Corporation Askja N-131
Application Prototyping with GAMS Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm
This half-day workshop on Sunday July 2nd is designed to show you how to use the GAMS modeling and rapid prototyping tools in an efficient and productive way. There will be an introduction into the system and a presentation of key concepts of GAMS. The largest part of the workshop consists of hands-on exercises building GAMS models and applications. Guided by our experts sample optimization based decision support applications will be build from scratch. We will show how easy and flexible GAMS interacts with other applications, including MS Office applications. Moreover, examples how to build sophisticated algorithms will be given. You will also get an introduction how to analyze and debug large problems using the various tools available within the GAMS system. Materials will be available, and include a personal copy of GAMS to get started right away.

ILOG Askja N-132
What's New in ILOG CPLEX 10.0 and the ILOG Optimization Decision Management System - the complete system of optimization tools and engines. Sunday, 1 pm - 5:30 pm
See an overview of what's new in the latest milestone release of ILOG CPLEX - version 10.0. From significant performance improvements to new advanced MIP features and developer productivity tools, ILOG CPLEX 10 brings a new level of achievement in solving mathematical programming problems. Find out about ILOG Optimization Decision Management System - ILOG OPL Development Studio 5.0 and ILOG Optimization Decision Manager 2.0. Model development, debugging and tuning have never been as easy and productive as with the new OPL 5, and the seamless integration with ODM 2 allows push-button generation of complete interactive CPLEX-based planning and scheduling applications. Make your optimization models accessible to business users with ILOG ODMS. How to register: To register for this workshop and for more information, visit http://www.ilog.com/workshops/euro/ Schedule 1:00 - 2:00 pm CPLEX overview and what's new in CPLEX 10 2:00 - 2:45 pm OPL Intro based on 4.2 2:45 - 3:00 pm BREAK 3:00 - 3:30 pm ILOG OPL Development Studio 5.0 3:30 - 4:15 pm ILOG Optimization Decision Manager 2.0 4:15 - 4:45 pm OPL 5.0 and ODM 2.0 Integration 4:45 - 5:30 pm ODMS Overview

AIMMS by Paragon Decision Technology Askja N-130
A product of Paragon Decision Technology Sunday, 1 pm - 5 pm
Summary Have you been searching for the best tool for modeling OR problems and experiment your research ideas? Attend a half-day workshop preceding the EURO conference and get face-to-face with AIMMS 3.6 - the shortest and easiest route from problem definition to model operation for OR applications. The intuitive modeling environment of AIMMS allows you to create and manage complex optimization models in a short time. AIMMS development tools allow for: a tree-based model construction customizable model overviews graphical visualization of input/output data, and an advanced setup for data handling. In particular, AIMMS supports modeling-tailored data types and a powerful combination of procedural and definitional execution based on sparse data storage. Furthermore, AIMMS interfaces with state-of-the-art optimization solvers, allowing at the same time for algorithmic model development, interactive solution approaches and decomposition. Attend this workshop and experience what AIMMS can do for you. Workshop starts Sunday July 2 at 1 pm. See our website www.aimms.com for more details. Materials will be available, including a personal copy of AIMMS to get started right away. Workshop is free of charge for conference attendees. However, registration is required as space is limited. To register, check the workshop box (AIMMS/Paragon Decision Technology) on the conference registration form or contact us directly at workshops@paragon.nl.

AMPL Optimization LLC / OptiRisk Systems Askja N-129
Software Tools and Components: Linear, Nonlinear and Stochastic Programming Using AMPL and Its Extensions Sunday, 1 pm - 5:00 pm
Cormac Lucas and Gautam Mitra (CARISMA/Brunel University and OptiRisk Systems) and Robert Fourer (Northwestern University and AMPL Optimization LLC) have developed this half-day workshop on optimization modeling. A number of tools and components are first described in a summary form. We then focus on individual tools including AMPL, AMPL Studio, AMPL com, and SPInE. In the first part of the workshop, participants will gain an understanding of how to use the AMPL modeling language to formulate problems, to test algorithmic approaches and to implement decision support systems. The AMPL Studio user interface, modeling syntax and solver controls will be explained, and some well known but important aspects of linear and integer optimization models will be introduced. The next part of the workshop will consider models for decision making under uncertainty. The method of introducing uncertainty into an optimization model will be discussed and this will be followed up with a discussion of how risk constraints and risk decisions are used to enhance model formulations. The SAMPL stochastic extensions to AMPL and the SPInE stochastic modeling environment will be illustrated, using an asset and liability management problem as an example. In the final session the use of com objects to implement decision support system applications will be illustrated.

SIMUL8 Askja N-128
Hands-on Workshop: Features of SIMUL8 Software Sunday, 1 pm - 4:30 pm
SIMUL8 Corporation is running a free training session in the use of SIMUL8 software and its features. The workshop will start with a basic introduction and then handle advanced features that interest the audience, dependent on the level and existing knowledge of participants. Every feature will be described in its context so that even beginner delegates can understand how and why to use each feature. The emphasis is on increasing skills of everyone who attends. Participants are encouraged to: (1) Bring their own laptop so they can load a training edition of the full SIMUL8 software for use in the hands-on workshop, and (2) Email technical areas of interest in advance to euro2006workshop@SIMUL8.com See www.simul8.com/euro2006workshop for further information. Email the above email address should you have any questions.