Doctoral-level course

Optimization and Simulation

Spring 2026

Michel Bierlaire

Transport and Mobility Laboratory, ENAC — EPFL

Objectives
  • Mastering state-of-the-art methods in continuous optimization and simulation
  • Understanding theoretical foundations
  • Learning statistical techniques for interpreting simulation results
  • Using simulation for complex optimization problems
Work involves
  • Reading the material beforehand
  • Class hours to discuss the material and solve problems
  • Class and homework group assignments
EPFL
Course page
EPFL

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Practical information

  • Time: Every Wednesday, from 09:15 to 13:00, starting February 18, 2026.
  • Location: GC D0 386
  • EPFL Coursebook of the course
  • The final presentations of the projects will be held on the last day of the course (May 27, 2026) starting at 09:15 in the regular room GC D0 386.

Lectures

The schedule below is tentative.

Date Topic Slides
18.02.2026 Introduction to simulation Slides
Drawing from distributions Slides
25.02.2026 The Poisson process Slides
Discrete event simulation Slides
04.03.2026 Statistical analysis and bootstrapping Slides
Variance reduction Slides
11.03.2026 Markov chain Monte Carlo methods Slides
18.03.2026 Simulation project
25.03.2026 Simulation project
01.04.2026 Simulation project
08.04.2026 ~~ Spring break ~~
15.04.2026 Introduction to optimization Slides
22.04.2026 Multi-objective optimization Slides
29.04.2026 Optimization project
06.05.2026 Optimization project
13.05.2026 Optimization project
20.05.2026 ~~ No in-class lecture and lab ~~
28.05.2026 Project presentations

Readings

Laboratories

Date Lab Session Material
18.02.2026 Overview Download Material
25.02.2026 Random number generation and Poisson process Download Material
Discrete events simulation Download Material
04.03.2026 Statistical analysis and bootstrapping Download Material
Variance reduction Introduction to simulation project Download Material
11.03.2026 Markov chain Monte Carlo method Download Material
Introduction to projects Download Material
15.04.2026 Optimization Download Material
22.04.2026 Multi-objective optimization Download Material

Evaluation

Student performance is evaluated based on the group work through an oral presentation and the class involvement through exercise codes.