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Experience the full cycle of the use of mathematics

Sem02 (2024-2025) Robust Timetabling for Railway Systems*

The course Robust Timetabling for Railway Systems delves into the problem of designing periodic timetables for railways.

In a world that is becoming increasingly quantitative, mathematics belongs to the core of our cultural heritage more than ever. Experiencing the full cycle of the use of mathematics (from theoretical and fundamental questions to an application, and from the application to new questions triggering the development of new theory), this course will provide a deep understanding of the mutual influence between the mathematical/quantitative-academic paradigm and the real world.

The course is self-contained as the mathematical theory used in this course is based on an exotic algebra, which levels the advantage students with a (strong) mathematical background may have. While having timetable design as guiding problem, we will have ample opportunity to discuss and understand some of the fundamental philosophical and logical problems of the foundation mathematics: This is a course about mathematics rather than a mathematics course.

Note: The course is also open for 1st years students in Computer Science, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Econometrics & Operations Research. Basic knowledge of mathematics is required.

Course details

  • Practical information

    Academic year
    2024-2025

    Semester
    2

    Period
    4

    Day(s)
    Monday and Thursday

    Time
    17.30-20.30

    Number of meetings
    12

    Dates all meetings
    3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20 February 2025
    3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20 March 2025

    Location
    Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam

    Room
    Mon: NU-4B43
    Thu: NU-3A67

    Credits
    6

    Lecturers

    • Lecturer and coordinator
      Prof. dr. Bernd Heidergott, Dept. Operations Analytics VU
      E-mail: bheidergott@feweb.vu.nl
    • Guest lecturer on railway planning tool PETER
      Dr. Rob Goverde, Civiele Techniek en Geowetenschappen, TU Delft,
      E-mail: r.m.p.goverde@tudelft.nl
  • Learning objectives

    1. Ability to work with non-standard concepts (such as "strange" algebras)
    2. Ability to reflect on and discuss formal mathematical concepts ("abstract can be very real")
    3. Developing an understanding on how real life problems influence mathematical theory building
    4. Understanding the process of abstraction in theory building
    5. Ability to communicate an abstract mathematical idea and to present findings of self-study
  • Working formats & structure

    This course has the following components:

      • 5 x global lectures
      • 6 x interactive group sessions
      • 1 x specific lecture on actual railway planning
      • 1 x essay (group effort)
      • 1 x exam (individual effort)
  • Assessment methods

    Participation in the preparation, presentation and report on chosen self-study topic (group effort, 50%), and written exam (individual, 50 %).

  • Study materials

    • Francios Baccelli, Guy Cohen, Geert Jan Olsder and Jean-Pierre Quadrat: Synchronization and Linearity. Series in Probability and Mathematical Statistics, Wiley, (1992)
    • Bernd Heidergott: Max-Plus linear Stochastic Systems and Perturbation Analysis
    • The International Series of Discrete Event Systems 15, Springer, (2007).
    • Bernd Heidergott, Geert Jan Olsder and Jacob van der Woude: Max Plus at Work.
    • Princeton Series in Applied Mathematics, Princeton University Press, (2006).
    • D. Huisman, L.G. Kroon, R.M. Lentink and M.J.C.M. Vromans , “Operations Research in passenger railway transportation”, Statistica Neerlandica 59 (2005), pp. 467-497
    • Additional literature depending on the students’ interest and the assignments.

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