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Editorial:   Optimization and Engineering

I am pleased to present the first issue of OPTE. As stated in the aims and scope
Optimization and Engineering is a multidisciplinary journal. Its primary goal is
to promote the application of optimization methods in the general area of
engineering sciences and facilitate the development of advanced optimization
methods for direct or indirect use in engineering sciences. We aim to ease the
communication and speed up the information flow between the application driven
engineering optimization community and the theory oriented mathematical
optimization community. Most of us tend to forget that some of the most important
results of optimization theory were motivated by concrete engineering problems.
One example is the celebrated Farkas Lemma which is one of the most fundamental
results of linear optimization. Farkas, a professor of theoretical mechanics at the
end of the 19th century, was studying some fundamental problems of mechanics
           {A fascinating survey of the origins of optimization theory can be found in:  A Prekopa:
                  On the development of optimization.  American Mathematical Monthly, 87: 527--542, 1980.}
when he discovered the theorem of alternatives. The significance and long lasting
impact of his results were only recognized some 50 years later when linear and
nonlinear optimization were born. Although we cannot guarantee that results with
such a long-lasting and great impact will emerge from enhanced information flow,
the advantages of this new interdisciplinary forum are evident.

Optimization and Engineering takes its multidisciplinary/interface role seriously.
All possible efforts will be made to develop and maintain a healthy balance between
theory and practice. For this reason a unique two sided refereeing process is
designed to stress OPTE's interdisciplinary character and to avoid the pitfall of
publishing papers that are not sound or completely unreadable for either community.
 

Unique Refereeing Process:
OPTE features a unique refereeing process. All submitted papers are subject to
rigorous refereeing. Each paper is assigned to two associate editors. One with a
strong mathematical background and another with a strong engineering background.
Both associate editors  solicit reports from at least two referees and make
recommendations based on the experts reports. This process might look cumbersome,
but this seems to be the only way to ensure that all papers will be relevant and
understandable for both the mathematical and engineering optimization community.

Educational Section:
Another important feature of OPTE is the educational section. What and how we
teach our students have a long lasting impact. In this respect, I share the vision of
my Ph.D. supervisor: "the most important application of theory is education".
The goal of the education section is to promote understanding and appreciation of
optimization theory and techniques. We are seeking to publish simple but relevant
tutorials, striking examples, easy to understand case studies that can be used in the
classroom to increase students interest in modern optimization techniques and help
faculty members to develop optimization curricula. Amr S. El-Bakry, the editor
responsible for this section, is eager to see high quality submissions.

The first issue: OPTE 1.1
This first issue, OPTE 1.1, covers a wide range from the areas outlined in the aims and scope.
Clearly, all areas cannot be covered in a single issue, but OPTE 1.1 gives a flavor of the
exciting variety of the topics that the journal aims to cover. Some of the finest experts from
the mathematical and engineering optimization community contributed to the launching of
OPTE. This first issue contains high level mathematical optimization results that are most
relevant for engineering practice, and concrete engineering optimization studies that use
advanced optimization techniques.

The title --Optimization of Automotive Valve Train Components with Implicit Filtering--
of the first paper by  T.D. Choi, O.J. Eslinger, C.T. Kelley, J.W. David and M. Etheridge
speaks for itself. A concrete mechanical engineering problem is solved by developing novel,
efficient numerical optimization techniques.

The second is by Yu. Nesterov, a pioneer of the Interior Point revolution that reshaped
the theory and practice of modern optimization. The paper  --Stable Traffic Equilibria:
Properties and Applications--  presents and analyzes a new model for flows in transportation
networks. Hopefully this novel approach will initiate lots of research as the authors previous
works did.

J.B. Rosen, H. Park and J. Glick leads us to another area electrical engineering/signal
processing. The paper -- Signal Identification using a Least L_1 Norm Algorithm--
present a convergent robust algorithm that compares favorably with L_2-norm based algorithms.
 

 E.W. Constans, Ashok D. Belegundu and G.H. Koopman attack a complex engineering
problem  -- Optimally designed Shell Enclosures with Turned  Absorbers for Minimizing
Sound Power. Their approach combines relies on finite element methods, vibration prediction
code, a boundary element method sound power prediction code and uses a combined
stochastic-gradient optimization algorithm.

EDUCATIONAL SECTION:
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, we publish the first paper of the educational section.
Our aim is to make the educational section a flourishing part of OPTE by publishing regularly
material for educators in both the mathematical and engineering optimization communities.
The paper -- Analysis of Approximate Inverses in Tomography I. Resulation Analysis
and Common Inverses by J.G. Berryman provides didactically built material especially for
educating students in geosciences, seismology.
 

It is my honor to announce the publication of this quarterly journal
                           OPTIMIZATION AND ENGINEERING
and present the first issue. I am convinced that there is a great need for a regular
communication channel between the engineering and mathematical optimization
communities. Our strong editorial board will work hard to accomplish OPTE's mission.
However, to accomplish this mission the support of all optimizers is needed. We shall
try to serve your needs and we hope we can count on your interest and contributions.

Tamas Terlaky
Editor in Chief
 

Yurii Nesterov
       "Stable Traffic Equilibria: Properties and Applications"

J.B. Rosen, H. Park and J. Glick
       "Signal Identification using a Least L1 Norm Algorithm"

E.W. Constans, Ashok D. Belegundu and G.H. Koopman
      "Optimally designed Shell Enclosures with Turned
        Absorbers for Minimizing Sound Power"

EDUCATIONAL SECTION:
James G. Berryman
         "Analysis of Approximate Inverses in Tomography I.
           Resulation Analysis and Common Inverses"

See the electronic version of OPTE 1.1