People

Professor Xinan Yang

Professor
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS)
Professor Xinan Yang
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 872787

  • Location

    STEM 5.17, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Open door policy.

Profile

Biography

I had my Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics, Fudan University, China and then moved to the UK to pursue my postgraduate studies. I obtained MSc in Operational Research from University of Edinburgh, and did my PhD studies in Optimization in the same school under the supervision of Dr Andreas Grothey. Prior to joining the University of Essex, I worked as a Senior Research Associate in Lancaster University Management School for 1.5 years.

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Optimization, Supervisor Andreas Grothey University of Edinburgh, (2011)

  • MSc in Operational Research (with distinction) University of Edinburgh, (2007)

  • BSc in Applied Mathematics Fudan University, (2006)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Stochastic Optimization and its applications in Logistics, Telecommunications, Revenue Management and Energy.

Open to supervise

Stochastic Optimization and Markov Decision Process (MDP)

Open to supervise

Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) and Reinforcement Learning

Open to supervise

Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and solution approaches

Open to supervise

Current research

Online shopping and e-grocery fulfilment

- customer behaviour analysis - demand forecasting - dynamic routing - revenue management and pricing - dynamic inventory control

Decarbonisation with Electric Vehicle (EV) or hybrid fleet

- Carbon emission modelling - Dynamic emission control - Real-time traffic management

Robot/Drone assisted delivery network

- Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) or Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) - innovative network design and fleet usage - scheduling - tactical decision

Customer preference and dynamic pricing

Real-time dynamic routing with traffic condtion inputs

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Foundational Mathematics for Data Science (MA111)

  • Nonlinear Programming (MA305)

Previous supervision

Mohammad Abdollahi
Mohammad Abdollahi
Thesis title: Integrated Demand Management and Vehicle Routing Problem in Attended Home Delivery
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 27/6/2024
Abdullahi Mohammed Jingi
Abdullahi Mohammed Jingi
Thesis title: A Study on Robot and Drone Assisted Delivery Problems and Their Solutions
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 15/4/2024
Veronica Owusu
Veronica Owusu
Thesis title: Time Slot Allocation and Management of E-Grocery
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Master of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/2/2023
Thanet Chitsuphaphan
Thanet Chitsuphaphan
Thesis title: A Spatial Forecasting Model for Solar Pv Generation and its Application in Household Electricity Management
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/10/2022
Hajem Ati Daham
Hajem Ati Daham
Thesis title: Optimization Models for Inland Haulage Transportation of Containers
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 1/3/2019
Dhia Kadhem
Dhia Kadhem
Thesis title: Heuristic Solution Approaches to the Solid Assignment Problem
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 18/1/2018
Ghazwan Hani Mahmood Alsoufi
Ghazwan Hani Mahmood Alsoufi
Thesis title: Mathematical Models of Seaside Operations in Container Ports and Their Solution
Degree subject: Operational Research
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/7/2017

Publications

Journal articles (17)

Alsoufi, G., Yang, X. and Salhi, A., An evolutionary approach to solving a new integrated quay crane assignment and quay crane scheduling mathematical model. European Journal of Operational Research

Abdollahi, M., Yang, X., Fairbank, M. and Nasri, M., (2023). Demand Management in Time-slotted Last-mile Delivery via Dynamic Routing with Forecast Orders. European Journal of Operational Research. 309 (2), 704-718

Yang, X., Chitsuphaphan, T., Dai, H. and Meng, F., (2022). EVB-Supportive Energy Management for Residential Systems with Renewable Energy Supply. World Electric Vehicle Journal. 13 (7), 122-122

Yang, X. and Thomos, N., (2021). An approximate dynamic programming approach for collaborative caching. Engineering Optimization. 53 (6), 1005-1023

Hosseini, E., Sadiq, AS., Ghafoor, KZ., Rawat, DB., Saif, M. and Yang, X., (2021). Volcano eruption algorithm for solving optimization problems. Neural Computing and Applications. 33 (7), 2321-2337

Yang, X., Salhi, A. and Daham, H., (2021). Combined Strip and Discharge Delivery of Containers in Heterogeneous Fleets with Time Windows. Computers and Operations Research. 127, 105141-105141

Yang, X. and Daham, H., (2020). A column generation based decomposition and aggregation approach for combining orders in inland transportation of containers. OR Spectrum. 42 (1), 261-296

Salhi, A., Alsoufi, G. and Yang, X., (2019). An evolutionary approach to a combined mixed integer programming model of seaside operations as arise in container ports. Annals of Operations Research. 272 (1-2), 69-98

Alsoufi, G., Yang, X. and Salhi, A., (2018). Combined quay crane assignment and quay crane scheduling with crane inter-vessel movement and non-interference constraints. Journal of the Operational Research Society. 69 (3), 372-383

Daham, HA., Yang, X. and Warnes, MK., (2017). An efficient mixed integer programming model for pairing containers in inland transportation based on the assignment of orders. Journal of the Operational Research Society. 68 (6), 678-694

Yang, X. and Strauss, AK., (2017). An approximate dynamic programming approach to attended home delivery management. European Journal of Operational Research. 263 (3), 935-945

Yang, X., Strauss, AK., Currie, CSM. and Eglese, R., (2016). Choice-Based Demand Management and Vehicle Routing in E-Fulfillment. Transportation Science. 50 (2), 473-488

Yang, X., Vernitski, A. and Carrea, L., (2016). An approximate dynamic programming approach for improving accuracy of lossy data compression by Bloom filters. European Journal of Operational Research. 252 (3), 985-994

Alsoufi, G., Yang, X. and Salhi, A., (2015). A combined Mixed Integer Programming model of seaside operations arising in container ports. EURO Journal on Computational Optimization

Grothey, A. and Yang, X., (2012). Approximate dynamic programming with B�zier Curves/Surfaces for Top-percentile Traffic Routing. European Journal of Operational Research. 218 (3), 698-707

Yang, X. and Grothey, A., (2012). Solving the Top-percentile traffic routing problem by Approximate Dynamic Programming. IMA Journal of Management Mathematics. 23 (4), 413-434

Grothey, A. and Yang, X., (2011). Top-percentile traffic routing problem by dynamic programming. Optimization and Engineering. 12 (4), 631-655

Book chapters (1)

Alsoufi, G., Yang, X. and Salhi, A., (2016). Robust Berth Allocation Using a Hybrid Approach Combining Branch-and-Cut and the Genetic Algorithm. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer International Publishing. 187- 201. 9783319396354

Conferences (2)

Jingi, AM. and Yang, X., (2023). Robot-Assisted Delivery Problems and Their Exact Solutions

Chitsuphaphan, T., Yang, X. and Dai, H., (2020). Stochastic Programming for Residential Energy Management with Electric Vehicle under Photovoltaic Power Generation Uncertainty

Reports and Papers (1)

Yang, X. and Thomos, N., (2019). A rolling-horizon dynamic programming approach for collaborative caching

Grants and funding

2024

To develop a multicriteria optimisation model to schedule outpatient appointments in North East Essex Community Services � with an initial focus on musculoskeletal (MSK) patients.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

2023

ESNEFT Waiting List Reduction

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

2021

YANG 210628

London Mathematical Society

2020

MSC KTP Application

MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY (UK) LIMITED

2018

Dynamic Pricing and emission control for e-grocery fulfilment

University of Essex

The project will improve efficiencies of the system, customer demand and control the price in real time.

Ocado Technology

Contact

xyangk@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872787

Location:

STEM 5.17, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Open door policy.