On the Linearization of Zinc Models

Zinc is the first modelling language which supports solver and techniqueindependence. This means that a high level conceptual model can be automaticallymapped into an appropriate low level design model for a specific solver ortechnique. To date, Zinc uses three different techniques to solve a model: ConstraintProgramming (CP), Local Search (LS), and Mixed Integer Programming (MIP). Inthis way, modellers can examine all solving techniques for their models and seewhich one gives them the best result. MIP solvers can only accept linear models.Therefore, to map a conceptual model to MIP solvers, the model must be linearizedfirst. In this paper we explain the techniques used in Zinc to linearize high level datastructures and expressions which may be appeared in a conceptual model. As aresult, modellers can benefit of expressive modelling using nonlinear expressions aswell as efficiency ofMIP solvers.

Keywords:

Linearization techniques , Linear programming , Zinc , Solver independence