The ORBEL Award:
Win a 1500 euro for the best Operations Research thesis!
Every year, the Belgian Operations Research Society hands out the ORBEL Award to the best student's thesis on Operations Research. The prize is 1500 euro, and is sponsored by OMP. The deadline for submission is November 1, 2023.
Orbel Award Finalists
| Edition | Finalists | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Winner:Anton Hens, | Development of a Variable Neighborhood Search algorithm for scheduling and routing fully flexible 'on-demand-only' feeder bus systems |
| Margot Hubert | Optimization method to integrate driver consistency and route balancing in a heterogeneous multi-period dial-a-ride problem | |
| Fien Sneyers | Inventory Management in a Synchromodal Transport System | |
| 2023 | Winner:Hugo Callebaut, ULB |
Models and algorithms for segment routing optimization |
| Ilias Vervaecke, UGent |
The economical and ecological impact of a garbage collection approach using IoT | |
| Maarten Wens, KU Leuven |
Unraveling Interlocking Vehicle Trajectories Towards Antwerp’s Largest Bottleneck | |
| 2022 | Winner:Joren ’s Jongers, KU Leuven |
Rostering use case bij Kinderziekenhuis |
| Inneke Van Hoeck, U Antwerpen |
Network simplex method for periodic scheduling problems | |
| Kato Van Parys, U Gent |
Dynamic route selection for emergency evacuation from inside disasters | |
| 2021 | Winner:Valentin Langue, HEC ULiège |
Robust Optimization of specific Scheduling problems |
| Sety Lambrecht, KU Leuven |
Developing a tool for assigning students to projects. Towards a generic tool for assigning students to projects based on preferences | |
| Taike Ackaert, U Gent |
3D packing for optimizing shipping of goods with release and due dates | |
| 2020 | Winner:Lisa Popelier Universiteit Gent |
Balancing disassembly lines by consideration of toiols and limited space? |
| Sara Adam Universiteit Gent |
Mathematical optimisation of the structural maintenance at ArcelorMittal Gent? | |
| Tom Demeulemeester KU Leuven |
Reducing the negative effects of random tie-breaking in student allocation mechanisms | |
| 2019 | Winner:Hendrik Wijnant Universiteit Gent |
The influence of line balancing on line feeding for mixed-model assembly lines |
| Jonas Dierckxsens Universiteit Antwerpen |
Comparison of Matching Algorithms for the School Choice Problem: Antwerp Case Study | |
| Nathalie Vanvuchelen KU Leuven |
Collaborative Bundling of Freight Transport: a Simulation Study for Fast-moving Consumer goods | |
| 2018 | Winner:Fränk Plein Université Libre de Bruxelles |
Analysis of a Problem in Product Pricing |
| 2017 | Winner:Liesa D'haeseleer | Central allocation of pupils to schools |
| 2016 | Winner:Kobe Geryl University of Gent Supervisor: Tarik Aouam |
Order acceptance in production planning |
| 2015 | Winner:Matteo Balliauw Universiteit Antwerpen Supervisors: Dorien Herremans and Daniel Palhazi Cuervo |
A variable neighborhood search algorithm to generate piano fingerings for polyphonic sheet music |
| 2014 | Winner:Héloïse Hoyos UCL Supervisor: Mathieu Van Vyve |
Optimisation de la planification des machines à papier chez Idempapers |
| 2013 | Winner:Cyrille Lefevre & Sophie Marquet UCL/Core Supervisor: François Glineur with Y. Deville, G. Avoine |
Optimization of patient transport dispatching in hospitals |
| 2012 | Winner:  Bart Gadeyne& Pieter Verhamme UGent Supervisor: Birger Raa |
Optimizing maritime container operations |
| 2011 | Winner: Derek VerleyeUGent Supervisor: El-Houssaine Aghezzaf |
Modellering en optimalisatie van waterproductie en -verdeling bij de
Vlaamse Maatschappij voor Watervoorziening (VMW) Modelling and optimization of water of production and distribution of drinking water at VMW (Flemish Agency for Water Supply) |
| 2010 | Winner: Thijs DewildeKULeuven Supervisor: Frits Spieksma |
Het Profit-based Latency Probleem The Profit-based Latency Problem |
| 2009 | Winner: Arnaud VandaeleFPMs and EPFL Supervisors: D. Tuyttens (FPMs) and M. Bierlaire, M. Salani and I. Vacca (EPFL) |
Measures of congestion in container terminals |
| 2008 | Winner: Nicolas GillisUCL Supervisor: F. Glineur |
Approximation et sous-approximation de matrices par factorisation positive : algorithmes, complexité et applications (Matrix approximation and underapproximation by nonnegative factorization: algorithms, complexity and applications) |
| 2007 | Winner: Dieter ClaeysUG Supervisor: H. Bruneel |
A discrete-time Queueing Model with Batch Service |
| 2006 | Winner: Joke DevrieseVUB Supervisor: F. Plastria |
Brandweerlocatiemodellen en toepassingen op Belgie (Fire station location models and applications to Belgium) |
| 2005 | Winner: Evy Hellinckx KUL Supervisor: F. Spieksma |
Customer relationship management: de optimalisatie van de planning van campagnes (Customer relationship management: optimization of campaign planning) |
| 2004 | Winner: François Warichet UCL Supervisor: L. Wolsey |
Résolution d'un problème de portefeuille formulé en un programme quadratique mixte (Solution of a portfolio problem formulated as a mixed-integer quadratic program) |
| 2003 | Winner: Toon WestraGent Supervisors: R. De Wulf and E. Ducheyne |
Integratie van genetisch algorithmes en GIS voor optimalisatie van ecologische en economische functies in Kirkhill Forest, Aberdeen, Schotland (Integration of genetic algorithms and GIS for optimization of ecological and economic functions in Kirkhill Forest, Aberdeen, Scotland) |
| 2002 | Winner: Jean-François MacqUCL Supervisors: L. Wolsey and B. Macq |
Optimisation d'un système de travail coopératif sur Internet (Optimization of an internet cooperative work system) |
| 2001 | Winner: Christophe SteynenFPMs Supervisors: M. Pirlot and Ph. Fortemps |
Classification des lésions pulmonaires sur base de cartes protéomiques (Classification of lung lesions based on proteomic maps) |
| 2000 | Winner:Bert Timmers KUL Supervisor: D. Van Oudheusden |
Pooling of repairable spare parts between airliners |
| 1999 | Winner:Philippe Hauchamps FPMs Supervisors: J. Teghem and Ph. Fortemps |
Optimisation du planning de maintenance des unités de production d'électricité du réseau belge (Optimization of the maintenance planning for electricity power plants on the Belgian network) |
Orbel Award Rules
- This award, organised by ORBEL, the Belgian OR-society (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B.), is bestowed on the author(s) of a scientifically oriented student's thesis with the exception of PhD theses. The criteria for judgement are based on the efficiency and effectivity of the scientific approach applied to solve the problem under study. The author(s) should put emphasis on the application of existing methods in new areas or on the application of new solution methods for models recognised as useful for solving real-life management problems. One of the criteria will be, therefore, the actual collaboration with industry during the thesis elaboration.
- The award is sponsored by OMP, a software and consulting company specialised in the development and implementation of supply chain planning solutions. The award is named: ORBEL Award (with indication of the current year in which it is delivered), Sponsored by OMP
- The amount of the award will be fixed every year in agreement with OMP The amount is set to 1500 EUR for the academic year 2011-2012.
- The thesis shall be written either in Dutch, French or English. Its text should preferably not be longer than 50 pages. It must be submitted in 3 copies or preferably by e-mail in PDF-format to the place indicated on the invitation poster on the ORBEL site before October 31 of the current year. This date can be revised if necessary.
- The candidates in the short-list established as in 9) will be invited by the jury to give a half-hour presentation about their work. This presentation is a prerequisite for obtaining the award.
- The authors should be a citizen of Belgium or Luxemburg or should have followed their studies completely or partially at an institute based in Belgium or Luxemburg.
- Members of the Administration Board of ORBEL (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B.) are not allowed to participate.
- The jury is set up by the ORBEL (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B.) and consists of five members. The Board approves the selection of the chairman. The jury members (academics and industrials) come on an equal basis from both language communities (chairman not included). In addition, none of the jury members shall be connected in any way with the candidate, either academically or socially.
- The jury prepares a short-list of candidates invited to make a presentation to the jury. In case several candidates have the same promoter, the latter will be consulted prior to the establishment of the short-list. The candidates who are not present at the time indicated by the jury in the invitation letter for presenting their work are eliminated without further deliberation.
- The jury members take part in the deliberations organised by the chairman. Decisions made by the jury are only valid if at least two thirds (chairman included) of the members participate in the deliberation. The award is presented to the candidate achieving a clear majority of the votes. Abstention votes are not allowed.
- The jury members convene on the invitation of the chairman for the presentations of the short-listed candidates. The jury has the right not to award the prize or to divide it among several authors. The minutes of the meeting, signed by all jury members present are put forward to the president of ORBEL (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B.) These minutes are made available to OMP.
- The results of the award are made public during the next ORBEL-conference, during which the award winner will present his work. OMP will publish the results of the award deliberation in their OMP publications.
- The Administration Board of ORBEL (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B) shall settle all disputes with
regard to this set of articles.
(as accepted by the ORBEL Administration Board in Brussels on March 11, 2011)
