Partial Gröbner Bases for Multiobjective Integer Linear Optimization

In this paper we present a new methodology for solving multiobjective integer linear programs using tools from algebraic geometry. We introduce the concept of partial Gröbner basis for a family of multiobjective programs where the right-hand side varies. This new structure extends the notion of Gröbner basis for the single objective case, to the case of multiple objectives, i.e., a partial ordering instead of a total ordering over the feasible vectors. The main property of these bases is that the partial reduction of the integer elements in the kernel of the constraint matrix by the different blocks of the basis is zero. It allows us to prove that this new construction is a test family for a family of multiobjective programs. An algorithm '` a la Buchberger' is developed to compute partial Gröbner bases and two different approaches are derived, using this methodology, for computing the entire set of efficient solutions of any multiobjective integer linear problem (MOILP). Some examples illustrate the application of the algorithms and computational experiments are reported on several families of problems.