Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell University Graduate School
  3. Cornell Theses and Dissertations
  4. Efficient Ranking And Selection In Parallel Computing Environments

Efficient Ranking And Selection In Parallel Computing Environments

File(s)
cn254.pdf (447.07 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/43581
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Ni, Cao
Abstract

The goal of ranking and selection (R&S) procedures is to identify the best stochastic system from among a finite set of competing alternatives. Such procedures require constructing estimates of each system's performance, which can be obtained simultaneously by running multiple independent replications on a parallel computing platform. However, nontrivial statistical and implementation issues arise when designing R&S procedures for a parallel computing environment. This dissertation develops efficient parallel R&S procedures. In this dissertation, several design principles are proposed for parallel R&S procedures that preserve statistical validity and maximize core utilization, especially when large numbers of alternatives or cores are involved. These principles are followed closely by the three parallel R&S procedures analyzed, each of which features a unique sampling and screening approach, and a specific statistical guarantee on the quality of the final solution. Finally, in our computational study we discuss three methods for implementing R&S procedures on parallel computers, namely the Message-Passing Interface (MPI), Hadoop MapReduce, and Apache Spark, and show that MPI performs the best while Spark provides good protection against core failures at the expense of a moderate drop in core utilization.

Date Issued
2016-02-01
Keywords
ranking and selection
•
simulation optimization
•
parallel computing
Committee Chair
Henderson,Shane G.
Committee Member
Martinez,Jose F.
Frazier,Peter
Degree Discipline
Operations Research
Degree Name
Ph. D., Operations Research
Degree Level
Doctor of Philosophy
Type
dissertation or thesis

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance