Computational Results for

A New Integer Programming Formulation of the Graphical Traveling Salesman Problem

Robert Carr, R. Ravi, Neil Simonetti

Abstract: In the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), a salesman wants to visit a set of cities and return home. There is a cost cij of traveling from city i to city j, which is the same in either direction for the Symmetric TSP. The objective is to visit each city exactly once, minimizing total travel costs. In the Graphical TSP, a city may be visited more than once, which may be necessary on a sparse graph. We present a new integer programming formulation for the Graphical TSP requiring only two classes of polynomial-sized constraints while addressing an open question proposed by Denis Naddef. We generalize one of these classes, and present promising preliminary computational results.

All formulations used subtour elimination constraints.
Constraint Descriptions can be found in our Springer Journal Article.

Select an instance:    Data sets and descriptions here.
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Best relaxation highlighted (where applicable).
First running time with Even-Degree constraints; second running time with Parity constraints. Running times on an Intel Xeon Gold 6126 processor at 2.6 GHz.

dakota3path (11 destinations)
Integer Solution: 2682 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 2543 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
(not applicable)
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=11, |E|=12
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
2543mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
2543mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
add
Spanning Tree
2543mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
2606.67mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
add
Double-Degree
2682mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
2682mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
add
both
2682mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
2682mi
(0.01sec;0.01sec)
NFLcities (30 destinations)
Integer Solution: 11524 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 11489 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=181, |E|=304
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=30, |E|=139
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
11489mi
(1.54sec;1.93sec)
11489mi
(0.33sec;0.06sec)
11489mi
(0.42sec;0.06sec)
add
Spanning Tree
11489mi
(11.59sec;11.94sec)
11489mi
(1.43sec;2.91sec)
11489mi
(1.39sec;1.43sec)
add
Double-Degree
11489mi
(1.87sec;1.74sec)
11489mi
(0.25sec;0.07sec)
11489mi
(0.41sec;0.06sec)
add
both
11489mi
(8.74sec;10.81sec)
11489mi
(1.16sec;1.32sec)
11489mi
(1.07sec;1.31sec)
NWcities (43 destinations)
Integer Solution: 8119 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 8107 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=47, |E|=63
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=43, |E|=59
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
8107mi
(0.04sec;0.03sec)
8107mi
(0.03sec;0.03sec)
8119mi
(0.03sec;0.03sec)
add
Spanning Tree
8107mi
(0.35sec;0.07sec)
8107mi
(0.40sec;0.07sec)
8119mi
(0.05sec;0.05sec)
add
Double-Degree
8111mi
(0.04sec;0.03sec)
8111mi
(0.04sec;0.03sec)
8119mi
(0.04sec;0.03sec)
add
both
8111mi
(0.33sec;0.06sec)
8111mi
(0.42sec;0.06sec)
8119mi
(0.34sec;0.05sec)
CAPcities (49 destinations)
Integer Solution: 14878 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 14844 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=181, |E|=301
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=49, |E|=199
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
14844mi
(1.93sec;2.25sec)
14844mi
(0.73sec;0.98sec)
14844mi
(0.71sec;0.86sec)
add
Spanning Tree
14844mi
(24.17sec;22.69sec)
14844mi
(4.75sec;5.01sec)
14844mi
(3.57sec;4.02sec)
add
Double-Degree
14844mi
(2.49sec;1.93sec)
14844mi
(0.95sec;1.06sec)
14844mi
(0.68sec;0.79sec)
add
both
14844mi
(25.01sec;20.84sec)
14844mi
(4.65sec;3.78sec)
14844mi
(3.79sec;3.62sec)
AtoJcities (101 destinations)
Integer Solution: 17931 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 17669.5 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=196, |E|=326
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=101, |E|=289
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
17669.5mi
(4.13sec;2.95sec)
17669.5mi
(2.61sec;2.55sec)
17702.5mi
(3.25sec;3.43sec)
add
Spanning Tree
17695.32mi
(313.74sec;51.23sec)
17695.4mi
(29.20sec;27.61sec)
17702.5mi
(14.73sec;14.84sec)
add
Double-Degree
17702.5mi
(3.30sec;2.71sec)
17702.5mi
(1.97sec;2.12sec)
17702.5mi
(2.15sec;1.64sec)
add
both
17702.5mi
(23.19sec;43.63sec)
17702.5mi
(11.88sec;15.00sec)
17702.5mi
(14.89sec;12.87sec)
ESTcities (139 destinations)
Integer Solution: 13251 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 13189.58 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=141, |E|=243
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=139, |E|=240
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
13189.58mi
(2.19sec;2.39sec)
13189.58mi
(1.45sec;2.07sec)
13189.58mi
(2.38sec;1.60sec)
add
Spanning Tree
13189.58mi
(27.57sec;27.53sec)
13189.58mi
(34.28sec;30.37sec)
13189.58mi
(28.87sec;18.87sec)
add
Double-Degree
13197.08mi
(2.70sec;2.65sec)
13197.08mi
(2.32sec;2.69sec)
13197.08mi
(3.42sec;2.85sec)
add
both
13197.08mi
(32.93sec;28.66sec)
13197.08mi
(26.39sec;25.90sec)
13197.08mi
(30.85sec;22.30sec)
MSAcities (145 destinations)
Integer Solution: 22720 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 22577 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=208, |E|=348
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=145, |E|=317
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
22577mi
(4.79sec;5.42sec)
22577mi
(3.83sec;3.71sec)
22580.75mi
(4.81sec;4.68sec)
add
Spanning Tree
22589mi
(123.84sec;104.94sec)
22589mi
(57.71sec;105.87sec)
22589mi
(69.65sec;103.08sec)
add
Double-Degree
22605.5mi
(8.22sec;6.17sec)
22621.5mi
(4.72sec;4.34sec)
22621.5mi
(7.54sec;6.04sec)
add
both
22605.5mi
(65.58sec;56.60sec)
22621.5mi
(64.86sec;69.64sec)
22621.5mi
(310.82sec;57.24sec)
deg3cities (171 destinations)
Integer Solution: 18737 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 18667 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=187, |E|=321
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=171, |E|=305
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
18667mi
(5.28sec;4.23sec)
18667mi
(4.71sec;5.03sec)
18667mi
(4.36sec;4.04sec)
add
Spanning Tree
18667mi
(445.84sec;60.59sec)
18667mi
(68.32sec;44.16sec)
18667mi
(50.21sec;59.75sec)
add
Double-Degree
18667mi
(6.08sec;5.61sec)
18667mi
(6.31sec;6.06sec)
18667mi
(5.36sec;5.76sec)
add
both
18667mi
(65.60sec;72.05sec)
18667mi
(54.00sec;55.44sec)
18667mi
(35.76sec;46.45sec)
NScities (174 destinations)
Integer Solution: 22127 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 22033.5 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=203, |E|=341
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=174, |E|=324
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
22033.5mi
(3.24sec;3.38sec)
22033.5mi
(3.80sec;3.12sec)
22037mi
(4.65sec;6.23sec)
add
Spanning Tree
22044.64mi
(63.06sec;74.44sec)
22044.64mi
(405.07sec;42.35sec)
22052.89mi
(293.86sec;287.32sec)
add
Double-Degree
22078.5mi
(6.31sec;5.61sec)
22078.5mi
(8.12sec;7.87sec)
22082mi
(17.50sec;5.28sec)
add
both
22078.5mi
(68.83sec;60.51sec)
22078.5mi
(54.75sec;47.89sec)
22082mi
(66.23sec;33.55sec)
CtoWcities (182 destinations)
Integer Solution: 24389 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 24238 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=212, |E|=353
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=182, |E|=358
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
24238mi
(4.86sec;5.23sec)
24238mi
(4.85sec;4.50sec)
24251.75mi
(14.35sec;5.09sec)
add
Spanning Tree
24249.78mi
(118.60sec;121.66sec)
24240.29mi
(97.26sec;120.79sec)
24251.75mi
(91.77sec;144.30sec)
add
Double-Degree
24286mi
(7.82sec;7.01sec)
24277.5mi
(9.32sec;7.03sec)
24277.5mi
(10.59sec;9.76sec)
add
both
24286mi
(107.28sec;752.15sec)
24277.5mi
(104.68sec;94.79sec)
24277.5mi
(94.43sec;115.80sec)
ALLcities (216 destinations)
Integer Solution: 26410 miles, Subtour Relaxation: 26135.25 miles
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
(not applicable)
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=216, |E|=358
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
26135.25mi
(4.51sec;5.53sec)
26135.25mi
(14.91sec;13.39sec)
add
Spanning Tree
26146.33mi
(91.97sec;108.91sec)
26156.75mi
(214.19sec;435.72sec)
add
Double-Degree
26192.25mi
(7.73sec;7.25sec)
26192.25mi
(10.16sec;24.68sec)
add
both
26192.25mi
(105.37sec;125.16sec)
26192.25mi
(265.28sec;85.32sec)
Maps for ALLcities (216 destinations)
Base Map
This GTSP instance is interesting to study because, even though the only cut-edges and cut nodes are incident to and adjacent to leaf nodes (like Bellingham, Nogales, and Green Bay), the optimal solution has four edges of cost one adjacent to a single node (Kansas City).
Integer Solution
26410 miles
Subtour Relaxation (C-F-N)
26135.25 miles
Our Best Relaxation
26192.25 miles
Minimum Spanning Tree
20099 miles
WESTcanada (47 destinations)
Integer Solution: 12022 km, Subtour Relaxation: 11997 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
(not applicable)
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=47, |E|=73
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
11997km
(0.07sec;0.03sec)
11997km
(0.08sec;0.03sec)
add
Spanning Tree
11997km
(0.08sec;0.04sec)
11997km
(0.09sec;0.05sec)
add
Double-Degree
11997km
(0.06sec;0.03sec)
11997km
(0.08sec;0.03sec)
add
both
11997km
(0.08sec;0.04sec)
11997km
(0.09sec;0.05sec)
NScanada (56 destinations)
Integer Solution: 14994 km, Subtour Relaxation: 14994 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=75, |E|=108
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=56, |E|=84
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
14994km
(0.15sec;0.06sec)
14994km
(0.09sec;0.04sec)
14994km
(0.11sec;0.04sec)
add
Spanning Tree
14994km
(0.20sec;0.10sec)
14994km
(0.11sec;0.06sec)
14994km
(0.14sec;0.08sec)
add
Double-Degree
14994km
(0.15sec;0.06sec)
14994km
(0.10sec;0.04sec)
14994km
(0.12sec;0.05sec)
add
both
14994km
(0.20sec;0.11sec)
14994km
(0.11sec;0.06sec)
14994km
(0.14sec;0.08sec)
EASTcanada (65 destinations)
Integer Solution: 15414 km, Subtour Relaxation: 15404 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
(not applicable)
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=65, |E|=103
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
15404km
(0.14sec;0.06sec)
15404km
(0.17sec;0.07sec)
add
Spanning Tree
15404km
(0.17sec;0.10sec)
15404km
(0.22sec;0.13sec)
add
Double-Degree
15414km
(0.13sec;0.06sec)
15414km
(0.17sec;0.08sec)
add
both
15414km
(0.18sec;0.11sec)
15414km
(0.22sec;0.13sec)
DtoScanada (77 destinations)
Integer Solution: 25066 km, Subtour Relaxation: 25042 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=102, |E|=160
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=77, |E|=152
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
25042km
(0.31sec;0.15sec)
25042km
(0.20sec;0.10sec)
25042km
(0.24sec;0.11sec)
add
Spanning Tree
25042km
(0.40sec;0.24sec)
25042km
(0.28sec;0.18sec)
25042km
(0.33sec;0.22sec)
add
Double-Degree
25042km
(0.29sec;0.14sec)
25042km
(0.20sec;0.11sec)
25042km
(0.25sec;0.14sec)
add
both
25042km
(0.39sec;0.24sec)
25042km
(0.28sec;0.18sec)
25042km
(0.33sec;0.20sec)
deg3canada (90 destinations)
Integer Solution: 19312 km, Subtour Relaxation: 19197 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
|V|=93 |E|=149
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=90, |E|=146
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
19197km
(0.28sec;0.17sec)
19197km
(0.26sec;0.14sec)
19197km
(0.34sec;0.15sec)
add
Spanning Tree
19197km
(0.38sec;0.26sec)
19197km
(0.36sec;0.25sec)
19197km
(0.51sec;0.36sec)
add
Double-Degree
19197km
(0.27sec;0.15sec)
19197km
(0.26sec;0.14sec)
19197km
(0.34sec;0.19sec)
add
both
19197km
(0.38sec;0.29sec)
19197km
(0.43sec;0.28sec)
19197km
(0.46sec;0.25sec)
ALLcanada (112 destinations)
Integer Solution: 27894 km, Subtour Relaxation: 27859 km
Constraint Sets With Steiner Nodes
(not applicable)
Without Steiner Nodes
|V|=112, |E|=177
Without Steiner Nodes
and with z-Elimination
only Even-Degree
or Parity
27859km
(0.46sec;0.28sec)
27859km
(0.61sec;0.30sec)
add
Spanning Tree
27859km
(0.64sec;0.46sec)
27859km
(0.94sec;0.60sec)
add
Double-Degree
27869km
(0.45sec;0.27sec)
27869km
(0.55sec;0.38sec)
add
both
27869km
(0.63sec;0.47sec)
27869km
(0.87sec;0.54sec)
Maps for ALLcanada (112 destinations)
Base Map
This GTSP instance is interesting to study because it has a cut-edge (two, in fact) that separates the eastern cities from the western cities.
Integer Solution
27894 kilometers
Subtour Relaxation (C-F-N)
27859 kilometers
Our Best Relaxation
27869 kilometers
Minimum Spanning Tree
18846 kilometers