Course detail
Stochastic Models in Logistics
FSI-SEP-A Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester
The course provides an introduction to the theory of stochastic processes. The following topics are dealt with: types and basic characteristics, queueing theory, Markov chains, stationarity, autocovariance function, decomposition of stochastic processes, ARMA processes. Students will learn the applicability of the methods for the description and prediction of the stochastic processes using suitable software on PC.
Language of instruction
English
Number of ECTS credits
5
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Rudiments of probability theory and mathematical statistics, liner models.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Course-unit credit requirements: active participation in seminars, demonstration of basic skills in practical data analysis on PC in a project, and succesfull solution of possible written tests.
Examination: oral exam, questions are selected from a list of 3 set areas (30+30+40 points). At least a basic knowledge of the terms and their properties is required in each of the areas. Evaluation by points: excellent (90 – 100 points), very good (80 – 89 points), good (70 – 79 points), satisfactory (60 – 69 points), sufficient (50 – 59 points), failed (0 – 49 points).
Attendance at seminars is compulsory whereas the teacher decides on the compensation for absences.
Aims
The course objective is to make students familiar with the principles of the theory of stochastic processes and models used for their analysis as well as with estimation algorithms of their parameters. At seminars, students apply theoretical procedures on simulated or real data using suitable software. The semester is concluded with a project of analysis and prediction of a real stochastic process.
The course provides students with basic knowledge of modeling stochastic processes (Queueing theory, Poisson processes, Markov chains, decomposition, ARMA) and ways to estimate their assorted characteristics in order to describe the mechanism of the process behavior on the basis of its observations. Students learn basic methods used for real data evaluation.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme N-LAN-A: Logistics Analytics, Master's, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
26 hours, optionally
Syllabus
1. Stochastic process, types.
2. Introduction to Queueing Theory, Birth-and-Death Processes
3. Poisson Process and M/M/1 Model
4. Markov chains I.
5. Markov chains II.
6. Design of experiments.
7. Strict and weak stationarity.
8. Autocorrelation function. Sample autocorrelation function.
9. Decomposition model (additive, multiplicative), trend estimation (polynomial regression, linear filters)
10. Trend estimation in model with seasonality. Randomness tests.
11. Linear processes.
12. ARMA(p,q) processes, causality, invertibility, partial autocorrelation function.
13. Best linear prediction, Yule-Walker system, Durbin-Levinson, and Innovations algorithm
Computer-assisted exercise
26 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
1. Input, storage, and visualization of data, simulation of stochastic processes, queueing systems especially.
2. Poisson processes.
3. Markov chains.
4. Design of experiments
5. Moment characteristics of a stochastic process.
6. Detecting heteroscedasticity. Transformations stabilizing variance (power and Box-Cox transform).
7. Use of linear regression model on time series decomposition.
8. Denoising by means of linear filtration (moving average)
9. Filtering by means of stepwise polynomial regression, exponential smoothing.
10. Randomness tests.
11. Simulation, identification, parameters estimate, and verification for ARMA model.
12. Prediction of process. Testing significance of (partial) correlations.
13. Tutorials on student projects