----------------------------------------

** Call for Papers: CP-AI-OR 2015 **

The Twelfth International Conference on Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research Techniques in Constraint Programming will be held in Barcelona, Spain, May 18-22, 2015 with Workshops on May 18th, a Master Class on Verification and Constraint Programming on May 19, and the Main Conference on May 20-22, 2014.

Conference Location: Barcelona, Spain
Conference Dates: May 18 – May 22
Conference Website: http://www.cpaior2015.uconn.edu/
Conference Series: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/vanhoeve/cpaior/
Contact: cpaior2015@gmail.com

----------------------------------------

** Deadlines **

Paper Deadlines (for long and short papers):

Abstract due: November 14, 2014 11.59 P.M. EDT
Paper due: November 21, 2014 11.59 P.M. EDT
Rebuttal Phase: December 20-23, 2014
Final Notification: January 9, 2015
Camera-ready version due: February 20, 2015

----------------------------------------

** Conference Details **

The aim of the conference is to bring together interested researchers from Constraint Programming (CP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Operations Research (OR) to present new techniques or applications in combinatorial optimization and to provide an opportunity for researchers in one area to learn about techniques in the others. A main objective of this conference series is also to give these researchers the opportunity to show how the integration of techniques from different fields can lead to interesting results on large and complex problems. Therefore papers that actively combine, integrate, or contrast approaches from more than one of the areas are especially solicited. High quality papers from a single area are also welcome, provided that they are of interest to other communities involved. Application papers showcasing CP/AI/OR techniques on novel and challenging applications or experience reports on such applications are strongly encouraged.

The program committee invites submissions that include but are not limited to the following topics:

• Inference and relaxation methods: constraint propagation, cutting planes, global constraints, graph algorithms, dynamic programming, Lagrangean and convex relaxations, heuristic functions based on constraint relaxation.
• Search methods: branch and bound, intelligent backtracking, incomplete search, randomized search, portfolios, column generation, Benders decompositions or any other decomposition methods, local search, meta-heuristics.
• Integration methods: solver communication, model transformations and solver selection, parallel and distributed resolution techniques, models, and solvers.
• Modeling methods: comparison of models, symmetry breaking, uncertainty, dominance relationships.
• Innovative Applications of CP/AI/OR techniques.
• Implementation of CP/AI/OR techniques and optimization systems.

Paper submissions are of two types: long and short papers. Additionally, a new Fast Track journal publication track is being introduced.

The schedule for submissions is as follows:

Abstract due: November 14, 2014 11.59 P.M. EDT
Paper due: November 21, 2014 11.59 P.M. EDT
Rebuttal Phase: December 20-23, 2014
Final Notification: January 9, 2015
Camera-ready version due: February 20, 2015

----------------------------------------

** Instructions for Long Papers **

Long papers should present original unpublished work and be at most 15 pages plus references in length, and should be prepared in the format used for the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (http://www.springer.de/comp/lncs/authors.html). These papers will undergo rigorous review. The proceedings will be published in the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science series.

Note: Unlike previous CP-AI-OR conferences the page limit for long papers is 15 LNCS pages *plus references*.

----------------------------------------

** Instructions for Short Papers **

Short papers are also encouraged, limited to 8 LNCS pages plus references and should be prepared with the same format as long papers (http://www.springer.de/comp/lncs/authors.html). Although containing less material, short papers should describe original unpublished work and will be reviewed to the same criteria of quality as long papers. It is also encouraged to submit short papers about work in progress on ideas that are interesting but for which the practical or theoretical relevance is not yet fully identified. Short papers will be presented at the conference and published in the conference proceedings.

----------------------------------------

** NEW! Instructions for Journal Fast Track **

Outstanding submissions to the technical program will be offered the opportunity to be published exclusively through a `fast track' process in the Constraints Journal (http://www.springer.com/computer/ai/journal/10601). Authors of these papers can opt to extend their paper from 15 to 20 pages plus references (subject to a minor second round of review) and be accepted directly in the Journal by the time of the conference. Invited authors who select to fast track their paper will receive a 1 page extended abstract in the conference proceedings and will be invited to present at the conference on the same ground as any other accepted submission. Fast Track Journal papers should be formatted according to the journal’s guidelines: (http://www.springer.com/computer/ai/journal/10601).

The important dates for fast track papers are:

Author Opt-in decision: January 16, 2015
Extended submission due for 2nd review: January 30, 2015
Journal Fast Track Decision: February 13th, 2015
Camera-ready extended abstract (or standard paper): February 20th, 2015
Camera-ready for Journal Fast Track: March 6th, 2015

Authors who decline to fast track their submission revert to a standard conference submission and are subject to the default formatting, length and date requirements. Papers that do not clear the 2nd review round also revert to conference paper status and their authors are expected to deliver the camera-ready version of the initial submission by February 20, 2015.

----------------------------------------

** Submission Process **

All papers are to be submitted electronically in PDF format by following the instructions at the URL http://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=cpaior2015.

For any queries on the submission process, please contact the Program Chairs using the email cpaior2015@gmail.com.

----------------------------------------

** Organizers **

Program Chair: Laurent Michel
Conference Chair: Carlos Ansotegui

----------------------------------------