[Apologies for multiple copies]

First Call for Papers

CONSTRAINTS JOURNAL -
Special Issue on Modeling and Reformulation


A central aspect of using any reasoning or optimization tools to solve problems 
is expressing the problem within the language of the tool. While Constraint 
Programming is pursuing the goal of simple declarative problem modeling ("model 
and press 'solve'"), it is still often the case that building a high-performance
model for a problem represents a significant effort in modeling, re-modeling, 
and reformulation. Similar challenges are encountered in related areas such as 
mixed-integer programming and SAT solving.

In honour of the Tenth edition of the International Workshop on Constraint 
Modeling and Reformulation (ModRef 2011 - http://aenas.arfcd.com/modref11/), 
the Constraints journal solicits submissions for a special issue. While we 
encourage submissions of extended versions of papers that have appeared in 
previous ModRef workshops, this is an open call with no such requirement.


Topics of Interest
-------------------
These include, but are not limited to:

- Problem Models
   - novel, improved problem formulations
   - novel problems that can be formulated and successfully solved as CSPs

- Automated Modeling and Reformulation
   - Automated generation of implied constraints.
   - Automated generation of symmetry-breaking constraints.
   - Automated generation of constraints to exploit dominance relations.
   - Automated generation of relaxations. 

- Constraint Modeling Languages
   - Abstraction in constraint languages.
   - Abstract variable domains.
   - Abstraction in search control.
   - Automated refinement.

- Interaction between Modeling/Reformulation and Search

- Interaction between Modeling/Reformulation and Propagation

- Applications of Automated Modeling Systems

- Overviews of Modeling and Reformulation research in other closely related 
  areas such as mathematical programming and SAT solving


Paper Forms
-----------
We are looking for papers that fit into any of the formats that Constraints 
publishes. In particular:

- Survey papers - papers that review modeling and reformation within CP or other
  areas that are of particular interest to the CP community (e.g., mathematical
  programming, SAT). If you plan to submit such a paper, please contact the 
  guest editors as soon as possible as we would like to avoid submissions of 
  overlapping survey papers.
- Application papers - papers the describe real-life applications of CP where 
  modeling and reformulation play a central role in the success of the 
  application.
- Letters - short papers presenting that makes a significant contribution but 
  does not require a full-size journal paper.

We are also interested in more speculative papers that, for example, extrapolate
current research and practice to indicate trends, opportunities, and research 
topics over the next 10 years (e.g., ten challenge problems in modeling and 
reformulation).


Submission and Refereeing
-------------------------
All submission will be refereed to the usual standards of the Constraints 
journal. Final decisions on acceptance will be made by the guest editors in 
consultation with the editor-in-chief.

Submissions will be made through the Constraints online submission
system at http://cons.edmgr.com. Please select the article type "SI:
Modeling and Reformulation" at submission time.


Guest Editors
--------------
Andrea Rendl, Austrian Institute of Technology
J. Christopher Beck, University of Toronto


Important Dates
---------------
Submissions: February 1, 2012
Results of First Round of Reviewing: May 1, 2012
Final versions: Summer 2012