SDP: Generalized software for solving stochastic dynamic optimization problems

Dynamic programming-a mathematical optimization technique-has become a widely used tool in biological research and natural resource management. Stochastic Dynamic Programming software (SDP) was developed to provide a general, flexible, efficient, user-friendly means to define and solve a wide range of stochastic optimization problems using dynamic programming. SDP operates with 386 or more recent PC's running DOS and readily available commercial software. SDP solves stochastic and deterministic optimization problems; accommodates broad user-specified conditions; accommodates models that are functions of stage, state, decision, and random variables; minimizes or maximizes the optimal value function; allows jointly distributed and independent random variables in the same problem; solves finite and infinite time-horizon problems; provides Monte Carlo simulation; and reduces computation time dramatically