1. A method, comprising: formulating, using a control circuit, an optimization problem used to determine a plurality of model parameters of an empirical model configured to model operation of a system, wherein formulating the optimization problem comprises: determining an objective function describing a relationship between the model parameters and operational parameters of the system; and determining general constraints on the model parameters, the operational parameters, or any combination thereof; and solving, using the control circuit, the optimization problem to define the empirical model subject to the general constraints used to control operation of the system by: randomly selecting a plurality of vectors in a model space upon which the empirical model is defined; and determining the model parameters such that the general constraints are enforced at each of the plurality of vectors.