Comprehensive Metaheuristics

Comprehensive Metaheuristics: Algorithms and Applications presents the foundational underpinnings of metaheuristics and a broad scope of algorithms and real-world applications across a variety of research fields. The book starts with fundamentals, mathematical prerequisites, and conceptual approaches to provide readers with a solid foundation. After presenting multi-objective optimization, constrained optimization, and problem formation for metaheuristics, world-renowned authors give readers in-depth understanding of the full spectrum of algorithms and techniques. Scientists, researchers, academicians, and practitioners who are interested in optimizing a process or procedure to achieve a goal will benefit from the case studies of real-world applications from different domains. The book takes a much-needed holistic approach, putting the most widely used metaheuristic algorithms together with an in-depth treatise on multi-disciplinary applications of metaheuristics. Each algorithm is thoroughly analyzed to observe its behavior, providing a detailed tutorial on how to solve problems using metaheuristics. New case studies and research problem statements are also discussed, which will help researchers in their application of the concepts. Presented by world-renowned researchers and practitioners in metaheuristics Includes techniques, algorithms, and applications based on real-world case studies Presents the methodology for formulating optimization problems for metaheuristics Provides readers with methods for analyzing and tuning the performance of a metaheuristic, as well as for integrating metaheuristics in other AI techniques Features online complementary source code from the applications and algorithms

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to nature-inspired metaheuristic methods for search and optimization, including the latest trends in evolutionary algorithms and other forms of natural computing. Over 100 different types of these methods are discussed in detail. The authors emphasize non-standard optimization problems and utilize a natural approach to the topic, moving from basic notions to more complex ones. An introductory chapter covers the necessary biological and mathematical backgrounds for understanding the main material. Subsequent chapters then explore almost all of the major metaheuristics for search and optimization created based on natural phenomena, including simulated annealing, recurrent neural networks, genetic algorithms and genetic programming, differential evolution, memetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, artificial immune systems, ant colony optimization, tabu search and scatter search, bee and bacteria foraging algorithms, harmony search, biomolecular computing, quantum computing, and many others. General topics on dynamic, multimodal, constrained, and multiobjective optimizations are also described. Each chapter includes detailed flowcharts that illustrate specific algorithms and exercises that reinforce important topics. Introduced in the appendix are some benchmarks for the evaluation of metaheuristics. Search and Optimization by Metaheuristics is intended primarily as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students specializing in engineering and computer science. It will also serve as a valuable resource for scientists and researchers working in these areas, as well as those who are interested in search and optimization methods.

Geographical Information Systems, Three Volume Set is a computer system used to capture, store, analyze and display information related to positions on the Earth’s surface. It has the ability to show multiple types of information on multiple geographical locations in a single map, enabling users to assess patterns and relationships between different information points, a crucial component for multiple aspects of modern life and industry. This 3-volumes reference provides an up-to date account of this growing discipline through in-depth reviews authored by leading experts in the field. VOLUME EDITORS Thomas J. Cova The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States Ming-Hsiang Tsou San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States Georg Bareth University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Chunqiao Song University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States Yan Song University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States Kai Cao National University of Singapore, Singapore Elisabete A. Silva University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom Covers a rapidly expanding discipline, providing readers with a detailed overview of all aspects of geographic information systems, principles and applications Emphasizes the practical, socioeconomic applications of GIS Provides readers with a reliable, one-stop comprehensive guide, saving them time in searching for the information they need from different sources

This book is an updated effort in summarizing the trending topics and new hot research lines in solving dynamic problems using metaheuristics. An analysis of the present state in solving complex problems quickly draws a clear picture: problems that change in time, having noise and uncertainties in their definition are becoming very important. The tools to face these problems are still to be built, since existing techniques are either slow or inefficient in tracking the many global optima that those problems are presenting to the solver technique. Thus, this book is devoted to include several of the most important advances in solving dynamic problems. Metaheuristics are the more popular tools to this end, and then we can find in the book how to best use genetic algorithms, particle swarm, ant colonies, immune systems, variable neighborhood search, and many other bioinspired techniques. Also, neural network solutions are considered in this book. Both, theory and practice have been addressed in the chapters of the book. Mathematical background and methodological tools in solving this new class of problems and applications are included. From the applications point of view, not just academic benchmarks are dealt with, but also real world applications in logistics and bioinformatics are discussed here. The book then covers theory and practice, as well as discrete versus continuous dynamic optimization, in the aim of creating a fresh and comprehensive volume. This book is targeted to either beginners and experienced practitioners in dynamic optimization, since we took care of devising the chapters in a way that a wide audience could profit from its contents. We hope to offer a single source for up-to-date information in dynamic optimization, an inspiring and attractive new research domain that appeared in these last years and is here to stay.

This book provides both the research and practitioner communities with a comprehensive coverage of the metaheuristic methodologies that have proven to be successful in a wide variety of real-world problem settings. Moreover, it is these metaheuristic strategies that hold particular promise for success in the future. The various chapters serve as stand alone presentations giving both the necessary background underpinnings as well as practical guides for implementation.

Despite its importance, logistics engineering often lags industry requirements, especially in terms of engineering-based needs. Filling the gap between education and practice, this brief but comprehensive volume covers the most basic material in the field of logistics engineering, making is suitable for those who require an overview of the topic. The book discusses logistics from historical and economic perspectives, covers the basic tools required for the study and practice of logistics, and reviews the metrics that can be used to evaluate progress. It then delves into activities that commonly fill the workdays of logisticians. The book closes with an excellent chapter on logistics as an integrating systems function.

Metaheuristics exhibit desirable properties like simplicity, easy parallelizability, and ready applicability to different types of optimization problems. After a comprehensive introduction to the field, the contributed chapters in this book include explanations of the main metaheuristics techniques, including simulated annealing, tabu search, evolutionary algorithms, artificial ants, and particle swarms, followed by chapters that demonstrate their applications to problems such as multiobjective optimization, logistics, vehicle routing, and air traffic management. The authors are leading researchers in this domain, with considerable teaching and applications experience, and the book will be of value to industrial practitioners, graduate students, and research academics.

Achieving state-of-the-art excellence and attaining the cost reductions associated with outstanding logistics efforts is an obvious gain in terms of competitive edge and profitability. As logistics tools evolve in comprehensiveness and complexity, and the use of these new tools becomes more pervasive, maintaining a position of leadership in logistics functions also becomes increasingly difficult. And in spite of its importance not only to the bottom line but also to the functionality of your operations, logistics improvement often lags industry requirements. Taking a unique engineering approach, the Logistics Engineering Handbook provides comprehensive coverage of traditional methods and contemporary topics. The book delineates basic concepts and practices, provides a tutorial for common problems and solution techniques, and discusses current topics that define the state of the logistics market. It covers background information that defines engineering logistics, activities and implementation, transportation management, enabling technologies, and emerging trends. Each chapter includes either a brief case study overview of an industrially motivated problem or a tutorial using fabricated data designed to highlight important issues. Presentation, organization, and quality of content set this book a part. Its most distinctive feature is the engineering focus, instead of the more usual business/supply chain focus, that provides a mathematically rigorous treatment without being overly analytical. Another important characteristic is the emphasis on transportation management, especially freight transportation. The section on emerging and growing trends makes the handbook particularly useful to the savvy logistics professional wishing to exploit possible future trends in logistics practice. The handbook is a one-stop shopping location for logistics engineering reference materials ranging from basics to traditional problems, to state-of-the-market concerns and opportunities.