Metaheuristics Optimization

This book gathers together a set of chapters covering recent development in optimization methods that are inspired by nature. The first group of chapters describes in detail different meta-heuristic algorithms, and shows their applicability using some test or real-world problems. The second part of the book is especially focused on advanced applications and case studies.

This book focuses on the fields of nature-inspired algorithms, optimization problems and fuzzy logic. In this book, a new metaheuristic based on String Theory from Physics is proposed. It is important to mention that we have proposed the new algorithm to generate new potential solutions in optimization problems in order to find new ways that could improve the results in solving these problems.

This book presents novel and original metaheuristics developed to solve the cost-balanced traveling salesman problem. This problem was taken into account for the Metaheuristics Competition proposed in MESS 2018, Metaheuristics Summer School, and the top 4 methodologies ranked are included in the book, together with a brief introduction to the traveling salesman problem and all its variants.

This book presents the latest trends and developments in multimodal optimization and niching techniques. Most existing optimization methods are designed for locating a single global solution.
However, in real-world settings, many problems are “multimodal” by nature, i.e., multiple satisfactory solutions exist. It may be desirable to locate several such solutions before deciding which one to use. Multimodal optimization has been the subject of intense study in the field of population-based meta-heuristic algorithms, e.g., evolutionary algorithms (EAs), for the past few decades. These multimodal optimization techniques are commonly referred to as “niching” methods, because of the nature-inspired “niching” effect that is induced to the solution population targeting at multiple optima. Many niching methods have been developed in the EA community. Some classic examples include crowding, fitness sharing, clearing, derating, restricted tournament selection, speciation, etc. Nevertheless, applying these niching methods to real-world multimodal problems often encounters significant challenges.

This book discusses different methods of modifying the original metaheuristics and their application in computer and electrical engineering. As the race to develop advanced technology accelerates, a new era of "metaheuristics" has emerged. Through researched-based techniques and collaborative problem-solving, this book helps engineers to find efficient solutions to their engineering challenges. With the help of an expert guide and the collective knowledge of the engineering community, this comprehensive guide shows readers how to use machine learning and other AI techniques to reinvent smart engineering.

This book presents the latest trends and developments in multimodal optimization and niching techniques. Most existing optimization methods are designed for locating a single global solution.