5f05ca25_on_and_Planning_Research_Group__Description
[Research Theme] Heuristics and Metaheuristics. [Description] 
Although powerful optimisation techniques and other exact algorithms exist to tackle difficult search and optimisation problems, in some cases such techniques take too long to produce a solution of the required quality within realistic timescales. Hence, heuristic and metaheuristic techniques are powerful and flexible alternatives to tackle these difficult problems. Heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms seek to produce good-quality solutions in reasonable computation times by following a series of pre-defined and often also randomised steps. Heuristics and metaheuristics can be constructive (produce a solution and then stop) or improvement (iteratively improve the current solution and then stop) approaches, but they can also be single-solution or population-based. We investigate and develop a range of heuristic and metaheuristic (H/MH) techniques including their hybridisation with other methods. We develop tailored H/MH algorithms to tackle specific problems. We also develop more generalised H/MH strategies to tackle a broader range of problems. Investigating the functioning and performance of these techniques is also part of our research work.
Research Themes | Automated Scheduling, Optimisation and Planning Research Group
Description