Multi-Objective Combinatorial Optimization Problems and Solution Methods discusses the results of a recent multi-objective combinatorial optimization achievement that considered metaheuristic, mathematical programming, heuristic, hyper heuristic and hybrid approaches. In other words, the book presents various multi-objective combinatorial optimization issues that may benefit from different methods in theory and practice. Combinatorial optimization problems appear in a wide range of applications in operations research, engineering, biological sciences and computer science, hence many optimization approaches have been developed that link the discrete universe to the continuous universe through geometric, analytic and algebraic techniques. This book covers this important topic as computational optimization has become increasingly popular as design optimization and its applications in engineering and industry have become ever more important due to more stringent design requirements in modern engineering practice. Presents a collection of the most up-to-date research, providing a complete overview of multi-objective combinatorial optimization problems and applications Introduces new approaches to handle different engineering and science problems, providing the field with a collection of related research not already covered in the primary literature Demonstrates the efficiency and power of the various algorithms, problems and solutions, including numerous examples that illustrate concepts and algorithms

Multi-Objective Optimization in Theory and Practice is a traditional two-part approach to solving multi-objective optimization (MOO) problems namely the use of classical methods and evolutionary algorithms. This first book is devoted to classical methods including the extended simplex method by Zeleny and preference-based techniques. This part covers three main topics through nine chapters. The first topic focuses on the design of such MOO problems, their complexities including nonlinearities and uncertainties, and optimality theory. The second topic introduces the founding solving methods including the extended simplex method to linear MOO problems and weighting objective methods. The third topic deals with particular structures of MOO problems, such as mixed-integer programming, hierarchical programming, fuzzy logic programming, and bimatrix games. Multi-Objective Optimization in Theory and Practice is a user-friendly book with detailed, illustrated calculations, examples, test functions, and small-size applications in Mathematica® (among other mathematical packages) and from scholarly literature. It is an essential handbook for students and teachers involved in advanced optimization courses in engineering, information science, and mathematics degree programs.

This book introduces a fairly universal approach to the design and analysis of exact optimization algorithms for multi-objective combinatorial optimization problems. It proposes the circuits without repetitions representing the sets of feasible solutions along with the increasing and strictly increasing cost functions as a model for such problems. The book designs the algorithms for multi-stage and bi-criteria optimization and for counting the solutions in the framework of this model. As applications, this book studies eleven known combinatorial optimization problems: matrix chain multiplication, global sequence alignment, optimal paths in directed graphs, binary search trees, convex polygon triangulation, line breaking (text justification), one-dimensional clustering, optimal bitonic tour, segmented least squares, optimization of matchings in trees, and 0/1 knapsack problem. The results presented are useful for researchers in combinatorial optimization. This book is also useful as the basis for graduate courses.

This thesis addresses combinatorial optimization problems with several objectives containing uncertain parameters. A variety of robustness concepts for multi-objective optimization problems have been developed during the last years. This thesis provides methods to find so-called robust efficient solutions with respect to several of these concepts, assuming the uncertain parameters to be given via common uncertainty sets. Several solution approaches are presented, including extensions and combinations of algorithms from both robust and multi-objective optimization, using properties of partic...

In vector optimization one investigates optimization problems in an abstract setting which have a not necessarily real-valued objective function. This scientific discipline is closely related to multi-objective optimization and multi-criteria decision making. This book contains refereed contributions to the "International Conference on Vector Optimization" held at the Technical University of Darmstadt from August 4-7, 1986. This meeting was an interdisciplinary forum devoted to new results in the theory, to applications as well as to the solution of vector optimization problems which are relevant in practice. Because of the great variety of topics covered by the contributions, the 25 articles of this volume are organized in different sections: Historical retrospect, mathematical theory, goal setting and decision making, engineering applications, and related topics. The papers of the invited State-of-the-Art Tutorials given by Professors J.M. Borwein, H. Eschenauer, W. Stadler and P.L. Yu are also included.

Recent results on non-convex multi-objective optimization problems and methods are presented in this book, with particular attention to expensive black-box objective functions. Multi-objective optimization methods facilitate designers, engineers, and researchers to make decisions on appropriate trade-offs between various conflicting goals. A variety of deterministic and stochastic multi-objective optimization methods are developed in this book. Beginning with basic concepts and a review of non-convex single-objective optimization problems; this book moves on to cover multi-objective branch and bound algorithms, worst-case optimal algorithms (for Lipschitz functions and bi-objective problems), statistical models based algorithms, and probabilistic branch and bound approach. Detailed descriptions of new algorithms for non-convex multi-objective optimization, their theoretical substantiation, and examples for practical applications to the cell formation problem in manufacturing engineering, the process design in chemical engineering, and business process management are included to aide researchers and graduate students in mathematics, computer science, engineering, economics, and business management.

"Multi-objective Optimization problems arise in many applications; hence, solving them efficiently is important for decision makers. A common procedure to solve such problems is to generate the exact set of Pareto efficient solutions. However, if the problem is combinatorial, generating the exact set of Pareto efficient solutions can be challenging. This dissertation is dedicated to Multi-objective Combinatorial Optimization problems and their applications in system of systems architecting and railroad track inspection scheduling. In particular, multi-objective system of systems architecting problems with system flexibility and performance improvement funds have been investigated. Efficient solution methods are proposed and evaluated for not only the system of systems architecting problems, but also a generic multi-objective set covering problem. Additionally, a bi-objective track inspection scheduling problem is introduced for an automated ultrasonic inspection vehicle. Exact and approximation methods are discussed for this bi-objective track inspection scheduling problem"--Abstract, page iii.