An Introduction to Hybrid Metaheuristics

Dates: from September 20th to 23rd.
Hours: 10:00-13:00
Location: Campus Nord UPC, room S2 208, building Omega.


Summary:

One of the most relevant advances in research on metaheuristics is their hybridization with other techniques for optimization, stemming from Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research. These integrated methods are nowadays the state of the art for many problems. The aim of the course is to introduce the main concepts of hybrid metaheuristics and discuss some paradigmatic applications. The combination of components of different metaheuristics will be briefly illustrated, as well as the combination of metaheuristics with tree-search methods, constraint programming and Operations Research methods.

Course plan:

1. Summary of metaheuristics basics
   Preliminary definitions; Local search methods (Simulated Annealing, Tabu search, Iterated Local Search, Variable neighborhood search); Population-based methods (Evolutionary techniques; Ant colony optimization).
    
2. Overview of main classes of hybrid metaheuristics
   Combination of components from different metaheuristics; metaheuristics and tree-search/constraint programming hybrids; integration of mathematical programming and metaheuristics.
    
3. Paradigmantic examples discussed in detail

Notes:

The seminar is open to any interested person.

For PhD or Master students it is possible to get additional ECTS credits for this course, please contact Mercè Juan(merce@lsi.upc.edu) indicating your situation.

The course is organized under the mobility program for professors in PhD Programs awarded with the quality mention by the Spanish Ministry of Education.