Strategies for the Parallel Implementation of Metaheuristics

Parallel implementations of metaheuristics appear quite naturally as an effective alternative to speed up the search for approximate solutions of combinatorial optimization problems. They not only allow solving larger problems or finding improved solutions with respect to their sequential counterparts, but they also lead to more robust algorithms. We review some trends in parallel computing … Read more

Parallel Cooperative Approaches for the Labor Constrained Scheduling Problem

In this paper we consider the labor constrained scheduling problem (LCSP), in which a set of jobs to be processed is subject to precedence and labor requirement constraints. Each job has a specified processing time and a labor requirements profile, which typically varies as the job is processed. Given the amount of labor available at … Read more

Upper Bounds on ATSP Neighborhood Size

We consider the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem (ATSP) and use the definition of neighborhood by Deineko and Woeginger (see Math. Programming 87 (2000) 519-542). Let $\mu(n)$ be the maximum cardinality of polynomial time searchable neighborhood for the ATSP on $n$ vertices. Deineko and Woeginger conjectured that $\mu (n)< \beta (n-1)!$ for any constant $\beta >0$ … Read more

GRASP with path relinking for the three-index assignment problem

This paper describes variants of GRASP (greedy randomized adaptive search procedure) with path relinking for the three index assignment problem (AP3). GRASP is a multi-start metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization. It usually consists of a construction procedure based on a greedy randomized algorithm and of a local search. Path relinking is an intensification strategy that explores … Read more

Probability distribution of solution time in GRASP: An experimental investigation

A GRASP (greedy randomized adaptive search procedure) is a multi-start metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization. We study the probability distributions of solution time to a sub-optimal target value in five GRASPs that have appeared in the literature and for which source code is available. The distributions are estimated by running 12,000 independent runs of the heuristic. … Read more

GRASP: An annotated bibliography

A greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) is a metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization. It is a multi-start or iterative process, in which each {GRASP} iteration consists of two phases, a construction phase, in which a feasible solution is produced, and a local search phase, in which a local optimum in the neighborhood of the constructed … Read more