Randomized Algorithms for Scene Recognition by Inexact Graph Matching

We propose a new method for non-bijective graph matching for model-based pattern recognition. We formulate the search for the best correspondence between a model and an over-segmented image as a new combinatorial optimization problem, defined by the relational attributed graphs representing the model and the image where recognition has to be performed, together with the … Read more

Heuristics for the Phylogeny Problem

A phylogeny is a tree that relates taxonomic units, based on their similarity over a set of characters. The problem of finding a phylogeny with the minimum number of evolutionary steps (the so-called parsimony criterion) is one of the main problems in comparative biology. In this work, we study different heuristic approaches to the phylogeny … Read more

On the Complexity of Scheduling with Elastic Times

We consider the problem of scheduling hypermedia documents with elastic times. The objects have variable durations characterized by ideal, minimum, and maximum values. A schedule is a set of tensions on the arcs of the precedence graph which also represents synchronization constraints. We consider the problem of deciding if there exists a schedule in which … Read more

Scheduling Workover Rigs for Onshore Oil Production

Many oil wells in Brazilian onshore fields rely on artificial lift methods. Maintenance services such as cleaning, reinstatement, stimulation and others are essential to these wells. These services are performed by workover rigs, which are avaliable on a limited number with respect to the number of wells demanding service. The decision of which workover rig … Read more

Multiprocessor Scheduling under Precedence Constraints: Polyhedral Results

We consider the problem of scheduling a set of tasks related by precedence constraints to a set of processors, so as to minimize their makespan. Each task has to be assigned to a unique processor and no preemption is allowed. A new integer programming formulation of the problem is given and strong valid inequalities are … Read more

Automatic Scheduling of Hypermedia Documents with Elastic Times]

The problem of automatic scheduling hypermedia documents consists in finding the optimal starting times and durations of objects to be presented, to ensure spatial and temporal consistency of a presentation while respecting limits on shrinking and stretching the ideal duration of each object. The combinatorial nature of the minimization of the number of objects whose … Read more

GRASP and path-relinking: Recent advances and applications

A greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) is a multi-start metaheuristic which applies local search to starting solutions generated by a greedy randomized construction procedure. Until recently, most implementations of GRASP assumed independence of its iterations, thus making no use of memory structures. Path-relinking is an intensification strategy which explores trajectories between elite solutions. Using … Read more

A genetic algorithm for the phylogeny problem using an optimized crossover strategy based on path-relinking

A phylogenetic tree relates taxonomic units, based on their similarity over a set of characters. We propose a new genetic algorithm for the problem of building a phylogenetic tree under the parsimony criterion. This genetic algorithm makes use of an innovative optimized crossover strategy which is an extension of the path-relinking intensification technique originaly proposed … Read more

An application of integer programming to playoff elimination in football championships

Football is the most followed and practiced sport in Brazil, with a major economic importance. Thousands of jobs depend directly from the activity of the football teams. The Brazilian national football championship is followed by millions of people, who attend the games in the stades, follow radio and TV transmissions, and check newspapers, radio, TV, … Read more

A limited memory algorithm for inequality constrained minimization

A method for solving inequality constrained minimization problems is described. The algorithm is based on a primal-dual interior point approach, with a line search globalization strategy. A quasi-Newton technique (BFGS) with limited memory storage is used to approximate the second derivatives of the functions. The method is especially intended for solving problems with a large … Read more