Two-dimensional placement compaction using an evolutionary approach: a study

The placement problem of two-dimensional objects over planar surfaces optimizing given utility functions is a combinatorial optimization problem. Our main drive is that of surveying genetic algorithms and hybrid metaheuristics in terms of final positioning area compaction of the solution. Furthermore, a new hybrid evolutionary approach, combining a genetic algorithm merged with a non-linear compaction method is introduced and compared with referenced literature heuristics using both randomly generated instances and benchmark problems. A wide variety of experiments is made, and the respective results and discussions are presented. Finally, conclusions are drawn, and future research is defined

A comparison of different recombination operators for the 2-dimensional strip packing problem

In this paper, the three-stage two-dimensional rectangular strip packing problem is tackled using genetic algorithms. A new problem dependent recombination operator, called best inherited levels recombination (BIL), is introduced. A comparison of its performance is carried out with respect to four classical recombination operators. A complete study of the influence of the recombination operators on the genetic search, including the trade-off between exploration and exploitation in the search process, is presented. The results show that the use of our specialized BIL recombination outperforms the others more generic on all problem instances for all the metrics testedVII Workshop de Agentes y Sistemas Inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

An anytime tree search algorithm for two-dimensional two- and three-staged guillotine packing problems

[libralesso_anytime_2020] proposed an anytime tree search algorithm for the 2018 ROADEF/EURO challenge glass cutting problem (https://www.roadef.org/challenge/2018/en/index.php). The resulting program was ranked first among 64 participants. In this article, we generalize it and show that it is not only effective for the specific problem it was originally designed for, but is also very competitive and even returns state-of-the-art solutions on a large variety of Cutting and Packing problems from the literature. We adapted the algorithm for two-dimensional Bin Packing, Multiple Knapsack, and Strip Packing Problems, with two- or three-staged exact or non-exact guillotine cuts, the orientation of the first cut being imposed or not, and with or without item rotation. The combination of efficiency, ability to provide good solutions fast, simplicity and versatility makes it particularly suited for industrial applications, which require quickly developing algorithms implementing several business-specific constraints. The algorithm is implemented in a new software package called PackingSolver

Solving the two dimensional cutting problem using evolutionary algorithms with penalty functions

In this work a solution using evolutionary algorithms with penalty function for the non-guillotine cutting problem is presented. In this particular problem, the rectangular pieces have to be cut from an unique large object, being the goal to maximize the total value of cut pieces. Some chromosomes can hold pieces to be cut, but some pieces cannot be arranged into the object, generating infeasible solutions. A way to deal with this kind of solutions is to use a penalizing strategy. The used penalty functions have been originally developed for the knapsack problem and they are adapted for the cutting problem in this paper. Moreover, the effect on the algorithm performance to combine penalty functions with two different selection methods (binary tournament and roulette wheel) is studied. The algorithm uses a binary representation, one-point crossover, big-creep mutation and in order to evaluated the quality of solutions a placement routine is considered (Heuristic with Efficient Management of Holes). Experimental comparisons of the performance of the resulting algorithms are carried out using publicly available benchmarks to the non-guillotine cutting problem. We report on the high performance of the proposed models at similar (or better) accuracy with respect to existing algorithms.VI Workshop de Agentes y Sistemas Inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Novel approaches to container loading: from heuristics to hybrid tabu search

A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University ofBedford shireThis work investigates new approaches to the container loading problem which address the issue of how to load three-dimensional, rectangular items (e.g. boxes) into the container in such a way that maximum utilisation is made of the container space. This problem occurs in several industry sectors where the loading approach places cargo effectively into aeroplanes, ships, trailers or trucks in order to save considerable cost. In carrying out this work, the investigation starts by developing a new heuristic approach to the two-dimensional bin packing problem, which has lower complexity than container loading in the aspects of constraints and geometry. A novel approach, including the heuristic strategies and handling method for remaining areas, is developed that can produce good results when testing with benchmark and real world data. Based on the research for two-dimensional bin packing, a novel heuristic approach is developed to deal with the container loading problem with some practical constraints. The heuristic approach to container loading also includes heuristic strategies and the handling of remaining spaces. The heuristic strategies construct effective loading arrangements where combinations of identical or different box types are loaded in blocks. The handling method for remaining spaces further improves the loading arrangements through the representation, partitioning and merging of remaining spaces. The heuristic approach obtains better volume utilisation and the highest stability compared with other published heuristic approaches. However, it does not achieve as high a volume utilisation as metaheuristic approaches, e.g. genetic algorithms and tabu search.To improve volume utilisation, a new hybrid heuristic approach to the container loading problem is further developed based on the tabu search technique which covers the encoding, evaluation criterion and configuration of neighbourhood and candidate solutions. The heuristic strategies as well as the handling method for remaining spaces developed in the heuristic approach are used in this new hybrid tabu search approach. It is shown that the hybrid approach has better volume utilisation than the published approaches under the condition that all loaded boxes with one hundred per cent support from below. In addition, the experimental results show that both the heuristic and hybrid tabu search approaches can also be applied to the multiple container loading problem

Container Loading Problems: A State-of-the-Art Review

Container loading is a pivotal function for operating supply chains efficiently. Underperformance results in unnecessary costs (e.g. cost of additional containers to be shipped) and in an unsatisfactory customer service (e.g. violation of deadlines agreed to or set by clients). Thus, it is not surprising that container loading problems have been dealt with frequently in the operations research literature. It has been claimed though that the proposed approaches are of limited practical value since they do not pay enough attention to constraints encountered in practice.In this paper, a review of the state-of-the-art in the field of container loading will be given. We will identify factors which - from a practical point of view - need to be considered when dealing with container loading problems and we will analyze whether and how these factors are represented in methods for the solution of such problems. Modeling approaches, as well as exact and heuristic algorithms will be reviewed. This will allow for assessing the practical relevance of the research which has been carried out in the field. We will also mention several issues which have not been dealt with satisfactorily so far and give an outlook on future research opportunities