1,836 research outputs found
An evaluation of best compromise search in graphs
This work evaluates two different approaches for multicriteria graph
search problems using compromise preferences. This approach focuses search on
a single solution that represents a balanced tradeoff between objectives, rather
than on the whole set of Pareto optimal solutions. We review the main concepts
underlying compromise preferences, and two main approaches proposed for their
solution in heuristic graph problems: naive Pareto search (NAMOA
), and a k-shortest-path approach (kA
). The performance of both approaches is evaluated
on sets of standard bicriterion road map problems. The experiments reveal that
the k-shortest-path approach looses effectiveness in favor of naive Pareto search
as graph size increases. The reasons for this behavior are analyzed and discussedPartially funded by P07-TIC-03018, Cons. Innovación, Ciencia y
Empresa (Junta AndalucÃa), and Univ. Málaga, Campus Excel. Int. AndalucÃa Tec
An Analysis of Some Algorithms and Heuristics for Multiobjective Graph Search
Muchos problemas reales requieren examinar un número exponencial de alternativas para encontrar la elección óptima. A este tipo de problemas se les llama de optimización combinatoria. Además, en problemas reales normalmente se evalúan múltiples magnitudes que presentan conflicto entre ellas. Cuando se optimizan múltiples obje-tivos simultáneamente, generalmente no existe un valor óptimo que satisfaga al mismo tiempo los requisitos para todos los criterios. Solucionar estos problemas combinatorios multiobjetivo deriva comúnmente en un gran conjunto de soluciones Pareto-óptimas, que definen los balances óptimos entre los objetivos considerados.
En esta tesis se considera uno de los problemas multiobjetivo más recurrentes: la búsqueda de caminos más cortos en un grafo, teniendo en cuenta múltiples objetivos al mismo tiempo. Se pueden señalar muchas aplicaciones prácticas de la búsqueda multiobjetivo en diferentes dominios: enrutamiento en redes multimedia (ClÃmaco et al., 2003), programación de satélites (Gabrel & Vanderpooten, 2002), problemas de transporte (Pallottino & Scutellà , 1998), enrutamiento en redes de ferrocarril (Müller-Hannemann & Weihe, 2006), planificación de rutas en redes de carreteras (Jozefowiez et al., 2008), vigilancia con robots (delle Fave et al., 2009) o planificación independiente del dominio (Refanidis & Vlahavas, 2003).
La planificación de rutas multiobjetivo sobre mapas de carretera realistas ha sido considerada como un escenario de aplicación potencial para los algoritmos y heurÃsticos multiobjetivo considerados en esta tesis. El transporte de materias peligrosas (Erkut et al., 2007), otro problema de enrutamiento multiobjetivo relacionado, ha sido también considerado como un escenario de aplicación potencial interesante.
Los métodos de optimización de un solo criterio son bien conocidos y han sido ampliamente estudiados. La Búsqueda HeurÃstica permite la reducción de los requisitos de espacio y tiempo de estos métodos, explotando el uso de estimaciones de la distancia real al objetivo. Los problemas multiobjetivo son bastante más complejos que sus equivalentes de un solo objetivo y requieren métodos especÃficos. Éstos, van desde técnicas de solución exactas a otras aproximadas, que incluyen los métodos metaheurÃsticos aproximados comúnmente encontrados en la literatura. Esta tesis se ocupa de algoritmos exactos primero-el-mejor y, en particular, del uso de información heurÃstica para mejorar su rendimiento.
Esta tesis contribuye análisis tanto formales como empÃricos de algoritmos y heurÃsticos para búsqueda multiobjetivo. La caracterización formal de estos algoritmos es importante para el campo. Sin embargo, la evaluación empÃrica es también de gran importancia para la aplicación real de estos métodos. Se han utilizado diversas clases de problemas bien conocidos para probar su rendimiento, incluyendo escenarios realistas como los descritos más arriba.
Los resultados de esta tesis proporcionan una mejor comprensión de qué métodos de los disponibles sonmejores en situaciones prácticas. Se presentan explicaciones formales y empÃricas acerca de su comportamiento. Se muestra que la búsqueda heurÃstica reduce considerablemente los requisitos de espacio y tiempo en la mayorÃa de las ocasiones. En particular, se presentan los primeros resultados sistemáticos mostrando las ventajas de la aplicación de heurÃsticos multiobjetivo precalculados. Esta tesis también aporta un método mejorado para el precálculo de los heurÃsticos, y explora la conveniencia de heurÃsticos precalculados más informados.Many real problems require the examination of an exponential number of alternatives in order to find the best choice. They are the so-called combinatorial optimization problems. Besides, real problems usually involve the consideration of several conflicting magnitudes. When multiple objectives must be simultaneously optimized, there is generally not an optimal value satisfying the requirements for all the criteria at the same time. Solving these multiobjective combinatorial problems commonly results in a large set of Pareto-optimal solutions, which define the optimal tradeoffs between the objectives under consideration.
One of most recurrent multiobjective problems is considered in this thesis: the search for shortest paths in a graph, taking into account several objectives at the same time. Many practical applications of multiobjective search in different domains can be pointed out: routing in multimedia networks (ClÃmaco et al., 2003), satellite scheduling (Gabrel & Vanderpooten, 2002), transportation problems (Pallottino & Scutellà , 1998), routing in railway networks (Müller-Hannemann & Weihe, 2006), route planning in road maps (Jozefowiez et al., 2008), robot surveillance (delle Fave et al., 2009) or domain independent planning (Refanidis & Vlahavas, 2003).
Multiobjective route planning over realistic road maps has been considered as a potential application scenario for the multiobjective algorithms and heuristics considered in this thesis. Hazardous material transportation (Erkut et al., 2007), another related multiobjective routing problem, has also been considered as an interesting potential application scenario.
Single criterion shortest path methods are well known and have been widely studied. Heuristic Search allows the reduction of the space and time requirements of these methods, exploiting estimates of the actual distance to the goal. Multiobjective problems are much more complex than their single-objective counterparts, and require specific methods. These range from exact solution techniques to approximate ones, including the metaheuristic approximate methods usually found in the literature. This thesis is concerned with exact best-first algorithms, and particularly, with the use of heuristic information to improve their performance.
This thesis contributes both formal and empirical analysis of algorithms and heuristics for multiobjective search. The formal characterization of algorithms is important for the field. However, empirical evaluation is also of great importance for the real application of these methods. Several well known classes of problems have been used to test their performance, including some realistic scenarios as described above.
The results of this thesis provide a better understanding of which of the available methods are better in practical situations. Formal and empirical explanations of their behaviour are presented. Heuristic search is shown to reduce considerably space and time requirements in most situations. In particular, the first systematic results showing the advantages of the application of precalculated multiobjective heuristics are presented. The thesis also contributes an improved method for heuristic precalculation, and explores the convenience of more informed precalculated heuristics.This work is partially funded by / Este trabajo está financiado por:
ConsejerÃa de EconomÃa, Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa.
Junta de AndalucÃa (España)
Referencia: P07-TIC-0301
Multi-objective model for optimizing railway infrastructure asset renewal
Trabalho inspirado num problema real da empresa Infraestruturas de Portugal, EP.A multi-objective model for managing railway infrastructure asset renewal is presented. The model aims to optimize three objectives, while respecting operational constraints: levelling investment throughout multiple years, minimizing total cost and minimizing work start postponements. Its output is an optimized intervention schedule. The model is based on a case study from a Portuguese infrastructure management company, which specified the objectives and constraints, and reflects management practice on railway infrastructure. The results show that investment levelling greatly influences the other objectives and that total cost fluctuations may range from insignificant to important, depending on the condition of the infrastructure. The results structure is argued to be general and suggests a practical methodology for analysing trade-offs and selecting a solution for implementation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Computational intelligence approaches to robotics, automation, and control [Volume guest editors]
No abstract available
New Techniques and Algorithms for Multiobjective and Lexicographic Goal-Based Shortest Path Problems
Shortest Path Problems (SPP) are one of the most extensively studied problems in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Operations Research (OR). It consists in finding the shortest path between two given nodes in a graph such that the sum of the weights of its constituent arcs is minimized. However, real life problems frequently involve the consideration of multiple, and often conflicting, criteria. When multiple objectives must be simultaneously optimized, the concept of a single optimal solution is no longer valid. Instead, a set of efficient or Pareto-optimal solutions define the optimal trade-off between the objectives under consideration.
The Multicriteria Search Problem (MSP), or Multiobjective Shortest Path Problem, is the natural extension to the SPP when more than one criterion are considered. The MSP is computationally harder than the single objective one. The number of label expansions can grow exponentially with solution depth, even for the two objective case. However, with the assumption of bounded integer costs and a fixed number of objectives the problem becomes tractable for polynomially sized graphs. A wide variety of practical application in different fields can be identified for the MSP, like robot path planning, hazardous material transportation, route planning, optimization of public transportation, QoS in networks, or routing in multimedia networks.
Goal programming is one of the most successful Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques used in Multicriteria Optimization. In this thesis we explore one of its variants in the MSP. Thus, we aim to solve the Multicriteria Search Problem with lexicographic goal-based preferences. To do so, we build on previous work on algorithm NAMOA*, a successful extension of the A* algorithm to the multiobjective case. More precisely, we provide a new algorithm called LEXGO*, an exact label-setting algorithm that returns the subset of Pareto-optimal paths that satisfy a set of lexicographic goals, or the subset that minimizes deviation from goals if these cannot be fully satisfied. Moreover, LEXGO* is proved to be admissible and expands only a subset of the labels expanded by an optimal algorithm like NAMOA*, which performs a full Multiobjective Search.
Since time rather than memory is the limiting factor in the performance of multicriteria search algorithms, we also propose a new technique called t-discarding to speed up dominance checks in the process of discarding new alternatives during the search. The application of t-discarding to the algorithms studied previously, NAMOA* and LEXGO*, leads to the introduction of two new time-efficient algorithms named NAMOA*dr and LEXGO*dr , respectively.
All the algorithmic alternatives are tested in two scenarios, random grids and realistic road maps problems. The experimental evaluation shows the effectiveness of LEXGO* in both benchmarks, as well as the dramatic reductions of time requirements experienced by the t-discarding versions of the algorithms, with respect to the ones with traditional pruning
Ordered Preference Elicitation Strategies for Supporting Multi-Objective Decision Making
In multi-objective decision planning and learning, much attention is paid to
producing optimal solution sets that contain an optimal policy for every
possible user preference profile. We argue that the step that follows, i.e,
determining which policy to execute by maximising the user's intrinsic utility
function over this (possibly infinite) set, is under-studied. This paper aims
to fill this gap. We build on previous work on Gaussian processes and pairwise
comparisons for preference modelling, extend it to the multi-objective decision
support scenario, and propose new ordered preference elicitation strategies
based on ranking and clustering. Our main contribution is an in-depth
evaluation of these strategies using computer and human-based experiments. We
show that our proposed elicitation strategies outperform the currently used
pairwise methods, and found that users prefer ranking most. Our experiments
further show that utilising monotonicity information in GPs by using a linear
prior mean at the start and virtual comparisons to the nadir and ideal points,
increases performance. We demonstrate our decision support framework in a
real-world study on traffic regulation, conducted with the city of Amsterdam.Comment: AAMAS 2018, Source code at
https://github.com/lmzintgraf/gp_pref_elici
Improving Bi-Objective Shortest Path Search with Early Pruning.
Bi-objective search problems are a useful generalization
of shortest path search. This paper reviews some recent contributions
for the solution of this problem with emphasis on the efficiency of the
dominance checks required for pruning, and introduces a new algorithm
that improves time efficiency over previous proposals. Experimental
results are presented to show the performance improvement
using a set of standard problems over bi-objective road maps.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional AndalucÃa Tech. Financiado por Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Campus de Excelencia Internacional AndalucÃa Tech. Work supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), Junta de AndalucÃa, and Universidad de Málaga through the research projects with reference IRIS PID2021-122812OB-I00, PID2021-122381OB-I00 and UMA20-FEDERJA-065
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