5,514 research outputs found
Local search methods for the discrete time/resource trade-off problem in project networks.
Abstract: In this paper we consider the discrete time/resource trade-off problem in project networks. Given a project network consisting of nodes (activities) and arcs (technological precedence relations specifying that an activity can only start when al of its predecessors have been completed), in which the duration of the activities is a discrete, on-increasing function of the amount of a single renewable resource committed to it, the discrete time/resource trade-off problem minimizes the project makespan subject to precedence constraints and a single renewable resource constraint. For each activity a work content is specified such that all execution modes (duration-resource pairs) for performing the activity are allowed as long as the product of the duration and the resource requirement is at least as large as the specified work content. We present a tabu search procedure which is based on subdividing the problem into a mode assignment phase and a resource-constrained project scheduling phase with fixed mode assignments. Extensive computational experience, including a comparison with other local search methods, is reported.Scheduling; Methods; Networks; Product; Assignment;
Web and Semantic Web Query Languages
A number of techniques have been developed to facilitate
powerful data retrieval on the Web and Semantic Web. Three categories
of Web query languages can be distinguished, according to the format
of the data they can retrieve: XML, RDF and Topic Maps. This article
introduces the spectrum of languages falling into these categories
and summarises their salient aspects. The languages are introduced using
common sample data and query types. Key aspects of the query
languages considered are stressed in a conclusion
Bayesian Logic Programs
Bayesian networks provide an elegant formalism for representing and reasoning
about uncertainty using probability theory. Theyare a probabilistic extension
of propositional logic and, hence, inherit some of the limitations of
propositional logic, such as the difficulties to represent objects and
relations. We introduce a generalization of Bayesian networks, called Bayesian
logic programs, to overcome these limitations. In order to represent objects
and relations it combines Bayesian networks with definite clause logic by
establishing a one-to-one mapping between ground atoms and random variables. We
show that Bayesian logic programs combine the advantages of both definite
clause logic and Bayesian networks. This includes the separation of
quantitative and qualitative aspects of the model. Furthermore, Bayesian logic
programs generalize both Bayesian networks as well as logic programs. So, many
ideas developedComment: 52 page
COLAB : a hybrid knowledge representation and compilation laboratory
Knowledge bases for real-world domains such as mechanical engineering require expressive and efficient representation and processing tools. We pursue a declarative-compilative approach to knowledge engineering. While Horn logic (as implemented in PROLOG) is well-suited for representing relational clauses, other kinds of declarative knowledge call for hybrid extensions: functional dependencies and higher-order knowledge should be modeled directly. Forward (bottom-up) reasoning should be integrated with backward (top-down) reasoning. Constraint propagation should be used wherever possible instead of search-intensive resolution. Taxonomic knowledge should be classified into an intuitive subsumption hierarchy. Our LISP-based tools provide direct translators of these declarative representations into abstract machines such as an extended Warren Abstract Machine (WAM) and specialized inference engines that are interfaced to each other. More importantly, we provide source-to-source transformers between various knowledge types, both for user convenience and machine efficiency. These formalisms with their translators and transformers have been developed as part of COLAB, a compilation laboratory for studying what we call, respectively, "vertical\u27; and "horizontal\u27; compilation of knowledge, as well as for exploring the synergetic collaboration of the knowledge representation formalisms. A case study in the realm of mechanical engineering has been an important driving force behind the development of COLAB. It will be used as the source of examples throughout the paper when discussing the enhanced formalisms, the hybrid representation architecture, and the compilers
A tabu search algorithm for dynamic routing in ATM cell-switching networks
This paper deals with the dynamic routing problem in ATM cell-switching networks. We present a
mathematical programming model based on cell loss and a Tabu Search algorithm with short-term
memory that is reinforced with a long-term memory procedure. The estimation of the quality of the
solutions is fast, due to the specific encoding of the feasible solutions. The Tabu Search algorithm reaches
good quality solutions, outperforming other approaches such as Genetic Algorithms and the Minimum
Switching Path heuristic, regarding both cell loss and the CPU time consumption. The best results were
found for the more complex networks with a high number of switches and links
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