Real-parameter optimization in dynamic environments using estimation of distribution algorithms

Orientador: Fernando José Von ZubenDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: O dinamismo do mundo moderno traz consigo grandes desafios científicos e tecnológicos, particularmente junto a problemas de otimização. Problemas antes tratados de forma estática estão sendo reformulados para incorporar esse dinamismo, exigindo com isso novas estratégias de solução. Meta-heurísticas populacionais para otimização surgem então como abordagens promissoras, visto que favorecem a exploração do espaço de busca e contribuem para a adaptação ao dinamismo do ambiente. Foram tratados aqui algoritmos de estimação de distribuição (AEDs), os quais empregam modelos probabilísticos para identificar regiões promissoras do espaço de busca. Pelo fato de serem raras e limitadas as propostas de AEDs para problemas dinâmicos, principalmente em espaços de busca contínuos, foram concebidos AEDs baseados em modelos de mistura gaussianos flexíveis, auto-controláveis e com baixo custo computacional, incluindo ainda operadores de manutenção de diversidade e de controle de convergência. Uma extensa comparação com métodos alternativos de otimização para ambientes dinâmicos foi realizada e, em várias situações, a proposta deste trabalho superou o desempenho de métodos considerados estado-da-arteAbstract: The dynamism of the modern world gives rise to huge scientific and technological challenges. Problems until recently being treated as static are now being reformulated to incorporate that dynamism, thus requiring novel solution strategies. Population-based metaheuristics devoted to optimization emerge as promising approaches, given that they promote an effective exploration of the search space and contribute to the adaptation to the dynamism of the environment. Estimation of distribution algorithms (EDAs) were considered here, which make use of probabilistic models to identify promising regions of the search space. Due to the fact that the proposals of EDAs for dynamic problems are rare and limited, mainly in real-parameter search spaces, EDAs were conceived based on flexible Gaussian mixture models, self-controlable and computationally inexpensive steps, including diversity maintenance and convergence control mechanisms. An extensive comparison with alternative optimization methods for dynamic environments was accomplished and, in many situations, the proposed technique overcame the performance produced by state-of-the-art methodsMestradoEngenharia de ComputaçãoMestre em Engenharia Elétric

Evolutionary Computation

This book presents several recent advances on Evolutionary Computation, specially evolution-based optimization methods and hybrid algorithms for several applications, from optimization and learning to pattern recognition and bioinformatics. This book also presents new algorithms based on several analogies and metafores, where one of them is based on philosophy, specifically on the philosophy of praxis and dialectics. In this book it is also presented interesting applications on bioinformatics, specially the use of particle swarms to discover gene expression patterns in DNA microarrays. Therefore, this book features representative work on the field of evolutionary computation and applied sciences. The intended audience is graduate, undergraduate, researchers, and anyone who wishes to become familiar with the latest research work on this field