Scheduling multiprocessor tasks with genetic algorithms

In the multíprocessor schedulíng problem a given program is to be scheduled in a given multiprocessor system such that the program 's execution time is minimized. This problem being very hard to solve exactly, many heuristic methods for finding a suboptimal schedule exist. We propose a new combined approach, where a genetic algorithm is improved with the introduction of some knowledge about the scheduling problem represented by the use of a list heuristic in the crossover and mutatíon genetic operations. This knowledge-augmented genetic approach is empirically compared with a "pure" genetic algorithm and with a "pure" list heuristic, both from the literature. Results of the experiments carried out with synthetic instances of the scheduling problem show that our knowledge-augmented algorithm produces much better results in terms of quality of solutions, although being slower in terms of execution time

Algorithmes génétiques hybrides en optimisation combinatoire

In this thesis, we are interested in solving combinatorial problems with genetic algorithms. These algorithms are interested but they often need a lot of computations. Thus, we are focused on hybrid algorithms. Hybrids algorithms are algorithms built using several different methods. In our work, we build such algorithms by merging genetic algorithms and heuristics. There is two ways to do it. One is called the direct representation scheme and the other the indirect representation scheme. This two ways are studied by using them on three different problems: Multiprocessor tasks graph scheduling, VLSI cells placements, optimisation of cellular networks. For each of these problems, hybrids algorithms have shown their efficiency. For the probklem of optimisation of cellular networks, a new modelization have been made. This new approach allows us to do in one step the choice of emitters and the frequency's allocations.Cette thèse aborde le problème de la résolution des problèmes combinatoires à l'aide d'algorithmes génétiques. Ce type d'algorithme présente en effet nombres d'avantages. Cependant, ils sont généralement relativement lents. Cette thèse est donc centrée sur les algorithmes hybrides, c'est-à-dire des algorithmes construits à l'aide de plusieurs méthodes différentes. Dans notre cas, nous étudions les algorithmes qui réunissent algorithmes génétiques et heuristiques. Il existe deux méthodes pour générer de tels algorithmes qui sont la représentation directe et la représentation indirecte. Ces deux méthodes sont étudiés au travers de trois problèmes distincts : l'ordonnancement statique de programmes parallèles, le placement de composants électroniques et la planification de réseaux cellulaires. Pour chacun des trois problèmes, les algorithmes hybrides ont montrés leur efficacité. Pour le problème de la planification de réseaux cellulaires, une nouvelle modélisation a été faite. Cette modélisation permet d'effectuer en même temps le placement des émetteurs et l'allocation de fréquences

Testing Algorithm For Large P-median Problems In Heterogenous Road Networks

International audienceThis paper presents and compares different algorithms on large scale p-median problems, up to 2000 candidate nodes. Our main focus is instances where the demand is asymmetric distributed. We use as real data the Swedish road network including distances and as demand points the location of Swedish citizens as our experimental context. Tested methods simulatedannealing, volume algorithm and Cplex. Our new hybrid genetic approach outperforms other existing approaches on large instances

From the road network database to a graph for localization purposes

The problems of finding best facility locations require complete and accurate road network with the corresponding population data in a specific area. However the data obtained in road network databases usually do not fit in this usage. In this paper we propose our procedure of converting the road network database to a road graph which could be used in localization problems. The road network data come from the National road data base in Sweden. The graph derived is cleaned, and reduced to a suitable level for localization problems. The population points are also processed in ordered to match with that graph. The reduction of the graph is done maintaining most of the accuracy for distance measures in the network

How does the use of different road networks effect the optimal location of facilities in rural areas?

The p-median problem is often used to locate P service facilities in a geographically distributed population. Important for the performance of such a model is the distance measure. Distance measure can vary if the accuracy of the road network varies. The rst aim in this study is to analyze how the optimal location solutions vary, using the p-median model, when the road network is alternated. It is hard to nd an exact optimal solution for p-median problems. Therefore, in this study two heuristic solutions are applied, simulating annealing and a classic heuristic. The secondary aim is to compare the optimal location solutions using dierent algorithms for large p-median problem. The investigation is conducted by the means of a case study in a rural region with an asymmetrically distributed population, Dalecarlia. The study shows that the use of more accurate road networks gives better solutions for optimal location, regardless what algorithm that is used and regardless how many service facilities that is optimized for. It is also shown that the simulated annealing algorithm not just is much faster than the classic heuristic used here, but also in most cases gives better location solutions

Does road network density matter in optimally locating facilities?

Optimal location on the transport infrastructure is the preferable requirement for many decision making processes. Most studies have focused on evaluating performances of optimally locate p facilities by minimizing their distances to a geographically distributed demand (n) when p and n vary. The optimal locations are also sensitive to geographical context such as road network, especially when they are asymmetrically distributed in the plane. The influence of alternating road network density is however not a very well-studied problem especially when it is applied in a real world context. This paper aims to investigate how the density level of the road network affects finding optimal location by solving the specific case of p-median location problem. A denser network is found needed when a higher number of facilities are to locate. The best solution will not always be obtained in the most detailed network but in a middle density level. The solutions do not further improve or improve insignificantly as the density exceeds 12,000 nodes, some solutions even deteriorate. The hierarchy of the different densities of network can be used according to location and transportation purposes and increase the efficiency of heuristic methods. The method in this study can be applied to other location-allocation problem in transportation analysis where the road network density can be differentiated.

Multi-Objective optimization: Comparison of methods for the p-median problem

International audienc

How do different densities in a network affect the optimal location of service centers?

The p-median problem is often used to locate p service centers by minimizing their distances to a geographically distributed demand (n). The optimal locations are sensitive to geographical context such as road network and demand points especially when they are asymmetrically distributed in the plane. Most studies focus on evaluating performances of the p-median model when p and n vary. To our knowledge this is not a very well-studied problem when the road network is alternated especially when it is applied in a real world context. The aim in this study is to analyze how the optimal location solutions vary, using the p-median model, when the density in the road network is alternated. The investigation is conducted by the means of a case study in a region in Sweden with an asymmetrically distributed population (15,000 weighted demand points), Dalecarlia. To locate 5 to 50 service centers we use the national transport administrations official road network (NVDB). The road network consists of 1.5 million nodes. To find the optimal location we start with 500 candidate nodes in the network and increase the number of candidate nodes in steps up to 67,000. To find the optimal solution we use a simulated annealing algorithm with adaptive tuning of the temperature. The results show that there is a limited improvement in the optimal solutions when nodes in the road network increase and p is low. When p is high the improvements are larger. The results also show that choice of the best network depends on p. The larger p the larger density of the network is needed.

How does the complexity of a road network affect optimal facility locations?

The road network is a necessary component in transportation. It facilitiesspatial movements of people and goods, and it also influences the optimal locations of facilities that usually serve as destinations of the movements. To fulfill the transportation needs and to adapt to the facility development, the road network is often organized hierarchically and asymmetrically with various road levels and spatial structures. The complexity of the road network increases along with the increase of road levels and spatial structures. However, location models locate facilities on a given road network, usually the most complex one, and the influence from the complexity of road network in finding optimal locations is not well-studied. This paper aims to investigate how the complexity of a road network affects the optimal facility locations by applying the widely-applied p-median model. The main result indicates that an increase in road network complexity, up to a certain level, can obviously improve the solution, and the complexity beyond that level does not always lead to better solutions. Furthermore, the result is not sensitive to the choice of algorithms. In a specific case study, a detailed sensitivity analysis of algorithm and facility number further provides insight into computation complexity and location problems from intra-urban to inter-urban.New updated version of paper.</p

Does road network density matter in optimally locating facilities?

Optimal location on the transport infrastructure is the preferable requirement for many decision making processes. Most studies have focused on evaluating performances of optimally locate p facilities by minimizing their distances to a geographically distributed demand (n) when p and n vary. The optimal locations are also sensitive to geographical context such as road network, especially when they are asymmetrically distributed in the plane. The influence of alternating road network density is however not a very well-studied problem especially when it is applied in a real world context. This paper aims to investigate how the density level of the road network affects finding optimal location by solving the specific case of p-median location problem. A denser network is found needed when a higher number of facilities are to locate. The best solution will not always be obtained in the most detailed network but in a middle density level. The solutions do not further improve or improve insignificantly as the density exceeds 12,000 nodes, some solutions even deteriorate. The hierarchy of the different densities of network can be used according to location and transportation purposes and increase the efficiency of heuristic methods. The method in this study can be applied to other location-allocation problem in transportation analysis where the road network density can be differentiated.