Genetic Engineering Algorithm (GEA): An Efficient Metaheuristic Algorithm for Solving Combinatorial Optimization Problems

Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are known for their efficiency in solving combinatorial optimization problems, thanks to their ability to explore diverse solution spaces, handle various representations, exploit parallelism, preserve good solutions, adapt to changing dynamics, handle combinatorial diversity, and provide heuristic search. However, limitations such as premature convergence, lack of problem-specific knowledge, and randomness of crossover and mutation operators make GAs generally inefficient in finding an optimal solution. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a new metaheuristic algorithm called the Genetic Engineering Algorithm (GEA) that draws inspiration from genetic engineering concepts. GEA redesigns the traditional GA while incorporating new search methods to isolate, purify, insert, and express new genes based on existing ones, leading to the emergence of desired traits and the production of specific chromosomes based on the selected genes. Comparative evaluations against state-of-the-art algorithms on benchmark instances demonstrate the superior performance of GEA, showcasing its potential as an innovative and efficient solution for combinatorial optimization problems.Comment: Accepted in Data Analytics and Management in Data Intensive Domains (DAMDID/RCDL 2023

An intelligent decision support system for groundwater supply management and electromechanical infrastructure controls

This study presents an intelligent Decision Support System (DSS) aimed at bridging the theoretical-practical gap in groundwater management. The ongoing demand for sophisticated systems capable of interpreting extensive data to inform sustainable groundwater decision- making underscores the critical nature of this research. To meet this challenge, telemetry data from six randomly selected wells were used to establish a comprehensive database of groundwater pumping parameters, including flow rate, pressure, and current intensity. Statistical analysis of these parameters led to the determination of threshold values for critical factors such as water pressure and electrical current. Additionally, a soft sensor was developed using a Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm, enabling real-time forecasting of key variables. This was achieved by continuously comparing live telemetry data to pump design specifications and results from regular field testing. The proposed machine learning model ensures robust empirical monitoring of well and pump health. Furthermore, expert operational knowledge from water management professionals, gathered through a Classical Delphi (CD) technique, was seamlessly integrated. This collective expertise culminated in a data-driven framework for sustainable groundwater facilities monitoring. In conclusion, this innovative DSS not only addresses the theory-application gap but also leverages the power of data analytics and expert knowledge to provide high-precision online insights, thereby optimizing groundwater management practices

Sustainable and Robust Home Healthcare Logistics: A Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, research on healthcare logistics is an important challenge in developing and developed countries, especially when a pandemic such as COVID-19 occurs. The responses required during such a pandemic would benefit from an efficiently designed model for robust and sustainable healthcare logistics. In this study, we focus on home healthcare logistics and services for planning the routing and scheduling of caregivers to visit patients’ homes. Due to the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, these services are highly applicable for reducing the growth of the epidemic. In addition to this challenge, home healthcare logistics and services must be redesigned to meet the standards of a triple bottom line approach based on sustainable development goals. A triple bottom line approach finds a balance between economic, environmental, and social criteria for making a sustainable decision. Although, recently, the concept of green home healthcare has been studied based on the total cost and green emissions of home healthcare logistics and services, as far as we know, no research has been conducted on the formulation of a triple bottom line approach for home healthcare logistics and services. To achieve social justice for caregivers, the goal of balancing working time is to find a balance between unemployment time and overtime. Another contribution of this research is to develop a scenario-based robust optimization approach to address the uncertainty of home healthcare logistics and services and to assist with making robust decisions for home healthcare planning. Since our multi-objective optimization model for sustainable and robust home healthcare logistics and services is more complex than other studies, the last novel contribution of this research is to establish an efficient heuristic algorithm based on the Lagrangian relaxation theory. An initial solution is found by defining three heuristic algorithms. Our heuristic algorithms use a symmetric pattern for allocating patients to pharmacies and planning the routing of caregivers. Then, a combination of the epsilon constraint method and the Lagrangian relaxation theory is proposed to generate high-quality Pareto-based solutions in a reasonable time period. Finally, an extensive analysis is done to show that our multi-objective optimization model and proposed heuristic algorithm are efficient and practical, as well as some sensitivities are studied to provide some managerial insights for achieving sustainable and robust home healthcare services in practice

Multi-Objective Optimization of Home Healthcare with Working-Time Balancing and Care Continuity

The ageing population in most parts of the world becomes a grand challenge for healthcare decision-makers. The care of elderly persons and general hygienic care at patients’ homes are two main reasons to motivate an optimization problem, namely, home healthcare (HHC). A robust plan for caregivers to have sustainable HHC operations management is to consider working-time balancing of caregivers, care continuity and uncertainties, e.g., the uncertainty of patients’ availability in addition to service and travel times as well as the regulations of companies to meet the standards of high-quality home care services. Based on these motivations and challenges to this field, this study firstly established a multi-objective robust optimization of the HHC which is multi-depot, multi-period and multi-service. The demand of each patient in each period may be different due to promptness of services. Each caregiver plays one of the roles of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and nutritionists. The types of services are directly related to these roles. The objectives were optimizing the total cost of logistic activities as well as the total unemployment time of caregivers and care continuity. As a complicated optimization problem, this study innovated efficient heuristics and an enhanced nature-inspired metaheuristic. Finally, an extensive comparison with regards to the criteria of the multi-objective algorithms’ assessment was conducted. Some sensitivity analyses were conducted to conclude some practical insights

Sustainable and Robust Home Healthcare Logistics: A Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, research on healthcare logistics is an important challenge in developing and developed countries, especially when a pandemic such as COVID-19 occurs. The responses required during such a pandemic would benefit from an efficiently designed model for robust and sustainable healthcare logistics. In this study, we focus on home healthcare logistics and services for planning the routing and scheduling of caregivers to visit patients’ homes. Due to the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, these services are highly applicable for reducing the growth of the epidemic. In addition to this challenge, home healthcare logistics and services must be redesigned to meet the standards of a triple bottom line approach based on sustainable development goals. A triple bottom line approach finds a balance between economic, environmental, and social criteria for making a sustainable decision. Although, recently, the concept of green home healthcare has been studied based on the total cost and green emissions of home healthcare logistics and services, as far as we know, no research has been conducted on the formulation of a triple bottom line approach for home healthcare logistics and services. To achieve social justice for caregivers, the goal of balancing working time is to find a balance between unemployment time and overtime. Another contribution of this research is to develop a scenario-based robust optimization approach to address the uncertainty of home healthcare logistics and services and to assist with making robust decisions for home healthcare planning. Since our multi-objective optimization model for sustainable and robust home healthcare logistics and services is more complex than other studies, the last novel contribution of this research is to establish an efficient heuristic algorithm based on the Lagrangian relaxation theory. An initial solution is found by defining three heuristic algorithms. Our heuristic algorithms use a symmetric pattern for allocating patients to pharmacies and planning the routing of caregivers. Then, a combination of the epsilon constraint method and the Lagrangian relaxation theory is proposed to generate high-quality Pareto-based solutions in a reasonable time period. Finally, an extensive analysis is done to show that our multi-objective optimization model and proposed heuristic algorithm are efficient and practical, as well as some sensitivities are studied to provide some managerial insights for achieving sustainable and robust home healthcare services in practice

An Improved Optimization Algorithm Based on Density Grid for Green Storage Monitoring System

This study takes a sample of green storage monitoring data for corn from a biochemical energy enterprise, based on the enterprise’s original storage monitoring system while establishing a “green fortress” intending to achieve green and sustainable grain storage. This paper proposes a set of processing algorithms for real-time flow data from the storage system based on cluster analysis to detect abnormal storage conditions, achieve the goal of green grain storage and maximize benefits for the enterprises. Firstly, data from the corn storage monitoring system and the current status of research on data processing algorithms are analyzed. Our study summarizes the processing of re-al-time stream data together with the characteristics of the monitoring system and discusses the application of clustering analysis algorithms. The study includes an in-depth study of the green storage monitoring system data for corn and the processing requirements for real-time stream data. As the main novelty of this research, the optimization algorithm model is applied to the green storage monitoring system for maize and is validated. Finally, the processing results for the green storage monitoring data for maize are presented in graphical and textual formats

An Improved Optimization Algorithm Based on Density Grid for Green Storage Monitoring System

This study takes a sample of green storage monitoring data for corn from a biochemical energy enterprise, based on the enterprise’s original storage monitoring system while establishing a “green fortress” intending to achieve green and sustainable grain storage. This paper proposes a set of processing algorithms for real-time flow data from the storage system based on cluster analysis to detect abnormal storage conditions, achieve the goal of green grain storage and maximize benefits for the enterprises. Firstly, data from the corn storage monitoring system and the current status of research on data processing algorithms are analyzed. Our study summarizes the processing of re-al-time stream data together with the characteristics of the monitoring system and discusses the application of clustering analysis algorithms. The study includes an in-depth study of the green storage monitoring system data for corn and the processing requirements for real-time stream data. As the main novelty of this research, the optimization algorithm model is applied to the green storage monitoring system for maize and is validated. Finally, the processing results for the green storage monitoring data for maize are presented in graphical and textual formats

Editorial for Special Issue on “Intelligent Technologies and Processes for Advanced Nuclear Power and Energy Engineering”

This Special Issue, entitled “Intelligent Technologies and Processes for Advanced Nuclear Power and Energy Engineering”, was organized by the journal Processes as a way to collect original research articles on the latest developments in intelligent technologies and processes for advanced nuclear power and energy systems [...

Editorial for Special Issue on “Intelligent Technologies and Processes for Advanced Nuclear Power and Energy Engineering”

This Special Issue, entitled “Intelligent Technologies and Processes for Advanced Nuclear Power and Energy Engineering”, was organized by the journal Processes as a way to collect original research articles on the latest developments in intelligent technologies and processes for advanced nuclear power and energy systems [...