Issues In Designing Parallel And Distributed Search Algorithms For Discrete Optimization Problems

In the past two decades, breakthroughs in computer technology have made a tremendous impact on optimization. In particular, availability of parallel computers has created substantial interest in exploring the use of parallel processing for solving discrete and global optimization problems. The chapters in this volume cover a broad spectrum of recent research in parallel processing of discrete and related problems. The topics discussed include distributed branch-and-bound algorithms, parallel genetic algorithms for large scale discrete problems, simulated annealing, parallel branch-and-bound search under limited-memory constraints, parallelization of greedy randomized adaptive search procedures, parallel optical models of computing, randomized parallel algorithms, general techniques for the design of parallel discrete algorithms, parallel algorithms for the solution of quadratic assignment and satisfiability problems. The book will be a valuable source of information to faculty, students and researchers in combinatorial optimization and related areas.

Mathematics of Computing -- Parallelism.

This book contains papers presented at the Workshop on Parallel Processing of Discrete Optimization Problems held at DIMACS in April 1994. The contents cover a wide spectrum of the most recent algorithms and applications in parallel processing of discrete optimization and related problems. Topics include parallel branch and bound algorithms, scalability, load balancing, parallelism and irregular data structures and scheduling task graphs on parallel machines. Applications include parallel algorithms for solving satisfiability problems, location problems, linear programming, quadratic and linear assignment problems. This book would be suitable as a textbook in advanced courses on parallel algorithms and combinatorial optimization.

This volume is based on proceedings held during the DIMACS workshop on Randomization Methods in Algorithm Design in December 1997 at Princeton. The workshop was part of the DIMACS Special Year on Discrete Probability. It served as an interdisciplinary research workshop that brought together a mix of leading theorists, algorithmists and practitioners working in the theory and implementation aspects of algorithms involving randomization. Randomization has played an important role in the design of both sequential and parallel algorithms. The last decade has witnessed tremendous growth in the area of randomized algorithms. During this period, randomized algorithms went from being a tool in computational number theory to finding widespread applications in many problem domains. Major topics covered include randomization techniques for linear and integer programming problems, randomization in the design of approximate algorithms for combinatorial problems, randomization in parallel and distributed algorithms, practical implementation of randomized algorithms, de-randomization issues, and pseudo-random generators. This volume focuses on theory and implementation aspects of algorithms involving randomization. It would be suitable as a graduate or advanced graduate text.

TEODOR GABRIEL CRAINIC, DIRECTOR The Centre for Research on Transportation (C.R.T.) was founded in 1971 by the Universite de Montreal. From 1988 on, it is jointly managed by the Universite de Montreal and its affiliated schools, the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales and Ecole Poly technique. Professors, students and researchers from many institutions in the Montreal area join forces at the C.R.T. to analyze transportation, logistics and telecommunication systems from a multidisciplinary perspective. The C.R.T. pursues three major, complementary objectives: training of high-level specialists; the advancement of knowledge and technology; the transfer of technology towards industry and the public sector. Its main field of expertise is the develop ment of quantitative and computer-based models and methods for the analysis of urban, regional and intercity transportation networks, as well as telecommunication systems. This applies to the study of passenger and commodity flows, as well as to the socioeconomic aspects of transportation: policy, regulation, economics. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the C.R.T. offered the opportunity to evaluate past accomplishments and to identify future trends and challenges. Five colloquia were thus organized on major research and application themes that also reflected our main research areas. They gathered together internationally renowned researchers who linked recent scientific and technological advances to modeling and methodological challenges waiting to be tackled, particularly concerning new problems and applica tions, and the increasingly widespread use of new technologies.

Meta-Heuristics: Advances and Trends in Local Search Paradigms for Optimizations comprises a carefully refereed selection of extended versions of the best papers presented at the Second Meta-Heuristics Conference (MIC 97). The selected articles describe the most recent developments in theory and applications of meta-heuristics, heuristics for specific problems, and comparative case studies. The book is divided into six parts, grouped mainly by the techniques considered. The extensive first part with twelve papers covers tabu search and its application to a great variety of well-known combinatorial optimization problems (including the resource-constrained project scheduling problem and vehicle routing problems). In the second part we find one paper where tabu search and simulated annealing are investigated comparatively and two papers which consider hybrid methods combining tabu search with genetic algorithms. The third part has four papers on genetic and evolutionary algorithms. Part four arrives at a new paradigm within meta-heuristics. The fifth part studies the behavior of parallel local search algorithms mainly from a tabu search perspective. The final part examines a great variety of additional meta-heuristics topics, including neural networks and variable neighbourhood search as well as guided local search. Furthermore, the integration of meta-heuristics with the branch-and-bound paradigm is investigated.

Computational Science is the scienti?c discipline that aims at the development and understanding of new computational methods and techniques to model and simulate complex systems. The area of application includes natural systems – such as biology, envir- mental and geo-sciences, physics, and chemistry – and synthetic systems such as electronics and ?nancial and economic systems. The discipline is a bridge b- ween ‘classical’ computer science – logic, complexity, architecture, algorithms – mathematics, and the use of computers in the aforementioned areas. The relevance for society stems from the numerous challenges that exist in the various science and engineering disciplines, which can be tackled by advances made in this ?eld. For instance new models and methods to study environmental issues like the quality of air, water, and soil, and weather and climate predictions through simulations, as well as the simulation-supported development of cars, airplanes, and medical and transport systems etc. Paraphrasing R. Kenway (R.D. Kenway, Contemporary Physics. 1994): ‘There is an important message to scientists, politicians, and industrialists: in the future science, the best industrial design and manufacture, the greatest medical progress, and the most accurate environmental monitoring and forecasting will be done by countries that most rapidly exploit the full potential ofcomputational science’. Nowadays we have access to high-end computer architectures and a large range of computing environments, mainly as a consequence of the enormous s- mulus from the various international programs on advanced computing, e.g.

The well defined model of distributed constraints satisfaction and optimization (DisCSPs/DisCOPs) can serve as the basis for the design and investigation of distributed search algorithms, of protocols and of negotiations and search. This book presents a comprehensive discussion on the field of distributed constraints, its algorithms and its active research areas. The book introduces distributed constraint satisfaction and optimization problems and describes the underlying model.