ECAI-2000 Tutorial "Stochastic Search Algorithms"

Outline

Introduction and Overview

Part I: Combinatorial Problems and Search

• Combinatorial problems
• Complexity issues
• Search methods
• Stochastic search

Part II: Stochastic Local Search Methods

• Simulated Annealing
• Tabu Search
• Iterated Local Search
• Evolutionary Algorithms
• Ant Colony Optimization

Part III: Stochastic Search Behaviour

• Empirical evaluation
• Search space characteristics
• Parameterisation and tuning

Part IV: Applications

• SAT
• Traveling Salesman Problem
• Quadratic Assignment Problem
• Scheduling
• Planning
• Combinatorial Auctions

Conclusions and Issues for Future Research