Consistent Neighborhood Search for Combinatorial Optimization. (13th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vasquez, Michel; Zufferey, Nicolas
• Other Names: Corti D. S. Academic Editor.; Upadhyay R. K. Academic Editor.; Weber E. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN computational mathematics. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-09-13
• Subjects: Numerical analysis -- Periodicals; Mathematics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Mathematics -- Data processing; Numerical analysis; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 510
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/671423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-7842

Abstract

Abstract : Many optimization problems (from academia or industry) require the use of a local search to find a satisfying solution in a reasonable amount of time, even if the optimality is not guaranteed. Usually, local search algorithms operate in a search space which contains complete solutions (feasible or not) to the problem. In contrast, in Consistent Neighborhood Search (CNS), after each variable assignment, the conflicting variables are deleted to keep the partial solution feasible, and the search can stop when all the variables have a value. In this paper, we formally propose a new heuristic solution method, CNS, which has a search behavior between exhaustive tree search and local search working with complete solutions. We then discuss, with a unified view, the great success of some existing heuristics, which can however be considered within the CNS framework, in various fields: graph coloring, frequency assignment in telecommunication networks, vehicle fleet management with maintenance constraints, and satellite range scheduling. Moreover, some lessons are given in order to have guidelines for the adaptation of CNS to other problems.