Systematic change of neighborhood within a possibly randomized local search algorithm yields a simple and e€ective metaheuristic for combinatorial and global optimization, called variable neighborhood search (VNS). We present a basic scheme for this purpose, which can easily be implemented using any local search algorithm as a subroutine. Its e€ectiveness is illustrated by solving several class...

In this paper, a well known NP-hard problem, the Constrained Shortest Path problem, is studied. As efficient metaheuristic approaches are required for its solution, a new hybridized version of Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm with Variable Neighborhood Search is proposed for solving this significant combinatorial optimization problem. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a population-based...

Given an undirected graph with prizes associated with its nodes and weights associated with its edges, the prize-collecting Steiner tree problem consists in finding a subtree of this graph which minimizes the sum of the weights of its edges plus the prizes of the nodes not spanned. In this paper, we describe a multi-start local search algorithm for the prize-collecting Steiner tree problem, bas...

The leather nesting problem is a cutting and packing optimization problem that consists in finding the best layout for a set of irregular pieces within a natural leather hide with an irregular surface and contour. In this paper, we address a real application of this problem related to the production of car seats in the automotive industry. The high quality requirements imposed on these products...

In order to effectively solve the dynamic vehicle routing problem with time windows, the mathematical model is established and an improved variable neighborhood search algorithm is proposed. In the algorithm, allocation customers and planning routes for the initial solution are completed by the clustering method. Hybrid operators of insert and exchange are used to achieve the shaking process, t...

In this article we investigate a new variant of Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS): Relaxation Guided Variable Neighborhood Search. It is based on the general VNS scheme and a new Variable Neighborhood Descent (VND) algorithm. The ordering of the neighborhood structures in this VND is determined by solving relaxations of them. The objective values of these relaxations are used as indicators for...

In this article we investigate a new variant of Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS): Relaxation Guided Variable Neighborhood Search. It is based on the general VNS scheme and a new Variable Neighborhood Descent (VND) algorithm. The ordering of the neighborhood structures in this VND is determined dynamically by solving relaxations of them. The objective values of these relaxations are used as in...

We present two heuristic methods for solving the Discrete Ordered Median Problem (DOMP), for which no such approaches have been developed so far. The DOMP generalizes classical discrete facility location problems, such as the p-median, p-center and Uncapacitated Facility Location problems. The first procedure proposed in this paper is based on a genetic algorithm developed by Moreno Vega [MV96]...

Mass spectrometry (MS) data provide a promising strategy for biomarker discovery. For this purpose, the detection of relevant peakbins in MS data is currently under intense research. Data from mass spectrometry are challenging to analyze because of their high dimensionality and the generally low number of samples available. To tackle this problem, the scientific community is becoming increasing...

This work presents three multi-objective heuristic algorithms based on Two-phase Pareto Local Search with VNS (2PPLS-VNS), Multi-objective Variable Neighborhood Search (MOVNS) and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). The algorithms were applied to the open-pit-mining operational planning problem with dynamic truck allocation (OPMOP). Approximations to Pareto sets generated by t...