This book gathers together a set of chapters covering recent development in optimization methods that are inspired by nature. The first group of chapters describes in detail different meta-heuristic algorithms, and shows their applicability using some test or real-world problems. The second part of the book is especially focused on advanced applications and case studies. They span different engineering fields, including mechanical, electrical and civil engineering, and earth/environmental science, and covers topics such as robotics, water management, process optimization, among others. The book covers both basic concepts and advanced issues, offering a timely introduction to nature-inspired optimization method for newcomers and students, and a source of inspiration as well as important practical insights to engineers and researchers.

Modern metaheuristic algorithms such as bee algorithms and harmony search start to demonstrate their power in dealing with tough optimization problems and even NP-hard problems. This book reviews and introduces the state-of-the-art nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms in optimization, including genetic algorithms, bee algorithms, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing, ant colony optimization, harmony search, and firefly algorithms. We also briefly introduce the photosynthetic algorithm, the enzyme algorithm, and Tabu search. Worked examples with implementation have been used to show how each algorithm works. This book is thus an ideal textbook for an undergraduate and/or graduate course. As some of the algorithms such as the harmony search and firefly algorithms are at the forefront of current research, this book can also serve as a reference book for researchers.

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to nature-inspired metaheuristic methods for search and optimization, including the latest trends in evolutionary algorithms and other forms of natural computing. Over 100 different types of these methods are discussed in detail. The authors emphasize non-standard optimization problems and utilize a natural approach to the topic, moving from basic notions to more complex ones. An introductory chapter covers the necessary biological and mathematical backgrounds for understanding the main material. Subsequent chapters then explore almost all of the major metaheuristics for search and optimization created based on natural phenomena, including simulated annealing, recurrent neural networks, genetic algorithms and genetic programming, differential evolution, memetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, artificial immune systems, ant colony optimization, tabu search and scatter search, bee and bacteria foraging algorithms, harmony search, biomolecular computing, quantum computing, and many others. General topics on dynamic, multimodal, constrained, and multiobjective optimizations are also described. Each chapter includes detailed flowcharts that illustrate specific algorithms and exercises that reinforce important topics. Introduced in the appendix are some benchmarks for the evaluation of metaheuristics. Search and Optimization by Metaheuristics is intended primarily as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students specializing in engineering and computer science. It will also serve as a valuable resource for scientists and researchers working in these areas, as well as those who are interested in search and optimization methods.

This book exemplifies how algorithms are developed by mimicking nature. Classical techniques for solving day-to-day problems is time-consuming and cannot address complex problems. Metaheuristic algorithms are nature-inspired optimization techniques for solving real-life complex problems. This book emphasizes the social behaviour of insects, animals and other natural entities, in terms of converging power and benefits. Major nature-inspired algorithms discussed in this book include the bee colony algorithm, ant colony algorithm, grey wolf optimization algorithm, whale optimization algorithm, firefly algorithm, bat algorithm, ant lion optimization algorithm, grasshopper optimization algorithm, butterfly optimization algorithm and others. The algorithms have been arranged in chapters to help readers gain better insight into nature-inspired systems and swarm intelligence. All the MATLAB codes have been provided in the appendices of the book to enable readers practice how to solve examples included in all sections. This book is for experts in Engineering and Applied Sciences, Natural and Formal Sciences, Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithms provides a systematic introduction to all major nature-inspired algorithms for optimization. The book's unified approach, balancing algorithm introduction, theoretical background and practical implementation, complements extensive literature with well-chosen case studies to illustrate how these algorithms work. Topics include particle swarm optimization, ant and bee algorithms, simulated annealing, cuckoo search, firefly algorithm, bat algorithm, flower algorithm, harmony search, algorithm analysis, constraint handling, hybrid methods, parameter tuning and control, as well as multi-objective optimization. This book can serve as an introductory book for graduates, doctoral students and lecturers in computer science, engineering and natural sciences. It can also serve a source of inspiration for new applications. Researchers and engineers as well as experienced experts will also find it a handy reference. - Discusses and summarizes the latest developments in nature-inspired algorithms with comprehensive, timely literature - Provides a theoretical understanding as well as practical implementation hints - Provides a step-by-step introduction to each algorithm

This book engages in an ongoing topic, such as the implementation of nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms, with a main concentration on optimization problems in different fields of engineering optimization applications. The chapters of the book provide concise overviews of various nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms, defining their profits in obtaining the optimal solutions of tiresome engineering design problems that cannot be efficiently resolved via conventional mathematical-based techniques. Thus, the chapters report on advanced studies on the applications of not only the traditional, but also the contemporary certain nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms to specific engineering optimization problems with single and multi-objectives. Harmony search, artificial bee colony, teaching learning-based optimization, electrostatic discharge, grasshopper, backtracking search, and interactive search are just some of the methods exhibited and consulted step by step in application contexts. The book is a perfect guide for graduate students, researchers, academicians, and professionals willing to use metaheuristic algorithms in engineering optimization applications.

Nature-Inspired Algorithms have been gaining much popularity in recent years due to the fact that many real-world optimisation problems have become increasingly large, complex and dynamic. The size and complexity of the problems nowadays require the development of methods and solutions whose efficiency is measured by their ability to find acceptable results within a reasonable amount of time, rather than an ability to guarantee the optimal solution. This volume 'Nature-Inspired Algorithms for Optimisation' is a collection of the latest state-of-the-art algorithms and important studies for tackling various kinds of optimisation problems. It comprises 18 chapters, including two introductory chapters which address the fundamental issues that have made optimisation problems difficult to solve and explain the rationale for seeking inspiration from nature. The contributions stand out through their novelty and clarity of the algorithmic descriptions and analyses, and lead the way to interesting and varied new applications.

This book presents a systematic approach to analyze nature-inspired algorithms. Beginning with an introduction to optimization methods and algorithms, this book moves on to provide a unified framework of mathematical analysis for convergence and stability. Specific nature-inspired algorithms include: swarm intelligence, ant colony optimization, particle swarm optimization, bee-inspired algorithms, bat algorithm, firefly algorithm, and cuckoo search. Algorithms are analyzed from a wide spectrum of theories and frameworks to offer insight to the main characteristics of algorithms and understand how and why they work for solving optimization problems. In-depth mathematical analyses are carried out for different perspectives, including complexity theory, fixed point theory, dynamical systems, self-organization, Bayesian framework, Markov chain framework, filter theory, statistical learning, and statistical measures. Students and researchers in optimization, operations research, artificial intelligence, data mining, machine learning, computer science, and management sciences will see the pros and cons of a variety of algorithms through detailed examples and a comparison of algorithms.

Many approaches have sprouted from artificial intelligence (AI) and produced major breakthroughs in the computer science and engineering industries. Deep learning is a method that is transforming the world of data and analytics. Optimization of this new approach is still unclear, however, and there’s a need for research on the various applications and techniques of deep learning in the field of computing. Deep Learning Techniques and Optimization Strategies in Big Data Analytics is a collection of innovative research on the methods and applications of deep learning strategies in the fields of computer science and information systems. While highlighting topics including data integration, computational modeling, and scheduling systems, this book is ideally designed for engineers, IT specialists, data analysts, data scientists, engineers, researchers, academicians, and students seeking current research on deep learning methods and its application in the digital industry.

This book offers a thorough overview of the most popular and researched meta-heuristic optimization techniques and nature-inspired algorithms. Their wide applicability makes them a hot research topic and an effi cient tool for the solution of complex optimization problems in various fi elds of sciences, engineering, and in numerous industries.