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Scatter Search and Path Relinking: Advances and Applications

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Book cover Handbook of Metaheuristics

Part of the book series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science ((ISOR,volume 57))

Abstract

Scatter search (SS) is a population-based method that has recently been shown to yield promising outcomes for solving combinatorial and nonlinear optimization problems. Based on formulations originally proposed in the 1960s for combining decision rules and problem constraints, SS uses strategies for combining solution vectors that have proved effective in a variety of problem settings. Path relinking (PR) has been suggested as an approach to integrate intensification and diversification strategies in a search scheme. The approach may be viewed as an extreme (highly focused) instance of a strategy that seeks to incorporate attributes of high quality solutions, by creating inducements to favor these attributes in the moves selected. The goal of this paper is to examine SS and PR strategies that provide useful alternatives to more established search methods. We describe the features of SS and PR that set them apart from other evolutionary approaches, and that offer opportunities for creating increasingly more versatile and effective methods in the future. Specific applications are summarized to provide a clearer understanding of settings where the methods are being used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Campus Box 419, Boulder, CO, 80309-0419, USA

    Fred Glover & Manuel Laguna

  2. Dpto. de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Facultad de Matemáticas, Universitat de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain

    Rafael Marti

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  1. Fred Glover
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  2. Manuel Laguna
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  3. Rafael Marti
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA

    Fred Glover

  2. College of Business, University of Colorado at Denver, USA

    Gary A. Kochenberger

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Glover, F., Laguna, M., Marti, R. (2003). Scatter Search and Path Relinking: Advances and Applications. In: Glover, F., Kochenberger, G.A. (eds) Handbook of Metaheuristics. International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, vol 57. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48056-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48056-5_1

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