Application of Optimisation to Real World Problems
Investigation and development of methodologies and algorithms to provide for the production of high quality examination timetables.
Investigation of techniques used for resource planning i.e. length and structure of examination session and rooms availability.
This will allow the production of timetables which are both fair equitable to every student within the confines of the available resources.
Research Challenges
Understand how to construct better initial solutions incorporating domain specific knowledge.
Understand the nature of the relationship between construction and improvement techniques.
Model all the realworld aspects of the probem.
Model the problem as multi-objective and explore the trade offs which exist.
Develope intuitive and strategicly useful interfaces for the construction and development of a solution
New datasets becoming available on a regular basis encompassing more real world requirements.
The development of robust techniques which are able to deal with the information poor environments within which examination timetables are often developed.
Investigation of a reformulation of the problem, including new hard and soft constraints which better reflect the real world environment.
Identification and comparison of key dataset characteristics and potential linkages with the likely best search approach to be taken.
The investigation of all aspects of solution quality in the provision of the ‘best’ solution for the institution.
The exploration of new search technologies in establishing how developed systems can be made more general.
Investigation of how to incorporate user interface design with the inherent complexity of the problem.
Wide ranging Investigation of different neighbouhood structures and fitness landscape within the context of real world problem solving environments.