Harmony Search Algorithm For Architectural, Civil, Environmental, Transportation & Energy Engineering

Zong Woo Geem, WESTAT

Various architectural, civil, environmental, transportation & energy engineering problems have been solved using diverse optimization algorithms. Traditional mathematical optimization models such as linear programming, non-linear programming, and dynamic programming have had major roles in solving these problems. However, their drawbacks generated demand for new-paradigm meta-heuristic algorithms such as Genetic Algorithm, Simulated Annealing, and Tabu Search.  However, there are still some possibilities of devising new meta-heuristic algorithms based on analogies with natural or artificial phenomena. A meta-heuristic algorithm, mimicking the improvisation of music players, has been recently developed and named Harmony Search. The algorithm has been successfully applied to various architectural, civil and environmental, transportation & energy engineering problems such as truss structure design, water distribution network design, flood model parameter estimation, school bus routing, and minimal-energy pump switching. Harmony Search algorithm has obtained better solutions, comparing with other mathematical or meta-heuristic algorithms.

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