CFP: WCCI Special Session on Evolutionary Scheduling and Combinatorial Optimization

2018 IEEE WCCI, Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC)

8-13 July, 2018, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

Evolutionary scheduling and combinatorial optimisation (ESCO) is an important research area at the interface of artificial intelligence (AI) and operations research (OR). ESCO has attracted the attentions of researchers over the years due to its applicability and interesting computational aspects. Evolutionary Computation (EC) techniques are suitable for these problems since they are highly flexible regarding handling constraints, dynamic changes, and multiple conflicting objectives. With the growth of new technologies and business models, researchers in this field have to continuously face new challenges, which required innovated solution methods.

This special session focuses on both practical and theoretical aspects of Evolutionary Scheduling and Combinatorial Optimization. Examples of evolutionary methods include genetic algorithm, genetic programming, evolutionary strategies, ant colony optimisation, particle swarm optimisation, evolutionary based hyper-heuristics, memetic algorithms. Novel hybrid approaches that combine machine learning and evolutionary computation to solve difficult ESCO problems are highly encouraged. Examples include using machine learning to improve surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms, and designing evolutionary algorithms for reinforcement learning and transfer learning.

We welcome the submissions of quality papers that effectively use the power of EC techniques to solve hard and practical scheduling and combinatorial optimization problems. Papers with rigorous analyses of EC techniques and innovative solutions to handle challenging issues in scheduling and combinatorial optimisation problems are also highly encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but not limited to:

• Production scheduling
• Timetabling
• Vehicle routing
• Project scheduling
• Airport runway scheduling
• Transport scheduling
• Grid/cloud scheduling
• Evolutionary scheduling with Big Data
• Web service composition
• Wireless networking state location allocation
• Project scheduling
• 2D/3D strip packing
• Space allocation
• Multi-objective scheduling
• Multiple interdependent decisions
• Automated heuristic design
• Innovative applications of evolutionary scheduling and combinatorial optimisation

Important Dates:

• Paper Submission Deadline: January 15, 2018
• Paper Acceptance Notification Date: March 15, 2018
• Final Paper Submission & Early Registration Deadline: May 1st, 2018
• IEEE WCCI 2018: July 08-13, 2018

Special Session Organizers:
Dr. Su Nguyen, La Trobe University, Australia (p.nguyen4@latrobe.edu.au)
Dr. Yi Mei, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (yi.mei@ecs.vuw.ac.nz)
Dr. Gang (Aaron) Chen, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (aaron.chen@ecs.vuw.ac.nz)
Prof. Mengjie Zhang, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (Mengjie.Zhang@ecs.vuw.ac.nz)

Supported by Task Force: ECTC TF10: Evolutionary Scheduling and Combinatorial Optimisation