This book provides a complete background on metaheuristics to solve complex bi-level optimization problems (continuous/discrete, mono-objective/multi-objective) in a diverse range of application domains. Readers learn to solve large scale bi-level optimization problems by efficiently combining metaheuristics with complementary metaheuristics and mathematical programming approaches. Numerous real-world examples of problems demonstrate how metaheuristics are applied in such fields as networks, logistics and transportation, engineering design, finance and security.

Among the various multi-level formulations of mathematical models in decision making processes, this book focuses on the bi-level model. Being the most frequently used, the bi-level model addresses conflicts which exist in multi-level decision making processes. From the perspective of bi-level structure and uncertainty, this book takes real-life problems as the background, focuses on the so-called random-like uncertainty, and develops the general framework of random-like bi-level decision making problems. The random-like uncertainty considered in this book includes random phenomenon, random-overlapped random (Ra-Ra) phenomenon and fuzzy-overlapped random (Ra-Fu) phenomenon. Basic theory, models, algorithms and practical applications for different types of random-like bi-level decision making problems are also presented in this book.

2019 marked the 85th anniversary of Heinrich Freiherr von Stackelberg’s habilitation thesis “Marktform und Gleichgewicht,” which formed the roots of bilevel optimization. Research on the topic has grown tremendously since its introduction in the field of mathematical optimization. Besides the substantial advances that have been made from the perspective of game theory, many sub-fields of bilevel optimization have emerged concerning optimal control, multiobjective optimization, energy and electricity markets, management science, security and many more. Each chapter of this book covers a specific aspect of bilevel optimization that has grown significantly or holds great potential to grow, and was written by top experts in the corresponding area. In other words, unlike other works on the subject, this book consists of surveys of different topics on bilevel optimization. Hence, it can serve as a point of departure for students and researchers beginning their research journey or pursuing related projects. It also provides a unique opportunity for experienced researchers in the field to learn about the progress made so far and directions that warrant further investigation. All chapters have been peer-reviewed by experts on mathematical optimization.

This book presents recent research on bioinspired heuristics for optimization. Learning- based and black-box optimization exhibit some properties of intrinsic parallelization, and can be used for various optimizations problems. Featuring the most relevant work presented at the 6th International Conference on Metaheuristics and Nature Inspired Computing, held at Marrakech (Morocco) from 27th to 31st October 2016, the book presents solutions, methods, algorithms, case studies, and software. It is a valuable resource for research academics and industrial practitioners.

This book presents the proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Soft Computing Applications, SOFA 2018, held on 13–15 September 2018 in Arad, Romania. The workshop was organized by Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, in conjunction with the Institute of Computer Science, Iasi Branch of the Romanian Academy, IEEE Romanian Section, Romanian Society of Control Engineering and Technical Informatics – Arad Section, General Association of Engineers in Romania – Arad Section and BTM Resources Arad. The papers included in these proceedings, published post-conference, cover the research including Knowledge-Based Technologies for Web Applications, Cloud Computing, Security Algorithms and Computer Networks, Business Process Management, Computational Intelligence in Education and Modelling and Applications in Textiles and many other areas related to the Soft Computing. The book is directed to professors, researchers, and graduate students in area of soft computing techniques and applications.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the Second Australasian Conference on Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence, ACALCI 2016, held in Canberra, ACT, Australia, in February 2016. The 30 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 41 submissions. They are organized in topical sections named: mathematical modeling and theory; learning and optimization; planning and scheduling; feature selection; and applications and games.

The reference text introduces the principles of quantum mechanics to evolve hybrid metaheuristics-based optimization techniques useful for real world engineering and scientific problems. The text covers advances and trends in methodological approaches, theoretical studies, mathematical and applied techniques related to hybrid quantum metaheuristics and their applications to engineering problems. The book will be accompanied by additional resources including video demonstration for each chapter. It will be a useful text for graduate students and professional in the field of electrical engineering, electronics and communications engineering, and computer science engineering, this text: Discusses quantum mechanical principles in detail. Emphasizes the recent and upcoming hybrid quantum metaheuristics in a comprehensive manner. Provides comparative statistical test analysis with conventional hybrid metaheuristics. Highlights real-life case studies, applications, and video demonstrations.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Bioinspired Optimization Methods and Their Applications, BIOMA 2020, held in Brussels, Belgium, in November 2020. The 24 full papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 68 submissions. The papers in this BIOMA proceedings specialized in bioinspired algorithms as a means for solving the optimization problems and came in two categories: theoretical studies and methodology advancements on the one hand, and algorithm adjustments and their applications on the other. Due to the Corona pandemic BIOMA 2020 was held as a virtual event.

This book constitutes refereed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Mathematical Optimization Theory and Operations Research, MOTOR 2022, held in Petrozavodsk, Russia, in July 2022. The 21 full papers and 3 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 88 submissions. The papers in the volume are organised according to the following topical headings: ​invited talks; integer programming and combinatorial optimization; mathematical programming; game theory and optimal control; operational research applications.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge approaches for decision-making in hierarchical organizations. It presents soft-computing-based techniques, including fuzzy sets, neural networks, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization, and shows how these approaches can be effectively used to deal with problems typical of this kind of organization. After introducing the main classical approaches applied to multiple-level programming, the book describes a set of soft-computing techniques, demonstrating their advantages in providing more efficient solutions to hierarchical decision-making problems compared to the classical methods. Based on the book Fuzzy and Multi-Level Decision Making (Springer, 2001) by Lee E.S and Shih, H., this second edition has been expanded to include the most recent findings and methods and a broader spectrum of soft computing approaches. All the algorithms are presented in detail, together with a wealth of practical examples and solutions to real-world problems, providing students, researchers and professionals with a timely, practice-oriented reference guide to the area of interactive fuzzy decision making, multi-level programming and hierarchical optimization.