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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N36660/01
Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF HYPER-HEURISTIC METHODS: A NEW GENERATION OF PROBLEMS-SOLVERS
Principal Investigator: Ross, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Burke, Professor EK Hart, Professor E
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Computing
Organisation: Edinburgh Napier University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 14 February 2001 Ends: 13 July 2004 Value (£): 256,547
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Artificial Intelligence
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
GR/N36837/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This research seeks to investigate and develop heuristics that choose heuristics (hyper-heuristics). Problems which may appear similar can require different heuristics to produce good quality solutions. For example, in stock cutting where space is at a premium, large shapes can be effectively placed by considering those first. In another stock cutting problem where space is not such an issue, this strategy produces poorer solutions. For this problem domain a two phase approach is likely to produce good results. In the first phase one heuristic prioritises the order in which shapes are considered and phase two is used to place each shape. In order to explore the general idea further, we need a wide-ranging investigation that develops heuristics that selects ,other heuristics and applies this hyper-heuristic idea to many different problem domains. A successful outcome of this ambitious but achievable project would provide a significant step forward in the way these difficult problems are handled and also increase our understanding as to the nature of these problems and how best to solve them. The UK has an excellent track record in this research area and this project would help maintain and enhance our international position in this expanding field.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk