Genetic Algorithms

Objectives
To provide a background and understanding of basic genetic
algorithms and some of their applications.

•a basic genetic algorithm

•the basic discussion
•the applications of the algorithm
Genetic Algorithms

1859

Origin of the Species

Survival of the Fittest

Genetic Algorithms

1975

Genetic Algorithms

Artificial Survival of the Fittest

 Genetic Algorithms
Terms

Biological GA Terms

Chromosome String
Gene Feature, character
Genomes Guesses, solutions, collection of genes

Genetic algorithms are search procedures based on

the mechanics of genetics and natural selection.
 Genetic Algorithms

Numerous techniques and algorithms have been

developed to assist the engineer in the creation of
optimum development strategies.

These procedures quickly converge to optimal

solutions after examining only a small fraction of the
search space and have been successfully applied
to complex engineering optimisation problems.
 Genetic Algorithms

Evolution in the animal world allows developing

species to thrive in particular environments.

Genetic algorithms are capable of solving other

types of problems, using genetic operators
abstracted from nature, they form a mechanism
suitable for a variety of search problems.
 Genetic Algorithms

Genetic algorithms try to imitate the Darwinian

evolution process in computer programs.

Conceivable solutions are represented, the 'fittest'

will have the greatest chance of reproducing.

Successful properties will therefore be favourably

represented within the population of solutions.
The population is the successively 'optimised' after a
number of generations.
 Genetic Algorithms

In evolutionary systems, populations evolve by

selective pressures, mating between individuals, and
alterations such as mutations.

In genetic algorithms, operators duplicate,

recombine and change solutions in the current
population to create a new population, simulating
similar effects.
 Genetic Algorithms

A genetic algorithm simulates Darwinian theory of

evolution using highly parallel, mathematical
algorithms that, transform a set (population) of
mathematical object (typically strings of 1's and 0's)
into a new population, using operators such as:
reproduction, mutation and crossover.
 Genetic Algorithms

The initial population is selected at random, which

could be the toss of a coin, computer generated or
by some other means, and the algorithm will
continue until a certain time or a certain condition is
met.
 Genetic Algorithms

Determine the initial population of creatures

Determine the fitness of the population
Reproduce the population using the fittest parents
of the last generation
Determine the crossover point, this can also be
random
Determine if mutation occurs and if so on which
creature(s)
• Repeat from step 2 with the new population until
condition (X) is true
 Genetic Algorithms

Such algorithms differ from traditional search and

optimisation methods in that they

use codings of the control parameters

adapt solutions themselves
process successive generations
use randomised operators.
 Genetic Algorithms
Encoding the Solutions

The decision variables of a problem are

normally encoded into a finite length string
This could be a binary string or a list of integers
For example :
0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 or 5 1 4 2 3 4 1

We could also represent

numbers as coloured boxes
 Genetic Algorithms
Encoding the Solutions

Initial population
Evaluations on the population
Breeding (iteratively)
Choose suitable parents
Produce two offspring
Mutation

Evaluation function - Domain knowledge

 Genetic Algorithms
Flowchart (20 generations)
Generate Initial Population
Population n=1 Generation 'n'

Reproduce
Population

Crossover
Population
Final
Mutate Population
Population
n < 20
n=n+1
n = 20
 Genetic Algorithms
Reproduction

Solutions are carried

forward to the next
1 1 stage based on
weighted probability.
2 2
Some will survive (1)
3 3 Some will reproduce (2)
Some will die out (3)
 Genetic Algorithms
Parent selection

•Sum the fitnesses of all the Roulette Wheel

population members, TF Selection
•Generate a random number, m,
between 0 and TF
•Return the first population member
whose fitness added to the preceding
population members is greater than or
equal to m
 Genetic Algorithms
Crossover

A percentage of the
Crossover
population is selected for
1 1 breeding and assigned
random mates.

2 2 A random crossover
point is selected and a
pair of new solutions
One Point Crossover in
are produced
Genetic Algorithms

© Graham Kendall
gxk@[Link] Adapted from Dr Graham Kendall’s G5BAIM lecture example
[Link]
Genetic Algorithms
Mutation

In a small percentage of
the population random
changes are made.
Genetic Algorithm Performance

There are a number of factors which affect

the performance of a genetic algorithm.

• The size of the population

• The cross-over probability
• The mutation probability
• Defining convergence
• Local optimisation
 Genetic Algorithms
Each iteration of the loop is called a generation, fitness
can be gauged in several different ways depending on the
application of the algorithm.

Reproduction and crossover play the primary role in artificial

genetic search. Reproduction emphasises highly fit strings
(or good solutions), and crossover recombines these selected
solutions for new, potentially better solutions.

Mutation plays a secondary role in the search by providing

diversity in the population.
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

Maximise f(x) = x3 - 60 * x2 + 900 * x +100

0 <= x <= 31

Crossover probability, PC = 1.0

Mutation probability, PM = 0.0
x can be represented using five binary digits
0
1
100
941 f(x) = x^3 - 60x^2 + 900x + 100
2 1668
3 2287
4 2804
5 3225
6 3556 Max : x = 10
7 3803
8 3972
9 4069
10 4100 4500
11 4071
12 3988 4000
13 3857
14 3684 3500
15 3475
16 3236 3000
17 2973
18 2692
2500
19 2399
20 2100
2000
21 1801
1500
22 1508
23 1227
1000

Adapted from Dr Graham Kendall’s G5BAIM lecture example

24 964
25 725
500
26 516
27 343
0
28 212
29 129 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37
30 100
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

Generating random initial population

Maximise f(x) = x3 - 60 * x2 + 900 * x +100 (0 <= x <= 31)

chromosome binary string x f(x)

P1 11100 28 212
P2 01111 15 3475
P3 10111 23 1227
P4 00100 4 2804
Total 7718
Average 1929.50
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

Choose two parents (roulette selection)

Roulette wheel Parents

4116 P3
1915 P2
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

One point crossover (random position 1)

P3 1 0 1 1 1 P4 0 0 1 0 0
P2 0 1 1 1 1 P2 0 1 1 1 1

C1 1 1 1 1 1 C3 0 0 1 1 1
C2 0 0 1 1 1 C4 0 1 1 0 0
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

New generation
Maximise f(x) = x3 - 60 * x2 + 900 * x +100 (0 <= x <= 31)

chromosome binary string x f(x)

P1 11111 31 131
P2 00111 7 3803
P3 00111 7 3803
P4 01100 12 3889
Total 11735
Average 2933.75
 Genetic Algorithm Example I

Two generations
Maximise f(x) = x3 - 60 * x2 + 900 * x +100 (0 <= x <= 31)

chromosome binary x f(x) chromosome binary x f(x)

string string
P1 11100 28 212 P1 11111 31 131
P2 01111 15 3475 P2 00111 7 3803
P3 10111 23 1227 P3 00111 7 3803
P4 00100 4 2804 P4 01100 12 3889
Total 7718 Total 11735
Average 1929.50 Average 2933.75

Mutation
 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Traveling Salesman Problem

a number of cities
costs of traveling between cities

a traveling sales man needs to visit all these

cities exactly once and return to the starting
city

What’s the cheapest route?

 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Traveling Salesman Problem

 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Initial generation
P1 5 8 1 … … 84 32 27 54 67 6.5
P2 78 81 27 … … 9 11 7 44 24 7.8
…
P30 8 1 7 … … 9 16 36 24 19 6.0
 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Choose pairs of parents

P30 8 1 7 … … 9 16 36 24 19 6.0
P2 78 81 27 … … 9 11 7 44 24 7.8

Crossover

C1 8 1 7 … … 9 11 13
7 44 24 5.9
C2 78 81 27 … … 9 16 36 24 19 6.2
 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Next generation

P1 8 1 7 … … 9 11 7 44 24 5.9
P2 78 81 27 … … 9 16 36 24 19 6.2
…
P2 7 8 2 … … 5 10 76 4 79 6.0
 Genetic Algorithm Example II

Traveling Salesman Problem

No. of cities: 100
Population size: 30

Cost: 6.37 Cost: 6.34

Generation: 88 Generation: 1100
 Genetic Algorithms
Genetic algorithms by their very nature consider a
wide range of the search space for a particular
problem.

Unlike other techniques they search from a population

of points not from a single point, they are therefore
less likely to become trapped on false optimisation
peaks.

Using simple operations, genetic algorithms are able

to rapidly optimise design parameters after examining
only a small fraction of the search space.
 Genetic Algorithms
There are many diverse applications of genetic algorithms,
but there are proviso's. They are best suited to problems
where the efficient solutions are not already known. If
they are applied to these solvable problems then they will
be easily out-performed by the efficient known, standard
computing method.

The strength of GA's is their ability to heuristically search

for solutions when all else fails. But before one can use
the algorithm you must be able to represent the solutions
to the problem in a suitable format, such as a series of 1's
and 0's. If you can do this then the GA will do the rest.
 Applying
Genetic Algorithms
to Personnel Scheduling
 Personnel Scheduling

Personnel scheduling in healthcare

is usually a very complex operation
which has a profound effect upon the
efficient usage of expensive resources.
 Personnel Scheduling
•shift coverage
A number of nurses •one shift per day
A number of shifts each day
A set of constraints •resting time
•workload per month
•consecutive shifts
•working weekends
•…
Personnel Scheduling
 Personnel Scheduling
Genetic Algorithm
-Initial population
-construct rosters
-repair infeasible ones
 Personnel Scheduling
Genetic Algorithm
-Select parents
-Recombine rows in the two rosters
-repair infeasible ones

+
 Personnel Scheduling
Genetic Algorithm
-Mutation
-Local optimiser
 Testing Scheme

Population Size 50
Crossover Probability 0.7
Mutation Probability 0.001
Local Optimiser ON
 Future Development
 Improving Efficiency
• Parameter tuning
• Crossover operators
• Local optimiser
 Conclusions
 GA approach is feasible and practical
 Heuristic
• Can produce better results
• Not guaranteed
 Flexible
• Fitness (evaluation) function
• Independent of GA engine
 Conclusions
Predictions have been made that advances in
mathematics, fuzzy logic, chaos and fractals will
promote and enhance the work currently being
undertaken by GA's.

The future will bring forth new applications of

genetic algorithms and new techniques which will
allow GA's to be fully exploited.
 Conclusions
Survival of the fittest, the most fit of a particular
generation (the nearest to a correct answer) are used
as parents for the next generation.

The most fit of this new generation are parents for the
next, and so on. This eradicates bad solutions and
eliminates bad family lines, bad parents don't have
opportunity to produce bad children.

This facilitates the progression towards an answer to

be onwards and upwards.
 Conclusions
As we have seen Genetic algorithms are a very
powerful tool, allowing searching for solutions when
there are no other feasible means to do so.

The algorithm is easy to produce and simple to

understand and enhancements easily introduced. This
gives the algorithm much flexibility, which increases
it's value.

But, exploitation of the algorithm has still much more

work to be done.