Central Concerns and Questions
We are interested in investigating solution methodologies and systems for large-scale optimisation problems. Specifically, we develop meta-heuristics and techniques to solve these problems in a computationally efficient manner. We are focusing on automating the development and the tuning of these heuristics.
Emerging Ideas and Initiatives
Automated tuning of heuristics is an exciting emerging research topic in Artificial Intelligence. We study the use of machine learning coupled with computation and human visualisation to design frameworks that facilitates automated tuning of heuristics in solving large-scale problems. We also look at generic algorithmic paradigms for coping with computational intractability arising from data uncertainty in large-scale optimisation.
Selected Publications
[1] Z. Zhao, S. Ge and H. C. Lau. Integrated Resource Allocation and Scheduling in Bidirectional Flow Shop with Multi-Machine and COS Constraints. IEEE Trans. Systems, Man, Cybernetics (Part C), 39:2, 190-200, 2009.
[2] G. Feng and H. C. Lau. Efficient algorithms for machine scheduling problems with earliness and tardiness penalties . Annals of Operations Research, 159, 83-95, 2008 .
[3] Pradeep Varakantham, Stephen F. Smith : Linear relaxation techniques for task management in uncertain settings. In International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling ICAPS 2008 : 363-371.
[4] H. C. Lau, T. Ou, and F. Xiao. Robust local search and its application to generating robust schedules . In International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS) , September, 2007.
[5] H. C. Lau, W. C. Wan, S. Halim, and K. Y. Toh. A software framework for fast hybridization of meta-heuristics . International Transactions in Operational Research , 14(2):123-141, 2007.
Projects, Presentations and Posters
- Pradeep Varakantham, Linear Relaxation Techniques for Task Management in Uncertain Settings , ICAPS 2008 (presentation)
- LAU Hoong Chuin, Robust Local Search, Presented at ICAPS 2007 (presentation)
Collaborations and Industry Linkages
- Land Transport Authority (LTA)
