Constraint-Handling in Evolutionary Optimization

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs), as well as other bio-inspired heuristics, are widely usedto solvenumericaloptimizationproblems.However,intheir or- inal versions, they are limited to unconstrained search spaces i.e they do not include a mechanism to incorporate feasibility information into the ?tness function. On the other hand, real-world problems usually have constraints in their models. Therefore, a considerable amount of research has been d- icated to design and implement constraint-handling techniques. The use of (exterior) penalty functions is one of the most popular methods to deal with constrained search spaces when using EAs. However, other alternative me- ods have been proposed such as: special encodings and operators, decoders, the use of multiobjective concepts, among others. An e?cient and adequate constraint-handling technique is a key element in the design of competitive evolutionary algorithms to solve complex op- mization problems. In this way, this subject deserves special research e?orts. After asuccessfulspecialsessiononconstraint-handlingtechniquesusedin evolutionary algorithms within the Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC) in 2007, and motivated by the kind invitation made by Dr. Janusz Kacprzyk, I decided to edit a book, with the aim of putting together recent studies on constrained numerical optimization using evolutionary algorithms and other bio-inspired approaches. The intended audience for this book comprises graduate students, prac- tionersandresearchersinterestedonalternativetechniquestosolvenumerical optimization problems in presence of constraints.