Course/ Computer Sessions on
NUMERICAL OPTIMIZATION
Laurent Dumas


 DEGREE: Master of Science in Mathematics, IMAMIS Program
 

DATES AND LOCATION:  from January, 23th to February 3rd, 2006, University of the Philippines-Diliman
 
 
OUTLINE OF THE COURSE:

Many problems occuring in industry consist in minimizing (or maximizing) a certain cost function. This course is aimed to present various optimization methods in order to solve such problems.

After a general introduction on  numerical optimization, two different families of optimization methods will be presented:  first, the the stochastic methods (genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, etc...) and then deterministic descent-type methods (gradient, newton, etc…). A numerical implementation with Scilab of these differents methods will be done during the computer sessions, before being applied for the resolution of an applicative problem occuring in the field of  telecommunications.

THEORETICAL PART (10 courses of 1h30):

Part 1. Introduction and examples (1h30)
Global and local optimization for real valued functions with n real parameters, with or without constraints. Examples in various applied fields

Part 2. Stochastic optimization methods (6h)
genetic algorithms, evoution strategies: general principles and examples, constraints handling, multi objective case

Part 3
. Deterministic descent type methods (4h30)
Basic methods. Line search principles. Quasi Newton methods. Other methods

Part 4. Resolution of 'real world' problems (3h)


COMPUTER SESSIONS (10 sessions of 1h30):

1. Numerical methods (6 sessions):
. Numerical implementation with Scilab of a real-valued genetic algorithm  (4h30)
Application on classical test functions (Rastrigin, Griewank, etc…).
. Numerical implementation with Scilab of a first order descent method (4h30)
Application on the same previous functions

2. Applicative project: (4 sessions):
 Resolution of an inverse problem in telecommunications (synthesis of a Fiber Bragg filter) by using  various optimization methods (6h)






DETAILED PROGRAM:

Monday, January 23th:  
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 1. Introduction and examples

    18h30-20h (computer session, applicative project):
    Implementation with Scilab of the associated direct problem (solution of a system of first order coupled ODEs)

Tuesday, January 24th:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 2. Stochastic optimization methods: binary genetic algorithms

    18h30-20h (computer session, applicative project):
    Modelization of the inverse problem
 
Wednesday, January 25th
:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 2. Stochastic optimization methods: real coded genetic algorithms
 
    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):
     Implementation of a real coded genetic algorithms
    Validation on classical test functions
 
Thursday, January 26th:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 2. Stochastic optimization methods: parameters tuning, constraints handling
  
    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):
     Implementation of a real coded genetic algorithms
    Validation on classical test functions
 
Friday, January 27th:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 2. Stochastic optimization methods: multi objective optimization

    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):
     Implementation of a  real coded genetic algorithm
    Validation on classical test functions

-------------------  Second week --------------------------------------------

Monday, January 30th:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 3. Deterministic optimization method: basic methods, line searches
 
    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):    
     Implementation of a descent method of first order
 
Tuesday, January 31th:
   17h-18h30 (course):
    Part  3. Deterministic optimization methods: Newton methods
 
    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):
     Implementation of a descent method of first order

 
Wednesday, February1st:
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 3. Deterministic optimization methods: constraints handling
 
    18h30-20h (computer session, numerical methods):
     Constraints handling
 
Thursday, February 2nd
    17h-18h30(course):
    Part 4. Resolution of 'real world' problems: can cost fabrication, LJ cluster
  
    18h30-20h (computer session, applicative project):
     Resolution of the inverse problem with a hybrid method
 
Friday, February 3rd
    17h-18h30(course):
     Resolution of 'real world' problems: FBG synthesis, aerodynamic shape optimization
 
    18h30-20h (computer session, applicative project):
     Resolution of the inverse problem with a hybrid  method.
 


 
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Numercial optimization, theoretical and practical aspects: JF Bonnans, JC Gilbert, C. Lemaréchal, C. Sagastizbal, Springer Verlag 2003.
Genetic Algorithms on search, optimization and machine learning: D. Goldberg, 1989
Multi-Objective Optimization Using Evolutionary Algorithms, K. Deb, 2001


ON THE WEB:

    Theoretical part:    
    A tutorial 'How to build an avolutionary algorithm' by the EVONET community
    An introduction article on 'Evolution strategies' by HG Beyer and HP Schweifel
    An online course on 'Numerical Optimization' at Oxford University
    An online course on 'Optimization inengineering design' at  the Georgia Institute of Technology
    A book  Numerical recipes in C or Fortran 77 (Chapter 10 mainly)
    An introduction article on 'Numerical Solution of Optimization Test-Cases by Genetic Algorithms' by N. Marco and J.A. Desideri


    Applicative part (inverse problem in telecommunications): 
    A short tutorial 'Introduction to Fiber Bragg Gratings'
    A talk  'Optimisation of optical communication systems by means of genetic algorithms' by myself
    A PhD dissertation “Synthesis and characterization of fiber Bragg gratings” by J. Skaar  (chapters 2 and 3.1 mainly)
    An article 'Real-coded genetic algorithm for Bragg grating parameter synthesis' by G. Cormier and R. Boudreau
    An article 'Multi-objective and constrained design of fibre Bragg gratings using evolutionary algorithms' by S. Manos and L. Poladian
    An article "Semi deterministic vs Genetic Algorithms for global optimization of multichannel optical filters" by myself,  B. Ivorra, B. Mohammadi, P. Redont and O. Durand

    Ohers articles on Lennard-Jones problem: article 1 article 2, article 3, article 4  thesis
 

 
FINAL SCILAB PROGRAMS

A program for the computation of a FBG reflectivity spectrum: directFBG.sci
A real valued genetic algorithm: GA.sci
A steepest descent method with backtracking linesearch: steepest.sci
A program for solving the Lennard Jones problem (LJ.sci)



 
SOME PHOTOS FROM THE COURSE:

Here are 16 pictures taken during my stay at UP: UP-photos.zip (zip file, 10Mo)



 
FINAL EXAM:

The final exam consist in a project to write in Scilab:

The subject (.doc file) is here
 
The documents must be sent at dumas@ann.jussieu.fr.
You can also use this email in case of technical problems or misunderstandings during the project writing.

NEW:  contact Julius Basilla for the final grades at the exam
Sorry for the delay...