Automated Scheduling, Optimisation and Planning
The aim of the Automated Scheduling, Optimisation and Planning (ASAP) research group is to carry out innovative research into the development and investigation of decision support and search methodologies for a wide and diverse variety of real world problem environments. Its research lies at the inter-disciplinary interface of Computer Science and Operational Research and its portfolio of applications ranges across a broad spectrum of disciplines and industrial sectors. Our research programme has two broad strategic directions:
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Closing the gap between academic research and industrial practice by exploring and investigating the development of computational search methodologies which address the complexity and uncertainty that is inherent in large real world problem solving environments.
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Automating the heuristic design process by addressing the challenge of building systems which are capable of selecting, designing, evolving and adapting heuristics. This is motivated by the goal of raising the level of generality at which search methodologies can be deployed.
Our research is covering a variety of real world applications including timetabling, cutting and packing, personnel rostering, sports scheduling, healthcare scheduling, aircraft scheduling, space allocation, production scheduling, game strategies, bioinformatics and robotics.