Multiple criteria decision support by evolutionary computation

Abstract

This paper describes the use of Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) as a decision support tool in environmentally relevant decision problems. Though various methods from Artificial Intelligence as well as from Computational Intelligence have been successfully integrated into Environmental Decision Support Systems (EDSS), the use of Evolutionary Computation has so far remained marginal in this context. On the other hand EAs are popular in solving large-scale optimization problems in diverse engineering disciplines, where complex, non-linear models make the use of traditional optimization techniques difficult or impossible. In addition, they can handle multiple criteria simultaneously, being able to generate efficient solutions even for problems where the number of alternatives is very large or only implicitly defined, which makes them a promising tool in environmental decision making.