The Shifting Balance Genetic Algorithm as More than Just Another Island Model GA

Mark Wineberg and Jun Chen

Abstract. The Shifting Balance Genetic Algorithm (SBGA) is an extension of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) that was created to promote guided diversity to improve performance in highly multimodal environments. In this paper a new behavioral model for the SBGA is presented. Based on the model, various modifications of the SBGA are proposed: these include a mechanism for managing dynamic population sizes along with population restarts. The various mechanisms that make up the SBGA are compared and contrasted against each other and against other Island Model GA systems. It was found that the mechanisms that characterize the SBGA, such as a repulsive central force from one population on the others, could improve the behavior of multi-populational systems.

LNCS 3103, p. 318 ff.

Full article in PDF

lncs@springer.de
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004