University Course Timetabling with Genetic Algorithm: A Laboratory Excercises Case Study

Abstract. This paper describes the application of a hybrid genetic algorithm to a real-world instance of the university course timetabling problem. We address the timetabling of laboratory exercises in a highly constrained environment, for which a formal definition is given. Solution representation technique appropriate to the problem is defined, along with associated genetic operators and a local search algorithm. The approach presented in the paper has been successfully used for timetabling at the authors’ institution and it was capable of generating timetables for complex problem instances.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: EVOW
• Authors: Zlatko Bratkovic, Tomislav Herman, Vjera Omrcen, Marko Cupic, Domagoj Jakobovic
• Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Complex Problem Instances, Course Timetabling Problem, EVOW 2009, Hybrid Genetic Algorithm