12-09-2014, 03:09 PM
Solving Class Timetabling Problem of IIT Kanpur
using Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm
Solving Class.pdf (Size: 220.88 KB / Downloads: 47)
Abstract
Unlike in many other universities, preparation of class timetable in IIT Kanpur is
very laborious and complicated. It contains different types of classes, among which
most of the common classes are either split or grouped. Many split classes are divided
up to five parts, while many sets of group classes contain up to twenty classes. The
entire timetable is composed of two phases. The first phase contains all the common
compulsory classes of the institute, which are scheduled by a central team. The
second phase contains the individual departmental classes. Presently this timetable
is prepared manually, by manipulating those of earlier years, with the only aim of
producing a feasible timetable. The potentiality of evolutionary algorithms (EAs)
have been exploited in the present work to schedule the classes of the first phase
of the problem. Using NSGA-II-UCTO, a multi-objective EA-based university class
timetable optimizer, a number of trade-off solutions, in terms of multiple objectives of
the problem, could be obtained very easily. Moreover, each of the obtained solutions
has been found much better than a manually prepared solution which is in use.
Conclusions
Due to the existence of different types of complex classes, preparation of class timetable for
IIT Kanpur becomes very laborious and complicated. Presently it is prepared manually, by
trial and hit method, with the only aim of producing a feasible solution. The potentiality
of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been exploited in the present work to schedule the
even-semester classes of the institute. Using NSGA-II-UCTO, a multi-objective EA-based
university class timetable optimizer, a number of trade-off solutions, in terms of multiple
objectives of the problem, could be obtained very easily. Moreover, much better results,
than the manually prepared one, have been obtained using NSGA-II-UCTO