Automatic Construction of Drama School Timetables Based on a Generic Evolutionary Framework for Allocation and Scheduling Problems


We present the application of the generic framework evAlloc for the solution of allocation and scheduling problems (ASPs) to a real-world problem. The solution engine integrated in the framework is based on an evolutionary algorithm (EA). The general design of the Java framework allows for application to all ASPs, whose problem data description can be fit into the generic data representation of evAlloc. The framework can be transformed into different applications by loading single XML (extended markup language) problem definition files. Experimental results for the real-world application, timetabling of the complete teaching activities at the Institute for Drama at the Mozarteum University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Salzburg, Austria, are presented.
Helmut A. Mayer

Last modified: May 17 2004