A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem
The examination timetabling problem involves assigning exams to a specific or limited number of timeslots and rooms with the aim of satisfying all hard constraints (without compromise) and satisfying the soft constraints as far as possible. Most of the techniques reported in the literature have been...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Operational Research Society Ltd.
2015
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| Online Access: | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/1/A%20great%20deluge%20algorithm%20for%20a%20real-world%20examination%20.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848822749100769280 |
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| author | M. N. M., Kahar Kendall, Graham |
| author_facet | M. N. M., Kahar Kendall, Graham |
| author_sort | M. N. M., Kahar |
| building | UMP Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The examination timetabling problem involves assigning exams to a specific or limited number of timeslots and rooms with the aim of satisfying all hard constraints (without compromise) and satisfying the soft constraints as far as possible. Most of the techniques reported in the literature have been applied to simplified examination benchmark data sets. In this paper, we bridge the gap between research and practice by investigating a problem taken from the real world. This paper introduces a modified and extended great deluge algorithm (GDA) for the examination timetabling problem that uses a single, easy to understand parameter. We investigate different initial solutions, which are used as a starting point for the GDA, as well as altering the number of iterations. In addition, we carry out statistical analyses to compare the results when using these different parameters. The proposed methodology is able to produce good quality solutions when compared with the solution currently produced by the host organisation, generated in our previous work and from the original GDA. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T02:46:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | ump-27267 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Pahang |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T02:46:11Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Operational Research Society Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | ump-272672020-03-27T02:56:25Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/ A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem M. N. M., Kahar Kendall, Graham LB2300 Higher Education QA76 Computer software The examination timetabling problem involves assigning exams to a specific or limited number of timeslots and rooms with the aim of satisfying all hard constraints (without compromise) and satisfying the soft constraints as far as possible. Most of the techniques reported in the literature have been applied to simplified examination benchmark data sets. In this paper, we bridge the gap between research and practice by investigating a problem taken from the real world. This paper introduces a modified and extended great deluge algorithm (GDA) for the examination timetabling problem that uses a single, easy to understand parameter. We investigate different initial solutions, which are used as a starting point for the GDA, as well as altering the number of iterations. In addition, we carry out statistical analyses to compare the results when using these different parameters. The proposed methodology is able to produce good quality solutions when compared with the solution currently produced by the host organisation, generated in our previous work and from the original GDA. Operational Research Society Ltd. 2015-01-01 Article PeerReviewed pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/1/A%20great%20deluge%20algorithm%20for%20a%20real-world%20examination%20.pdf M. N. M., Kahar and Kendall, Graham (2015) A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem. Journal Of The Operational Research Society, 66 (1). pp. 116-133. ISSN 0160-5682. (Published) https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2012.169 https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2012.169 |
| spellingShingle | LB2300 Higher Education QA76 Computer software M. N. M., Kahar Kendall, Graham A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title | A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title_full | A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title_fullStr | A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title_full_unstemmed | A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title_short | A great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| title_sort | great deluge algorithm for a real-world examination timetabling problem |
| topic | LB2300 Higher Education QA76 Computer software |
| url | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/27267/1/A%20great%20deluge%20algorithm%20for%20a%20real-world%20examination%20.pdf |