Multi-Objective Optimization

In most decision-making and design situations,§simultaneously satisfying multiple goals is a trial§and error process, and is often inefficient. This§trend occurs not only in science and engineering, but§also in any discipline involving different people§with different intentions, or a single decision-maker§with more than one target. Although modeling§interactive scenarios between people or groups has§long been a topic of the social sciences, the process§of systematically optimizing a collection of§functions is a relatively new focus within the field§of engineering. This process is called§multi-objective optimization (MOO). This text§presents a comprehensive review of MOO methods with§an eye towards engineering applications. This§provides not only in a lucid synopsis of theory but§also a thorough user s guide with ready-to-use§formulas and mathematical details. The text can be§used as a practical tool for engineering analysts and§researchers, as well as for those working with§operations research and mathematical systems. It can§also serve as an advanced level graduate text, taking§students from basic concepts, to mathematical§fundamentals, through more advanced methods.