Title
Constraint satisfaction problems: Algorithms and applications
Abstract
A constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) requires a value, selected from a given finite domain, to be assigned to each variable in the problem, so that all constraints relating the variables are satisfied. Many combinatorial problems in operational research, such as scheduling and timetabling, can be formulated as CSPs. Researchers in artificial intelligence (AI) usually adopt a constraint satisfaction approach as their preferred method when tackling such problems. However, constraint satisfaction approaches are not widely known amongst operational researchers. The aim of this paper is to introduce constraint satisfaction to the operational researcher. We start by defining CSPs, and describing the basic techniques for solving them. We then show how various combinatorial optimization problems are solved using a constraint satisfaction approach. Based on computational experience in the literature, constraint satisfaction approaches are compared with well-known operational research (OR) techniques such as integer programming, branch and bound, and simulated annealing.
Year
DOI
Venue
1999
10.1016/S0377-2217(98)00364-6
European Journal of Operational Research
Keywords
Field
DocType
Constraint satisfaction,Combinatorial optimization,Integer programming,Local search
Constraint satisfaction,Local consistency,Mathematical optimization,Constraint graph,Algorithm,Constraint satisfaction problem,Constraint satisfaction dual problem,Constraint logic programming,Backtracking,Mathematics,Hybrid algorithm (constraint satisfaction)
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
119
3
0377-2217
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
103
5.86
28
Authors
3
Search Limit
100103
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Sally C. Brailsford139735.84
Chris N. Potts21897164.82
Barbara M. Smith333322.56