A comparative study of different approaches using an outranking relation in a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm

This paper presents a comparative analysis of three versions of an evolutionary algorithm in which the decision maker’s preferences are incorporated using an outranking relation and preference parameters associated with the ELECTRE TRI method. The aim is using the preference information supplied by the decision maker to guide the search process to the regions where solutions more in accordance with his/ her preferences are located, thus narrowing the scope of the search and reducing the computational effort. An example dealing with a pertinent problem in electrical distribution network is used to compare the different versions of the algorithm and illustrate how meaningful information can be elicited from a decision maker and used in the operational framework of an evolutionary algorithm to provide decision support in real-world problems. & 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.