Network infrastructure design with a multilevel algorithm

0957-4174/$ see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. A http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2012.12.055 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 41 3271 1669; fa E-mail addresses: [email protected] (H. A. d. Sil de Souza Britto Jr.), [email protected] (L. E. S pucpr.br (A.L. Koerich). This paper presents a novel algorithm to deal with the network design problem, which optimizes the network levels considering their interdependency. The idea is to design a low cost and optimized network providing the number and the geographic location of devices as well as the links among them for each network level, while taking into account the existing dependency among them. In addition, a new database composed of real and georeferenced data is created and make available for the research community. This database contains three datasets that represent distinct projects related to geographic regions of the city of Curitiba (Brazil). The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides a significant cost reduction in the network design. The savings of this proposal go from 1% to 40% (depending on the network size, number of levels and demand nodes), making it attractive for companies that spend a considerable amount of resources in network projects and deployment. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.