Building-block supply in real-coded genetic algorithms: A first step on the population-sizing model

Abstract

This paper deals with questions concerning the supply of building-blocks (BBs) in the initial population of real-coded genetic algorithms (rGAs). Drawing upon the methodology of existing BB supply studies for finite alphabets, facetwise models for the supply of a single schema as well as for the supply of all the schemata in a partition are proposed. A model for the initial population size necessary to ensure the presence of all the raw BBs with a given supply error has also been developed using the partition success model. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the facetwise models and the initial population sizing model. Finally, an adaptation approach is suggested for practical use of the BB supply.