COMP SCI 7093 - Evolutionary Computation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

History of evolutionary computation; major areas: genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, evolution programming, genetic programming, classifier systems; constraint handling; multi-objective cases; dynamic environments; parallel implementations; coevolutionary systems; parameter control; hybrid approaches; commercial applications.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code COMP SCI 7093
    Course Evolutionary Computation
    Coordinating Unit Computer Science
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 2 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible COMP SCI 7316
    Assumed Knowledge COMP SCI 7059 and (One of COMP SCI 7082 or COMP SCI 7201)
    Course Description History of evolutionary computation; major areas: genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, evolution programming, genetic programming, classifier systems; constraint handling; multi-objective cases; dynamic environments; parallel implementations; coevolutionary systems; parameter control; hybrid approaches; commercial applications.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Frank Neumann

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Explain evolutionary computation techniques and methodologies set in the context of modern heuristic methods.
    2 Apply various evolutionary computation methods and algorithms for particular classes of problems.
    3 Develop evolutionary algorithms for real-world applications.
    4 Use scientific research papers and present them in a seminar talk.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   2.1   2.2   3.2   3.6   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,2,3
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,2,3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    3,4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The prescribed textbook for the course is: "A. E. Eiben, J. E. Smith: Introduction to Evolutionary Computing, Springer, 2003."
    Recommended Resources
    During the course, additional literature (available online) will be recommended as additional reading.
    Online Learning
    The Evolutionary Computation course will use a Moodle forum; students are expected to check the forum on a regular basis for announcements relating to the course and projects.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course aims to introduce students to a wide range of Evolutionary Computation terminology, techniques, and processes. The concepts taught in these lectures will be practiced and reinforced by participation in three projects and one seminar with a written essay.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Evolutionary Computation is a 3 unit course. The expectation is that students will be spending 12 hours per week working on the course. Students are required to attend weekly lectures; the remainder of the time should be spent working on projects and the seminar. Students are expected to learn the content presented in lectures by doing the projects. They will gain additional knowledge by preparing a seminar that is based on a research paper and an essay that summarizes the research results of the research work they have to present.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The following topics will be covered in lectures:
    1. Fundamentals of optimisation
    2. Modern heuristic methods
    3. Genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, evolutionary programming, genetic programming
    4. Basic data structures and operators
    5. Handling constraints
    6. Evolutionary multi-objective optimization
    7. Ant colony optimization
    8. Hybrid evolutionary algorithms
    9. Theory of evolutionary computation
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes CBOK Alignment**
    Assignment 1 5 Group Summative Week 4 1. 2. 1.1 1.2 2.3 2.4 3.2 4.1 4.3
    Assignment 2 10 Group Summative Week 7 Min 40% 2. 1.1 1.2 2.3 2.4 3.2 4.1 4.3
    Assignment 3 15 Group Week 11 3. 1.1 1.2 2.3 2.4 3.2 4.1 4.3
    Research report 1 35 Individual 3. 1.2 3.2
    Research report 2 35 Individual 1.2 3.2
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
     


    **CBOK is the Core Body of Knowledge for ICT Professionals defined by the Australian Computer Society. The alignment in the table above corresponds with the following CBOK Areas:

    1. Problem Solving
    1.1 Abstraction
    1.2 Design

    2. Professional Knowledge
    2.1 Ethics
    2.2 Professional expectations
    2.3 Teamwork concepts & issues
    2.4 Interpersonal communications
    2.5 Societal issues
    2.6 Understanding of ICT profession

    3. Technology resources
    3.1 Hardware & Software
    3.2 Data & information
    3.3 Networking

    4. Technology Building
    4.1 Programming
    4.2 Human factors
    4.3 Systems development
    4.4 Systems acquisition

    5.  ICT Management
    5.1 IT governance & organisational
    5.2 IT project management
    5.3 Service management 
    5.4 Security management
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance of weekly lectures is required.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment is by way of three programming assignments (practicals) and one seminar talk and a written essay. All of the assignments will be available on the website to the course.
    Submission
    Practical assessment tasks

    Specific criteria are provided in each assignment description. In general the following apply. Work fulfilling requirements of the three practical assignments should include a single parent directory with the following contents:
    - All source code (and comments) written in Java and a separate jar file,
    - All configuration files,
    - A text file titled README.txt that contains a brief description of how the program can be run (including commands to compile and run programs with different parameters where applicable),
    - Students must be able to explain their solutions to the tutor of the course.

    Any material submitted must either be your own work, or where based on other ideas or work a specific acknowledgment has to be made. For example: “the following code was sourced from…” or “the following function is based on…”. Where sources are not acknowledged you may be deemed guilty of plagiarism. These acknowledgements should be placed in the report accompanying the assignment.

    Written assessment task

    Work handed in for the written assignment should consist of a single printed document produced from a pdf or word file. The pages should be stapled together and not be placed in a plastic sleeve. The document should include as the first page a coversheet or title page containing only the report title and submission date followed by the student’s name and university id number. All references should be acknowledged and it is encouraged to refer to many sources; in addition any material referred to should not be copied word for word unless placed in quotation marks. The format of this document should follow guidelines placed on the course website and also given in the essay assignment description.

    Provision of feedback to students

    Feedback comprising assignment marks and comments on students work will be available within 2.5 weeks (approx.) of the assignment due date. Requests for further explanations, or to ask for an
    assignment to be remarked an email should be sent to markus@cs.adelaide.edu.au as soon as possible after receiving a mark.

    Extensions for assessment tasks

    In general, extensions will not be given. Students who have suffered illness or been hindered in some
    other way should still hand in what they have done by the due date. They should then lodge a written request (where possible supported by documentary evidence) for special circumstances to be taken
    into account.

    Penalty for late submission

    The penalty for late submission of any assignment is 25% per day or part day late.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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