International Journal of Metaheuristics  (IJMHeur)
ISSN (Online): 1755-2184  -  ISSN (Print): 1755-2176

Published in 4 issues per year  (View Subscription Price)

IJMHeur publishes high-quality, state-of-the-art research in the field of metaheuristics, and provides a worldwide forum for the analysis and development of these techniques. The journal publishes studies concerning all aspects of metaheuristic practice, including theoretical studies, empirical investigations, comparisons, and real-world applications. Papers describing methods that have shown to produce financial or environmental improvements in a real-world setting are particularly welcome.

   Objectives

IJMHeur aims to expose the reader to valuable and cutting-edge approaches for solving difficult practical and theoretical problems, and to foster discussion through the publication of high-quality, informative, and scientifically rigorous articles. It also aims to maintain an effective channel of communication between academics, researchers and practitioners in the field of metaheuristics.

In general, we consider a metaheuristic to be any algorithmic framework, nature inspired or otherwise, that defines a set of heuristic methods that can be directed towards a variety of different optimisation problems. In other words, metaheuristics represent "higher level" heuristic-based algorithms that can be applied to various individual problems with relatively few modifications needing to be made in each case.

IJMHeur is especially intended for furthering the overall understanding of metaheuristic algorithms and to assess not only their strengths, but also their weaknesses. To these ends, the publication of negative results is also accepted, particularly if they reveal previously unknown limitations of an existing method.

IJMHeur places a special emphasis on ensuring studies are carried out accurately using rigorous scientific method. Algorithms should therefore be carefully designed and appropriately analysed, and authors are encouraged to assess the statistical validity of their results whenever possible.

   Readership

IJMHeur is aimed at professionals, academics, students, researchers and policy makers, who are interested in the potential of metaheuristic techniques for solving problems. In particular, this includes people with backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and quantitative management science.

   Contents

IJMHeur publishes high-quality papers, review articles and case studies. As a rule, only original work that has not been published elsewhere will be considered, though conference papers etc. may be accepted if they have been substantially enhanced. Special issues of the journal that focus in on a particular aspect of the field are also published from time-to-time. All papers are submitted to a sub-editor and are peer-reviewed by at least two referees.

   Subject Coverage

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Neighbourhood search algorithms (such as simulated annealing, tabu search, iterated local search, scatter search, and path relinking)
• Evolutionary algorithms
• Ant systems
• Variable neighbourhood search
• Particle swarms
• Combinatorial optimisation
• Neural networks
• Parallel metaheuristics
• New metaheuristic approaches and operators
• The theory and practice of metaheuristics
• Constraint handling techniques
• Representation and encoding issues
• Case studies and real-world applications
• Applications to machine learning
• Multiobjective optimisation
• Artificial immune systems
• Comparison papers
• Hybrid methods (including the use of non-metaheuristic techniques)
• Parameter analysis

   Specific Notes for Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has been completely re-written).

All papers are refereed through a double blind process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Submission of Papers web-page.

You may send one copy in the form of an MS Word or PDF file attached to an e-mail (details of file formats in Author Guidelines) to Dr C.L. Mumford

Please include in your submission the title of the Journal

   Editors and Members of the Editorial Board

Editor in Chief

Dr. C.L. Mumford
Cardiff University
School of Computer Science
5 The Parade
Cardiff CF24 3AA
UK
ijmheur@cf.ac.uk

Associate Editors

Dr. Julia Bennell
University of Southampton
School of Management
Highfield
Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ
UK

Prof. David Corne
Heriot-Watt University
Department of Computer Science
Room G39, Earl Mountbatten Building
Edinburgh, EH14 4AS
UK

Prof. Carlos Cotta
Universidad de Málaga
ETSI Informática (3.2.49)
Campus de Teatinos
29071 – Málaga
SPAIN

Prof. John Alan Fulcher
University of Wollongong
School of Computer Science & Software Engineering
Northfields Ave
Wollongong NSW 2522
AUSTRALIA

Dr. Jens Gottlieb
SAP AG
Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16
69190 Walldorf
GERMANY

Prof. Pierre Hansen
HEC Montreal & GERAD
3000, Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine
Montreal H3T 2A7
CANADA

Dr. Emma Hart
Napier University
School of Computer Science
10 Colinton Road
Edinburgh, EH10 5DT
UK

Prof. Tim Hendtlass
Swinburne University of Technology
H39 P.O.Box 218
Hawthorn, Victoria 3123
AUSTRALIA

Prof. Hisao Ishibuchi
Osaka Prefecture University
Department of Computer Science and Intelligent Systems
Graduate School of Engineering
1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku,
Sakai, Osaka 599-8531
JAPAN

Dr. John Levine
University of Strathclyde
Department of Computer and Infromation Sciences
Glasgow G1 1HX
UK

Dr. Rhydian Lewis
Cardiff University
Cardiff School of Mathematics
Senghennydd Road
Cardiff CF24 4AG
UK

Prof. Rafael Martí
Universitat de València
Departamento de Estadística e Investigación Operativa
Facultat de Matemàtiques
46100 Burjassot, València
SPAIN

Dr. Nenad Mladenovic
Brunel University West London
Department of Mathematical Sciences
School of Mathematics
Kingstone Lane
Uxbridge UB8 3PH
UK

Dr. Peter H. Morgan
Cardiff University
Cardiff Business School
Aberconway Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff CF10 3EU
UK

Prof. Günther R. Raidl
Vienna University of Technology
Institute of Computer Graphics and Algorithms
Favoritenstr 9-11/1861
1040 Vienna
AUSTRIA

Prof. Colin Reeves
Coventry University
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Coventry CV1 5FB
UK

Dr. Rubén Ruiz García
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
Departamento de Estadistica e Investigacion
Operativa Aplicadas y Calidad
Instituto Tecnologico de Informatica
Camino de Vera S/N
46021, Valencia
SPAIN

Dr. Jano Van Hemert
University of Edinburgh
National e-Science Centre
15 South College Street
Edinburgh EH8 9AA
UK

Prof. Ling Wang
Tsinghua University
Department of Automation
Beijing 100084
P.R. CHINA