An improved harmony search algorithm using opposition-based learning and local search for solving the maximal covering location problem.

In this article, an improved harmony search algorithm (IHSA) that utilizes opposition-based learning is presented for solving the maximal covering location problem (MCLP). The MCLP is a well-known facility location problem where a fixed number of facilities are opened at a given potential set of facility locations such that the sum of the demands of customers covered by the open facilities is maximized. Here, the performance of the harmony search algorithm (HSA) is improved by incorporating opposition-based learning that utilizes opposite, quasi-opposite and quasi-reflected numbers. Moreover, a local search heuristic is used to improve the performance of the HSA further. The proposed IHSA is employed to solve 83 real-world MCLP instances. The performance of the IHSA is compared with a Lagrangean/surrogate relaxation-based heuristic, a customized genetic algorithm with local refinement, and an improved chemical reaction optimization-based algorithm. The proposed IHSA is found to perform well in solving the MCLP instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]