Biologically Inspired Algorithms for Exploratory Projection Pursuit
Presenter: Dr. Souad Larabi Mariesainte
 
Abstract:  Biologically inspired algorithms have proven very useful in different domains. In this seminar an overview of ``the use of bio-inspired algorithms to detect potentially interesting structures in large multidimensional data sets`` will be given.
The data exploration and the detection of interesting structures are based on the use of projection pursuit that involves optimizing a predetermined function called projection index. Several projection indices have been proposed in the statistical literature but the optimization problem of these indices is complex and time consuming and the proposed strategies for revealing projections are not completely convincing. Moreover, these strategies are not able to find different local optima corresponding to different potential interesting projections.
   
Among the bio-inspired techniques, we use the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and a hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization called Tribes. The search of several local optima is made through successive independent launches.
Another strategy consists in using a multimodal optimization method that provides multiple optima in a single launch. In this context, we propose a multimodal approach inspired by Tribes.
   
The last part of this seminar consists in presenting multiobjective bio-inspired algorithms in order to search of groups by taking into consideration the geographical position of the statistical observations. Some examples of real and simulated data are processed to validate the performance of these methods in the context of projection pursuit.
 
Bio:  Souad Larabi Marie-Sainte, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at the department of Information Technology, College of Computer and Information Sciences at King Saud University. She worked as an associate researcher and lecturer in the department of Computer Science at Toulouse1 Capitole University, France. She also supervised undergraduate and master students at this department.
She earned her PhD from Computer Science department, Toulouse1 Capitole University, France, in the area of bio-inspired algorithms in June 2011. She holds two M.S.c, the first one in Mathematics, Computing, Decision and Organization at Paris Dauphine University, France and the second in Computing, Mathematics and Applications at Sorbonne Paris1 University, France. Dr. Souad graduated from USTHB University in Algeria in the area of Operational Research.
Her research interests include combinatorial optimization, Heuristics, Meta-heuristics artificial intelligent and especially Bio-inspired algorithms applied to multidisciplinary domains and Algorithms Analysis and Design. She has written some papers and attended various specialized international conferences.
Date: April 22, 2013   
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: Research Center Auditorium, Building 2