title: A biologically inspired network design model.
abstract: A network design problem is to select a subset of links in a transport network that satisfy passengers or cargo transportation demands while minimizing the overall costs of the transportation. We propose a mathematical model of the foraging behaviour of slime mould P. polycephalum to solve the network design problem and construct optimal transport networks. In our algorithm, a traffic flow between any two cities is estimated using a gravity model. The flow is imitated by the model of the slime mould. The algorithm model converges to a steady state, which represents a solution of the problem. We validate our approach on examples of major transport networks in Mexico and China. By comparing networks developed in our approach with the man-made highways, networks developed by the slime mould, and a cellular automata model inspired by slime mould, we demonstrate the flexibility and efficiency of our approach.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Computer and Information Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China [2] School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashiville, 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoge
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Unconventional Computing Center, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamatzky
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hum, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Felix T S
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Computer and Information Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China [2] School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashiville, 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK.
authors.forename: Xin-She
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, Greece.
authors.forename: Michail-Antisthenis I
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tsompanas
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios Ch
authors.initials: GCh
authors.lastname: Sirakoulis
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashiville, 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Sankaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical