Load Time Series (Optional)
The Load Time Series feature is optional. It is designed to allow the user to easily run a single Source scenario multiple times using different time series inputs.
Generations and Populations
The Generations and Populations fields set the number of generations and the population size of each generation for the NSGA-II algorithm, respectively. These parameters define how many simulation runs are performed by the optimiser. The required values will depend on the complexity of the optimisation project. If the number of runs is too small, the optimiser will not be given sufficient time to search for the multi-objective optimal set of results. The population size also sets the maximum number of points on the Pareto front or surface;
Advanced Options (Optional)
Advanced users of NSGA-II can optional configure additional NSGA-II algorithm parameters via the Advanced Options sub-menu.
Local Server Limit & Endpoints
The user can choose to run the optimisation locally or across server endpoints by enabling the respective radio buttons.
- If Run Locally is selected, then the user can choose the number of local processes via the Local server limit field.
- Server endpoints allow you to run the optimisation across several machines simultaneously. Load the endpoints settings file by clicking Load Endpoints and point Insight to the appropriate file;
Run & Show Results
Once the configuration is complete (including Configuring Expressions) the Run and Show Results buttons run the optimisation and visualise results, respectively. See Running an optimisation and viewing results.
Configuring Expressions
- Click New Expressions (on the green +) in the Insight toolbar and choose the component you wish to add;
- The resulting dialog contains a list of all pre-defined functions in the model. Choose the one you wish to add and click OK;
- Continue this process until you have added all components. Figure 1 shows an example of objectives, real decisions and tracked variables that have been added to the Insight project. Each component has additional parameters that must be defined:
- For discrete decisions, specify the allowed values of the function;
- For objectives and tracked variables, specify Multi-project Aggregation Method drop-down menu allows you to choose how you want to process the objective function values passed from individual scenarios. By default Insight uses the final value of the specified function as the value of the objective function for each scenario. The Aggregate over full timeseries checkbox allows you to use the values of the objective function determined at each time-step, rather than just the last value (via the selected statistical function).
- For real decisions, specify the allowed minimum and maximum values.
Figure 1. Insight, Objectives
Saving The Configuration
Save your settings using File » Save Settings. This creates a settings file, which can be re-loaded into Insight.