Optimization problems are of great importance across a broad range of fields. They can be tackled, for example, by approximate algorithms such as metaheuristics. This book is intended both to provide an overview of hybrid metaheuristics to novices of the field, and to provide researchers from the field with a collection of some of the most interesting recent developments. The authors involved in this book are among the top researchers in their domain.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Hybrid Metaheuristics, HM 2008, held in Malaga, Spain, in October 2008. The 14 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 33 submissions. The papers discuss specific aspects of combinations of metaheuristics and other solving techniques for tackling particular relevant constrained optimization problems, such as fiber optic networks, time tabling and freight train scheduling problems.

The International Workshop on Hybrid Metaheuristics was established with the aim of providing researchers and scholars with a forum for discussing new ideas and research on metaheuristics and their integration with techniques typical of other ?elds. The papers accepted for the sixth workshop con?rm that such a combination is indeed e?ective and that several research areas can be put together.Slowlybut surely, thisprocesshasbeen promotingproductivedialogue amongresearcherswithdi?erentexpertiseanderodingbarriersbetweenresearch areas. The papers in this volume give a representativesample of...