Editorial to the Special Cluster on Variable Neighborhood Search, Variants and Recent Applications

Abstract

The Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) metaheuristic is based on systematic changes in the neighborhood structure within a search. It has been successfully applied for solving various combinatorial and global optimization problems, and related tasks. The aim of this special cluster of papers in this issue of International Transactions in Operational Research (ITOR) is to gather not only recent algorithmic, theoretical, and methodological developments in the field of Variable Neighborhood Search, but also to publish surveys and recent applications in this area. The VNS papers in this issue are linked to the 3rd International Conference dedicated to Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS'14), which was held in Djerba, Tunisia, October 8-11, 2014. Each submission was peer reviewed by at least two referees, according to the editorial policy of ITOR. After the refereeing process, seven papers were finally accepted for publication.