Abstract

In this paper we define those mathematical notions and terms that are useful about ACO and the relationships between ACO and other frameworks for optimization and control. This chapter defines and discusses the characteristics of: (i) the combinatorial optimization problems addressed by ACO, (ii) construction heuristics for combinatorial problems, (iii) the equivalence between solution construction and sequential decision process (iv) the graphical tools (state graph and construction graph) that can be used to represent and reason on the structure and dynamics of construction processes.