Skip to main content
Log in

A heuristic for the Steiner problem in graphs

  • Published:
Computational Optimization and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we present a heuristic for the Steiner problem in graphs (SPG) along with some experimental results. The heuristic is based on an approach similar to Prim's algorithm for the minimum spanning tree. However, in this approach, arcs are associated with preference weights which are used to break ties among alternative choices of shortest paths occurring during the course of the algorithm. The preference weights are calculated according to a global view which takes into consideration the effect of all the regular nodes, nodes to be connected, on determining the choice of an arc in the solution tree.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J.E. Beasley, “OR-Library: Distributing test problems by electronic mail,” J. of Oper. Res. Soc., vol. 41, no. 11, pp. 1069–1072, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J.E. Beasley, “A heuristic for Euclidean and rectilinear Steiner problems,” Europ. J. of Oper. Res., vol. 58, pp. 284–292, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D.-Z. Du, “Approximating the Steiner minimum tree,” in Complexity in Numerical Optimization (P.M. Pardalos Ed.), World Scientific, pp. 88–106, 1993.

  4. S.L. Hakimi, “Steiner's problem in graphs and its implications,” Networks, vol. 1, pp. 113–133, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  5. F.K. Hwang, “On Steiner minimal trees with rectilinear distance,” SIAM J. Appl. Math., vol. 30, pp. 104–114, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  6. F.K. Hwang and D.S. Richards, “Steiner tree problems,” Networks, vol. 2, pp. 55–89, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  7. F.K. Hwang, D.S. Richards, and P. Winter, The Steiner Tree Problem, Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R.M. Karp, “Reducibility among combinatorial problems,” Complexity of Computer Communications (R.E. Miller and J.W. Tatcher, Eds.), pp. 85–103, Plenum Press: New York, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  9. B.N. Khoury, P.M. Pardalos, and D.-Z. Du, “A test problem generator for the Steiner problem in graphs,” ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 509–522, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  10. B.N. Khoury, P.M. Pardalos, and D.W. Hearn, “Equivalent formulations for the Steiner problem in graphs,” in Network Optimization Problems (P.M. Pardalos and D.-Z. Du Eds.), World Scientific, pp. 111–124, 1993.

  11. B.N. Khoury and P.M. Pardalos, “An exact branch and bound algorithm for the Steiner problem in graphs,” in Proceedings of COCOON'95, Springer-Verlag, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (D. Du and M. Li Eds.), vol. 959, pp. 582–590, 1995.

  12. A. Ju Levin, “Algorithms for the shortest connection of a group of graph vertices,” Soviet Math. Doklady vol. 12, pp. 1477–1481, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  13. V.J. Rayward-Smith and A. Clare, “On finding Steiner vertices,” Networks, vol. 16, pp. 283–294, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  14. J. MacGregor Smith and P. Winter (Eds.), Topological Network Design, vol. 31, nos. 1–4 of Annals of Operations Research, 1991.

  15. J. Soukup and W.F. Chow, “Set of test problems for the minimum length connection networks,” ACM/SIGMAP Newsletter, vol. 15, pp. 48–51, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  16. H. Takahashi and A. Mutsuyama, “An approximate solution for the Steiner problem in graphs,” Math. Jpn., vol. 24, pp. 573–477, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  17. S. Voss, Steiner-Probleme in Graphen, (in German), Hain, Frankfurt, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. S. Voss, “Steiner's problem in graphs: Heuristic methods,” Discrete Applied Mathematics, vol. 40, pp. 45–72, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  19. P. Winter, “Steiner problem in networks: A survey,” Networks, vol. 17, pp. 129–167, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  20. P. Winter and J. MacGregor Smith, “Path-distance heuristics for the Steiner problem in undirected networks,” Algorithmica, vol. 7, pp. 309–328, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khoury, B.N., Pardalos, P.M. A heuristic for the Steiner problem in graphs. Comput Optim Applic 6, 5–14 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248006

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248006

Keywords

Navigation