A method called PAINT is introduced for computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems. The method interpolates between a given set of Pareto optimal outcomes. The interpolation provided by the PAINT method implies a mixed integer linear surrogate problem for the original problem which can be optimized with any interactive method to make decisions concerning the original problem. When the scalarizations of the interactive method used do not introduce nonlinearity to the problem (which is true e.g., for the synchronous NIMBUS method), the scalarizations of the surrogate problem can be optimized with available mixed integer linear solvers. Thus, the use of the interactive method is fast with the surrogate problem even though the problem is computationally expensive. Numerical examples of applying the PAINT method for interpolation are included.

A survey on handling computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems using surrogates: non-nature inspired methods Tabatabaei, Mohammad; Hakanen, Jussi; Hartikainen, Markus; Miettinen, Kaisa; Sindhya, Karthik Tabatabaei, M., Hakanen, J., Hartikainen, M., Miettinen, K., & Sindhya, K. (2015). A survey on handling computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems using surrogates: non-nature inspired methods. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 52 (1) AbstractComputationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems arise, e.g. in many engineering applications, where several conflicting objectives are to be optimized simultaneously while satisfying constraints. In many cases, the lack of explicit mathematical formulas of the objectives and constraints may necessitate conducting computationally expensive and time-consuming experiments and/or simulations. As another challenge, these problems may have either convex or nonconvex or even disconnected Pareto frontier consisting of Pareto optimal solutions. Because of the existence of many such solutions, typically, a decision maker is required to select the most preferred one. In order to deal with the high computational cost, surrogate-based methods are commonly used in the literature. This paper surveys surrogate-based methods proposed in the literature, where the methods are independent of the underlying optimization algorithm and mitigate the computational burden to capture different types of Pareto frontiers. The methods considered are classified, discussed and then compared. These methods are divided into two frameworks: the sequential and the adaptive frameworks. Based on the comparison, we recommend the adaptive framework to tackle the aforementioned challenges.

An approach to constructing a Pareto front approximation to computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems is developed. The approximation is constructed as a sub-complex of a Delaunay triangulation of a finite set of Pareto optimal outcomes to the problem. The approach is based on the concept of inherent nondominance. Rules for checking the inherent nondominance of complexes are developed and applying the rules is demonstrated with examples. The quality of the approximation is quantified with error estimates. Due to its properties, the Pareto front approximation works as a surrogate to the original problem for decision making with interactive methods.

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Approximating the Pareto fronts of nonlinear multiobjective optimization problems is considered and a property called inherent nondominance is proposed for such approximations. It is shown that an approximation having the above property can be explored by interactively solving a multiobjective optimization problem related to it. This exploration can be performed with available interactive multiobjective optimization methods. The ideas presented are especially useful in solving computationally expensive multiobjective optimization problems with costly function value evaluations.