diff --git a/review_2/review_2.tex b/review_2/review_2.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f297c16 --- /dev/null +++ b/review_2/review_2.tex @@ -0,0 +1,114 @@ +\documentclass[11pt,a4paper]{article} + +\usepackage[T1]{fontenc} +\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} +\usepackage[english]{babel} +\usepackage{csquotes} +\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} +\usepackage{hyperref} +\usepackage{ulem} + +\begin{document} + +\section{Summary} +\label{sec:Summary} + +The paper starts with providing the motivation for studying the traveling +tournament problem (TTP) and giving an example for its application to a real +world scenario. The complexity of the problem is introduced and opens the stage +for algorithms that solve the traveling tournament problem in a reasonable +amount of time. Next, the problem is defined by formulating the inputs, +constraints that have to be satisfied by solutions and the goal. An example +illustrating the problem and a solution is given. Simulated annealing is +discussed as the first approach to solving TTP. The search for solutions is +allowed to `backtrack' in a sense so that escaping local minima is possible. The +size and frequency of such moves is decreasing over time. Additional techniques +for refining the search for solutions are discussed and referenced in +pseudocode. A parallel variation of the simulated annealing algorithm is +analyzed in section 4, giving better performance overall. The third approach ant +colony optimization has multiple iterative algorithms searching for a solution +randomly. Shorter paths are traveled more often than longer paths and are +therefore more promising. Due to positive feedback, more and more instances are +prioritizing the shortest path found so far. Section 6 compares the performance +of the three different approaches to solving TTP and the conclusion gives a +short outlook on promising research directions for the future. + +\section{Evaluation} +\label{sec:Evaluation} + +The paper is very well written, giving a carefully selected introduction to TTP +and meta-heuristic methods. Due to the structure being clear and +straightforward, following the descriptions and discussions is effortless. + +The abstract has all the necessary information, hinting at the complexity of +TTP, possible solutions and the structure of the paper. + +The introduction touches upon the motivation for solving TTP. I would suggest +including a short sentence or two about the structure of the paper (like in the +abstract) and a transition to the next section, which would aid the reader in +keeping context. I would also suggest including a short description of what +meta-heuristics are because the term is used later on but never explained. + +Section 2 establishes an intuitive problem setting without going into too much +detail. The sentence beginning with \enquote{Now the goal \dots} could be +formulated differently because it sounds like teams have to play away games +exclusively between leaving and returning home. If possible, giving a short +sentence to transition to section 3 would add more `natural flow' to the paper. + +The section on simulated annealing is very informative and written in a way that +is easy to understand for a layman. Especially the two subsections (3.1 and 3.2) +help with gaining a deeper understanding. When walking through the pseudocode in +figure 2, a fifth point on what happens after point four would be beneficial. +For example a sentence about how long the process is looped and when it +terminates might be a possibility. For section 3.2 I would avoid having two +headlines without any text between them. A sentence about what these advanced +techniques accomplish should suffice. In section 3.2.1 it is mentioned that the +parameter $w$ is chosen but not how it is chosen (arbitrarily or according to a +rule?). The same applies to section 3.2.3 where it is not entirely clear how the +number of maximum reheats (\emph{maxR}) is set. + +The figure in section 4 explains the concept of PBSA very well. + +Section 5 has a well written introduction which allows the reader to gain an +intuitive understanding of this approach. It might not be clear to the reader, +however, what the pheromone matrix contains (solutions and their pheromone +levels?). For section 5.2 I would suggest mentioning whether unsafe backjumping +has disadvantages regarding the quality of solutions. + +Section 6 is short and to the point and succinctly compares the performance of +the three approaches. If a performance evaluation of ACO on the same dataset as +in figure 4 could be found, the comparison would be even more meaningful. + +For the conclusion it is generally best to avoid introducing new references and +terms. I would therefore suggest expanding on future research directions like +the last sentence does. The sentence on recent advances might belong more to the +introduction than the conclusion. + +The language used throughout the paper is consistently on a high level, although +small typing errors can be found (e.g., section 1 \enquote{\dots with the +constraint satisfaction \sout{what} that makes\dots}; section 3.2.2 +\sout{devides} divides). + +The references are used correctly and the bibliography provides the necessary +information. The paper is within the 7-10 page bound. The figures are a bit +blurry, so either trying to include a higher resolution version or rewriting +some of the figures in \LaTeX\ (e.g., the table in fig. 1 and the algorithm in +fig. 2) can be an improvement. The figures are still readable so this is just an +aesthetic suggestion. + +Overall the paper is of very high quality and almost no points of criticism can +be found. The suggestions above are minor issues only. + +\section{Minor issues} +\label{sec:Minor issues} + +\begin{itemize}\setlength{\itemsep}{0pt} + \item Some spelling mistakes (see section~\ref{sec:Evaluation} for + suggestions) + \item Blurry images + \item Conclusion introducing new terms + \item Minor additions to expand on definitions (the weight parameter $w$ and + the pheromone matrix) +\end{itemize} + +\end{document}