Optimistic - optimization in marine design

This book originates from the 39th WEGEMT summer school OPTIMISTIC – Optimization in Marine Design that took place at the Technical University Berlin in May 2003 under the auspices of the European Association of Universities in Marine Technology and Related Sciences (WEGEMT). The presented material was contributed by scientists from all over Europe with wide experience in both marine design and formal optimization. Apart from writing and presenting some chapters themselves, the book’s editors – Lothar Birk and Stefan Harries – acted as organizers and secretaries of the summer school OPTIMISTIC. Their intention was to introduce engineering professionals, scientists and post-graduate students to the methodology and the application of formal optimization in the field of marine design. The book is meant to help people develop an appreciation of what can be called optimal and assist them in their pursuit to find their specific optima. It provides information on a wide spectrum of topics ranging from basic theory to advanced applications. Many examples are presented that serve to illustrate the state-of-the-art in utilizing formal optimization in the marine industry. However, the book is definitely not a text book on optimization, and the reader may find redundancy and even opposing opinions on some matters. As the field of optimization is wide, neither completeness nor harmonization was attempted. Instead, the readers obtain an overview from which to continue their studies and the basis to engage in optimization projects themselves.