A grouping genetic algorithm — Extreme learning machine approach for optimal wave energy prediction

Abstract

In this paper we propose an approach for feature selection in a problem of significant wave height prediction, to improve the exploitation of marine energy. The method that we present, a Grouping Genetic Algorithm — Extreme Learning Machine approach (GGA-ELM), mainly tries to improve the prediction performance of the regressors, providing more effective predictors and good performance in the final significant wave height prediction. In this method, the GGA looks for several subsets of features, and the ELM provides the fitness of the algorithm, through its accuracy on significant wave height prediction. The GGA is able to evolve different groups of features in parallel, which may improve the performance of the prediction obtained. After the feature selection process with the GGA-ELM, the final results are obtained by applying an ELM and also by a Support Vector Regressor algorithm, both working on the best GGA groups of features previously evolved. In the experimental part of the paper, we show the performance of the proposed approach in a real problem of significant wave height prediction at the West Coast of the USA, using variables directly obtained from several measuring buoys.