Opposition-based firefly algorithm for earth slope stability evaluation

This paper introduces a new approach of firefly algorithm based on opposition-based learning (OBFA) to enhance the global search ability of the original algorithm. The new algorithm employs opposition based learning concept to generate initial population and also updating agents' positions. The proposed OBFA is applied for minimization of the factor of safety and search for critical failure surface in slope stability analysis. The numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the new algorithm.