AnovelalgorithmcalledColonyLocationAlgorithm(CLA)isproposed.Itmimicsthephenomenainbioticconmunitythatcoloniesofspeciescouldbelocatedintheplacesmostsuitabletotheirgrowth.Thefactorsworkingonthespecieslocationsuchasthenutrientofsoil,resourcecompetitionbetweenspecies,growthanddeclineprocess,andeffectonenvironmentwereconsideredinCLAviathenutrientfunction,growthanddeclinerates,environmentevaluationandfertilizationstrategy.CLAwasappliedtosolvetheclassicalassignmentproblems.ThecomputationresultsshowthatCLAcanachievetheoptimalsolutionwithhigherpossibilityandshorterrunningtime.
