ARMA model order and parameter estimation using genetic algorithms

A new method for simultaneously determining the order and the parameters of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models is presented in this article. Given an ARMA (p, q) model in the absence of any information for the order, the correct order of the model (p, q) as well as the correct parameters will be simultaneously determined using genetic algorithms (GAs). These algorithms simply search the order and the parameter spaces to detect their correct values using the GA operators. The proposed method works on the principle of maximizing the GA fitness value relying on the deviation between the actual plant output, with or without an additive noise, and the estimated plant output. Simulation results show in detail the efficiency of the proposed approach. In addition to that, a practical model identification and parameter estimation is conducted in this article with results obtained as desired. The new method is compared with other well-known methods for ARMA model order and parameter estimation.