Bayesian Optimization for Anything (BOA): An open-source framework for accessible, user-friendly Bayesian optimization

Abstract

We introduce Bayesian Optimization for Anything (BOA), a high-level Bayesian Optimization (BO) framework and model wrapping toolkit, which presents a novel approach to simplifying BO, with the goal of making it more accessible and user-friendly, particularly for those with limited expertise in the field. BOA addresses common barriers in implementing BO, focusing on ease of use, reducing the need for deep domain knowledge, and cutting down on extensive coding requirements. A notable feature of BOA is its language-agnostic architecture, which facilitates broader application in various fields and to a wider audience. We showcase BOA's application through three examples: a high-dimensional optimization with 184 parameters of the SWAT + watershed model, a highly parallelized optimization of this intrinsically non-parallel model, and a multi-objective optimization of the FETCH Tree-Crown Hydrodynamics model. These test cases illustrate BOA's effectiveness in addressing complex optimization challenges in diverse scenarios.