A genetic algorithm (GA) approach to reconstruction of the locations and sh
apes of two-dimensional impenetrable objects from scattered field data is p
resented. Local shape function method is used in the forward model, while a
GA is used to seek for a solution minimizing the discrepancy between the m
easured and the estimated scattered fields in the inverse process. Some GA
operators appropriate for the 2-D objects are proposed to achieve a high co
nvergence rate. Several numerical results are presented to demonstrate the
effectiveness of the GA approach.