Efficient Fuel Consumption Minimization for Green Vehicle Routing Problems using a Hybrid Neural Network-Optimization Algorithm

Efficient routing optimization yields benefits that extend beyond mere financial gains. In this thesis, we present a methodology that utilizes a graph convolutional neural network to facilitate the development of energy-efficient waste collection routes. Our approach focuses on a Waste company in Tromsø, Remiks, and uses real-life datasets, ensuring practicability and ease of implementation. In particular, we extend the dpdp algorithm introduced by Kool et al. (2021) [1] to minimize fuel consumption and devise routes that account for the impact of elevation and real road distance traveled. Our findings shed light on the potential advantages and enhancements these optimized routes can offer Remiks, including improved effectiveness and cost savings. Additionally, we identify key areas for future research and development

Thinking interactively with visualization

Interaction is becoming an integral part of using visualization for analysis. When interaction is tightly and appropriately coupled with visualization, it can transform the visualization from display- ing static imagery to assisting comprehensive analysis of data at all scales. In this relationship, a deeper understanding of the role of interaction, its effects, and how visualization relates to interaction is necessary for designing systems in which the two components complement each other. This thesis approaches interaction in visualization from three different perspectives. First, it considers the cost of maintaining interaction in manipulating visualization of large datasets. Namely, large datasets often require a simplification process for the visualization to maintain interactivity, and this thesis examines how simplification affects the resulting visualization. Secondly, example interactive visual analytical systems are presented to demonstrate how interactivity could be applied in visualization. Specifically, four fully developed systems for four distinct problem domains are discussed to determine the common role of interactivity in these visualizations that make the systems successful. Lastly, this thesis presents evidence that interactions are important for analytical tasks using visualizations. Interaction logs of financial analysts using a visualization were collected, coded, and examined to determine the amount of analysis strategies contained within the interaction logs. The finding supports the benefits of high interactivity in analytical tasks when using a visualization. The example visualizations used to support these three perspectives are diverse in their goals and features. However, they all share similar design guidelines and visualization principles. Based on their characteristics, this thesis groups these visualizations into urban visualization, visual analytical systems, and interaction capturing and discusses them separately in terms of lessons learned and future directions

Knowledge visualization: From theory to practice

Visualizations have been known as efficient tools that can help users analyze com- plex data. However, understanding the displayed data and finding underlying knowl- edge is still difficult. In this work, a new approach is proposed based on understanding the definition of knowledge. Although there are many definitions used in different ar- eas, this work focuses on representing knowledge as a part of a visualization and showing the benefit of adopting knowledge representation. Specifically, this work be- gins with understanding interaction and reasoning in visual analytics systems, then a new definition of knowledge visualization and its underlying knowledge conversion processes are proposed. The definition of knowledge is differentiated as either explicit or tacit knowledge. Instead of directly representing data, the value of the explicit knowledge associated with the data is determined based on a cost/benefit analysis. In accordance to its importance, the knowledge is displayed to help the user under- stand the complex data through visual analytical reasoning and discovery

Visualising Mutually Non-dominating Solution Sets in Many-objective Optimisation

Copyright © 2013 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.As many-objective optimization algorithms mature, the problem owner is faced with visualizing and understanding a set of mutually nondominating solutions in a high dimensional space. We review existing methods and present new techniques to address this problem. We address a common problem with the well-known heatmap visualization, since the often arbitrary ordering of rows and columns renders the heatmap unclear, by using spectral seriation to rearrange the solutions and objectives and thus enhance the clarity of the heatmap. A multiobjective evolutionary optimizer is used to further enhance the simultaneous visualization of solutions in objective and parameter space. Two methods for visualizing multiobjective solutions in the plane are introduced. First, we use RadViz and exploit interpretations of barycentric coordinates for convex polygons and simplices to map a mutually nondominating set to the interior of a regular convex polygon in the plane, providing an intuitive representation of the solutions and objectives. Second, we introduce a new measure of the similarity of solutions—the dominance distance—which captures the order relations between solutions. This metric provides an embedding in Euclidean space, which is shown to yield coherent visualizations in two dimensions. The methods are illustrated on standard test problems and data from a benchmark many-objective problem

Data driven spatio-temporal analysis of e-cargo bike network in Lisbon and its expansion: The Yoob case study

The adoption of more environmentally friendly and sustainable fleets for last-mile parcel delivery within large urban centers has been on the rise. Cargo bikes have been the most common alternative. The implementation of this type of fleet has proven to bring benefits, but has evidenced some limitations. The infrastructure network, which supports urban logistics, had to adapt to respond to the requirements of this new type of fleet. The implementation of micro-hubs and nano-hubs was the solution. Our study has two main objectives. The first objective is to perform a spatiotemporal characterization of fleet behavior, by conducting a case study where we explored the data from YOOB (a last mile delivery logistics start-up that operates in the Lisbon area and outskirts) e-cargo bike fleet. And the second is to identify potential expansion locations to the establishment of new hubs. The work procedures followed the CRIPS-DM methodology and the collected data was based on a 4-month period (January to April 2022). By adopting data science and machine learning techniques, five types of performances of YOOB fleet were identified, with variations in distances traveled, times, volumes transported and speeds. In the perspective of expanding YOOB's e-cargo bike network, three new locations in Lisbon were signaled for potential new hub installation.A adoção de frotas mais ecológicas e sustentáveis para a distribuição das encomendas na última milha dentro dos grandes centros urbanos tem vindo a crescer. As bicicletas de carga têm sido a alternativa mais comum. A implementação deste tipo de frotas, demonstrou trazer benefícios, mas evidenciou algumas limitações. A rede de infraestruturas, que serve de suporte á logística urbana, teve de se adaptar para poder responder às necessidades deste novo tipo de frotas. A implementação de microhubs e nano-hubs foram a alternativa. O nosso estudo tem dois objetivos principais. O primeiro objetivo é o de fazer uma caracterização espácio temporal dos comportamentos da frota, através de um estudo de caso onde efetuámos a exploração dos dados da frota de e-cargo bike da YOOB (start-up logística de entregas na última milha que atua na área de Lisboa e na periferia). E o segundo consiste em identificar potenciais locais de expansão para a instalação de novos hubs no mesmo estudo de caso. Nos processos de trabalho foi seguida a metodologia CRISP-DM e os dados recolhidos foram referentes a um período de 4 meses (Janeiro a Abril de 2022). Com recurso a técnicas de ciência dos dados e aprendizagem automática, foram identificados cinco tipos de desempenhos da frota da YOOB, com variações em distâncias percorridas, tempos efetuados, volumes transportados e velocidades praticadas. Numa perspetiva de expansão da rede de e-cargo bike da YOOB, forma identificados três novos locais na cidade de Lisboa para a instalação potencial de novos hubs