Minimizing the carbon emissions on road networks

The models and algorithms developed for transportation planning, vehicle routing, path finding and the software that utilize them are usually based on distance and constant travel times between the relevant locations and aim at minimizing total distance or travel time . However, constant travel time assumption is not realistic on road networks as the traffic conditions may vary from morning/evening rush hours to off-peak noon/night hours, from the weekends to business days, even from one season to another. Thus, distance/time based optimization does not exactly reflect the real fuel consumptions, hence the actual costs; neither can they be used to accurately account for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A distance/constant time based optimization model may even yield an infeasible solution when time-windows exist or the route length is time limited. In this study, we first analyze the peculiar characteristics of the Greenest Path Problem (GPP) where the objective is to find the least GHG generating path from an origin to a destination on the road network. We then propose a fast heuristic method for determining the greenest path, by incorporating fuel consumption and GHG emission objectives. Finally, we integrate the proposed algorithm into the Green Vehicle Routing Problem that minimizes the GHG emissions rather than the total distance or travel time. The developed heuristic is benchmarked against the existing algorithms by using synthetic traffic data on a real road network to illustrate potential savings and sustainability benefits

Minimum cost VRP with time-dependent speed data and congestion charge

A heuristic algorithm, called LANCOST, is introduced for vehicle routing and scheduling problems to minimize the total travel cost, where the total travel cost includes fuel cost, driver cost and congestion charge. The fuel cost required is influenced by the speed. The speed for a vehicle to travel along any road in the network varies according to the time of travel. The variation in speed is caused by congestion which is greatest during morning and evening rush hours. If a vehicle enters the congestion charge zone at any time, a fixed charge is applied. A benchmark dataset is designed to test the algorithm. The algorithm is also used to schedule a fleet of delivery vehicles operating in the London area

Finding a minimum cost path between a pair of nodes in a time-varying road network with a congestion charge

The minimum cost path problem in a time-varying road network is a complicated problem. The paper proposes two heuristic methods to solve the minimum cost path problem between a pair of nodes with a time-varying road network and a congestion charge. The heuristic methods are compared with an alternative exact method using real traffic information. Also, the heuristic methods are tested in a benchmark dataset and a London road network dataset. The heuristic methods can achieve good solutions in a reasonable running time

Optimization of route choice, speeds and stops in time-varying networks for fuel-efficient truck journeys

A method is presented for the real-time optimal control of the journey of a truck, travelling between a pair of pick-up/drop-off locations in a time-varying traffic network, in order to reduce fuel consumption. The method, when applied during the journey, encapsulates the choice of route, choice of speeds on the links, and choice of stop locations/durations; when applied pre-trip, it additionally incorporates choice of departure time. The problem is formulated by using a modified form of space-time extended network, in such a way that a shortest path in this network corresponds to an optimal choice of not only route, stops and (when relevant) departure time, but also of speeds. A series of simple illustrative examples are presented to illustrate the formulation. Finally, the method is applied to a realistic-size case study

O impacto do congestionamento no roteamento de veículos para a logística urbana

O tema desta dissertação consiste em perceber o impacto do congestionamento no roteamento de veículos para a logística urbana. Para que esse estudo seja realizado é necessário incorporar o congestionamento num modelo de VRP de forma a avaliar o seu impacto na definição das rotas dos veículos. De modo a se proceder a este estudo, foi adotado um modelo de cálculo de emissões com a finalidade de diminuir as mesmas e, por consequência, diminuir a utilização dos horários de maior trânsito. De seguida, foi usada uma formulação de VRP em que fosse possível incorporar o modelo de cálculo de emissões. O problema foi formulado para ser usado como um programa MIP (Mixed integer programming). Foi concluído que a implementação de um modelo de emissões em conjunto com uma formulação VRP leva a que seja possível estudar o congestionamento em zonas urbanas, tendo sido observado que é possível diminuir o uso de horários de congestionamento na logística urbana.The theme of this dissertation is to understand the impact of congestion on vehicle routing for urban logistics. For this study to be carried out it is necessary to incorporate congestion into a VRP model to assess its impact on the definition of vehicle routes. In order to carry out this study, a model for calculating emissions has been adopted with the aim of reducing emissions and thus reducing the use of peak traffic times. A VRP formulation was then used in which the emissions calculation model could be incorporated. The problem was formulated to be used as a MIP (Mixed integer programming) programme. It was concluded that the implementation of an emissions model in conjunction with a VRP formulation makes it possible to study congestion in urban areas, and it was observed that it is possible to reduce the use of congestion times in urban logistics

New approaches for determining greenest paths and efficient vehicle routes on transportation networks

Road transportation has hazardous and threatening impacts on the environment. However, the traditional logistics models and approaches used in transportation planning have mainly focused on minimizing the internal costs and lack the environmental aspect. Therefore, new planning techniques and approaches are needed in road transport by explicitly accounting for these negative impacts. In this thesis, we address these issues by first concentrating on solution methods for the Greenest Path Problem (GPP) where fuel consumption and GHG emission objectives are incorporated to find the least GHG generating path, namely the greenest path, and propose a fast and effective heuristic. Taking the strong relation between the speed and the GHG emission into account, we also address the speed embedded minimum cost path problem in the most general case where the speed is also a decision variable as well as the departure time Within this context, we develop a new networkconsistent (which implies spatially and temporally consistent speeds) time-dependent speed and travel time layer generation scheme since real data is difficult to acquire. In the second part, we mainly focus on Vehicle Routing Problems (VRP). First, we propose an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) approach for solving the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW). Then, we adapt this method to solve the environment friendly VRP, namely the Green VRP, where the greenest paths between all customer pairs are used as input. Finally, we extend the ACO algorithm to a parallel matheuristic approach for solving a class of VRP variants

On Comparative Algorithmic Pathfinding in Complex Networks for Resource-Constrained Software Agents

Software engineering projects that utilize inappropriate pathfinding algorithms carry a significant risk of poor runtime performance for customers. Using social network theory, this experimental study examined the impact of algorithms, frameworks, and map complexity on elapsed time and computer memory consumption. The 1,800 2D map samples utilized were computer random generated and data were collected and processed using Python language scripts. Memory consumption and elapsed time results for each of the 12 experimental treatment groups were compared using factorial MANOVA to determine the impact of the 3 independent variables on elapsed time and computer memory consumption. The MANOVA indicated a significant factor interaction between algorithms, frameworks, and map complexity upon elapsed time and memory consumption, F(4, 3576) = 94.09, p \u3c .001, h2 = .095. The main effects of algorithms, F(4, 3576) = 885.68, p \u3c .001, h2 = .498; and frameworks, F(2, 1787) = 720,360.01, p .001, h2 = .999; and map complexity, F(2, 1787) = 112,736.40, p \u3c .001, h2 = .992, were also all significant. This study may contribute to positive social change by providing software engineers writing software for complex networks, such as analyzing terrorist social networks, with empirical pathfinding algorithm results. This is crucial to enabling selection of appropriately fast, memory-efficient algorithms that help analysts identify and apprehend criminal and terrorist suspects in complex networks before the next attack