COMPARISON OF SYSTEMS BASED ON EVOLUTIONARY SEARCH AND SIMULATED ANNEALING TO SOLVE THE VRPTW PROBLEM

2004 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLATZ ARBELAITZ ◽  
CLEMENTE RODRIGUEZ
Keyword(s):  
Simulated Annealing ◽  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Hybrid Methods ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Benchmark Problems ◽  
Evolutionary Search ◽  
Number Of Solutions ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Oil Distribution

This paper presents the design and analysis of several systems to solve Vehicle Routing Problems with Time Windows (VRPTW) limiting the search to a small number of solutions explored. All of them combine a metaheuristic technique with a route building heuristic. Simulated Annealing, different evolutionary approaches and hybrid methods have been tried. Preliminary results for each of the strategies are presented in the paper, where the combination created by some iterations of the best evolutionary approach and some iterations of SA stands out. A more exhaustive analysis of the three methods behaving better is also presented confirming the previous results. The different strategies have been implemented and tested on a series of the well-known Solomon's benchmark problems of size up to 100 customers. One of the described systems combined with a local optimization part that tries to optimize parts of a solution is being used as part of a real oil distribution system, obtaining very satisfactory results for the company.

A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm-Simulated Annealing Approach for the Multi-Objective Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

2011 ◽  
pp. 79-97
Author(s):  
Gülfem Tuzkaya ◽  
Bahadir Gülsün ◽  
Ender Bildik ◽  
E. Gözde Çaglar
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Simulated Annealing ◽  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Hybrid Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Benchmark Problems ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
Solution Approach ◽  
Multi Objective

In this study, the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) is investigated and formulated as a multi-objective model. As a solution approach, a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm is proposed. Proposed algorithm consists of two meta-heuristics: Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Simulated Annealing (SA). In this algorithm, SA is used as an improvement operator in GA. Besides, a hypothetical application is presented to foster the better understanding of the proposed model and algorithm. The validity of the algorithm is tested via some well-known benchmark problems from the literature.

scholarly journals A Modified Harmony Search Algorithm for Solving the Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shifeng Chen ◽  
Rong Chen ◽  
Jian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Harmony Search ◽  
Population Diversity ◽  
Benchmark Problems ◽  
Dynamic Vehicle Routing ◽  
Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Routing Problem

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is a classical combinatorial optimization problem. It is usually modelled in a static fashion; however, in practice, new requests by customers arrive after the initial workday plan is in progress. In this case, routes must be replanned dynamically. This paper investigates the Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (DVRPTW) in which customers’ requests either can be known at the beginning of working day or occur dynamically over time. We propose a hybrid heuristic algorithm that combines the harmony search (HS) algorithm and the Variable Neighbourhood Descent (VND) algorithm. It uses the HS to provide global exploration capabilities and uses the VND for its local search capability. In order to prevent premature convergence of the solution, we evaluate the population diversity by using entropy. Computational results on the Lackner benchmark problems show that the proposed algorithm is competitive with the best existing algorithms from the literature.

scholarly journals Solving Practical Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows Using Metaheuristic Algorithms

1970 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Taner ◽  
Ante Galić ◽  
Tonči Carić
Keyword(s):  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Real World ◽  
Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Iterated Local Search ◽  
Metaheuristic Algorithms ◽  
Benchmark Problems ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
Constructive Heuristics ◽  
Initial Feasible Solution

This paper addresses the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW) and shows that implementing algorithms for solving various instances of VRPs can significantly reduce transportation costs that occur during the delivery process. Two metaheuristic algorithms were developed for solving VRPTW: Simulated Annealing and Iterated Local Search. Both algorithms generate initial feasible solution using constructive heuristics and use operators and various strategies for an iterative improvement. The algorithms were tested on Solomon’s benchmark problems and real world vehicle routing problems with time windows. In total, 44 real world problems were optimized in the case study using described algorithms. Obtained results showed that the same distribution task can be accomplished with savings up to 40% in the total travelled distance and that manually constructed routes are very ineffective.

On-Line Vehicle Routing with Time Windows: Optimization-Based Heuristics Approach for Freight Demands Requested in Real-Time

1998 ◽  
Vol 1617 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
How-Ming Shieh ◽  
Ming-Der May
Keyword(s):  
Local Search ◽  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Benchmark Problems ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
Anytime Algorithm ◽  
Search Heuristics ◽  
On Line

The problem of the on-line version of the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) differs from the traditional off-line problem in the dynamical arrival of requests and the execution of the partial tour during the run time. The study develops an on-line optimization-based heuristic that combined the concepts of the “on-line algorithm,” “anytime algorithm,” and local search heuristics to solve the on-line version of VRPTW. The solution heuristic is evaluated with modified Solomon’s problems. By comparing with these benchmark problems, the different results between on-line and off-line algorithms are indicated.

A Hybrid Meta-Heuristic Algorithm for Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (06) ◽  
pp. 1550021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esam Taha Yassen ◽  
Masri Ayob ◽  
Mohd Zakree Ahmad Nazri ◽  
Nasser R. Sabar
Keyword(s):  
Simulated Annealing ◽  
Vehicle Routing ◽  
Heuristic Algorithm ◽  
Vehicle Routing Problem ◽  
Optimization Problems ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Harmony Search ◽  
Harmony Search Algorithm ◽  
Routing Problem

Harmony search algorithm, which simulates the musical improvisation process in seeking agreeable harmony, is a population based meta-heuristics algorithm for solving optimization problems. Although it has been successfully applied on various optimization problems; it suffers the slow convergence problem, which greatly hinders its applicability for getting good quality solution. Therefore, in this work, we propose a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm that hybridizes a harmony search with simulated annealing for the purpose of improving the performance of harmony search algorithm. Harmony search algorithm is used to explore the search spaces. Whilst, simulated annealing algorithm is used inside the harmony search algorithm to exploit the search space and further improve the solutions that are generated by harmony search algorithm. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested using the Solomon's Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW) benchmark. Numerical results demonstrate that the hybrid approach is better than the harmony search without simulated annealing and the hybrid also proves itself to be more competent (if not better on some instances) when compared to other approaches in the literature.

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