A new consistent vehicle routing problem for the transportation of people with disabilities

作者：Feillet Dominique^*; Garaix Thierry; Lehuede Fabien; Peton Olivier; Quadri Dominique

来源：Networks, 2014, 63(3): 211-224.

DOI：10.1002/net.21538

• heuristic branch-and-price
• multiple time windows
• transportation of people with disabilities
• consistent vehicle routing problem

In this article, we address a problem of the transportation of people with disabilities where customers are served on an almost daily basis and expect some consistency in the service. We introduce an original model for the time-consistency of the service, based on so-called time-classes. We then define a new multiday vehicle routing problem (VRP) that we call the Time-Consistent VRP. We address the solution of this new problem with a large neighborhood search heuristic. Each iteration of the heuristic requires solving a complex VRP with multiple time windows and no waiting time which we tackle with a heuristic branch-and-price method. Computational tests are conducted on benchmark sets and modified real-life instances. Results demonstrate the efficiency of the method and highlight the impact of time-consistency on travel costs.

• 出版日期2014-5