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Advanced loading constraints for 3D vehicle routing problems

Author

Listed:
  • Corinna Krebs

    (Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg)

  • Jan Fabian Ehmke

    (University of Vienna)

  • Henriette Koch

    (Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg)

Abstract

Given automated order systems, detailed characteristics of items and vehicles enable the detailed planning of deliveries including more efficient and safer loading of distribution vehicles. Many vehicle routing approaches ignore complex loading constraints. This paper focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of loading constraints in the context of combined Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem and 3D Loading (3L-CVRP) and its extension with time windows (3L-VRPTW). To the best of our knowledge, this paper considers the currently largest number of loading constraints meeting real-world requirements and reducing unnecessary loading efforts for both problem variants. We introduce an approach for the load bearing strength of items ensuring a realistic load distribution between items. Moreover, we provide a new variant for the robust stability constraint enabling better performance and higher stability. In addition, we consider axle weights of vehicles to prevent overloaded axles for the first time for the 3L-VRPTW. Additionally, the reachability of items, balanced loading and manual unloading of items are taken into account. All loading constraints are implemented in a deepest-bottom-left-fill algorithm, which is embedded in an outer adaptive large neighbourhood search tackling the Vehicle Routing Problem. A new set of 600 instances is created, published and used to evaluate all loading constraints in terms of solution quality and performance. The efficiency of the hybrid algorithm is evaluated by three well-known instance sets. We outperform the benchmarks for most instance sets from the literature. Detailed results and the implementation of loading constraints are published online.

Suggested Citation

  • Corinna Krebs & Jan Fabian Ehmke & Henriette Koch, 2021. "Advanced loading constraints for 3D vehicle routing problems," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 43(4), pages 835-875, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:orspec:v:43:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s00291-021-00645-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00291-021-00645-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Henriette Koch & Andreas Bortfeldt & Gerhard Wäscher, 2018. "A hybrid algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with backhauls, time windows and three-dimensional loading constraints," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 40(4), pages 1029-1075, October.
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    10. Reil, Sebastian & Bortfeldt, Andreas & Mönch, Lars, 2018. "Heuristics for vehicle routing problems with backhauls, time windows, and 3D loading constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 266(3), pages 877-894.
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    Cited by:

    1. Corinna Krebs & Jan Fabian Ehmke, 2023. "Solution validator and visualizer for (combined) vehicle routing and container loading problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 326(1), pages 561-579, July.
    2. Yinggui Zhang & Lining Sheng, 2023. "Optimization of Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery Vehicle Routing with Three-Dimensional Balanced Loading Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, June.

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