Automated Route Planning and Optimizing Software

Transcription

1 MN DEPT OF TRANPORTATION Rep1998-7U lk k il &k k L k k Automted Route Plnning nd Optimizing oftwre T TE 22.5.G

2 This report ws distributed to the following: 1... Mn/DOT Librry - M Trnsporttion Bldg John Irelnd Blvd - t. Pul MN ecretry of the ente pitol Bldg - 75 nstitution Ave - t. Pul MN lerk of the House pitol Bldg - 75 nstitution Ave - t. Pul MN Legisltive Reference Librry - 6XX tte Office Bldg - 1 nstitution Ave - t. Pul MN This Project ws conducted with funding provided by the Minnesot Locl Rod Reserch Bord (LRRB). The LRRB's purpose is to develop nd mnge progrm of reserch for county nd municipl stte id rod improvements. Funding for LRRB reserch projects comes from designted fund equivlent to 1/2 of one percent of the nnul stte id for county nd city rods.

3 1. Report No Recipient's Accession No. MN/R U 4. Title nd ubtitle 5. Report Dte AUTOMATED ROUTE PLANNING AND OPTIMIZING Februry 1997 OFTWARE 6. Technicl Report Documenttion Pge 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Orgniztion Report No. Mri Gini Yiyun Zho 9. Performing Orgniztion Nme nd Address 1. Project/Tsk/Work Unit No. University of Minnesot Deprtment of mputer cience EE/ci Bldg, 2 Union treet,.e. 11. ntrct () or Grnt (G) No. Minnepolis, Minnesot () 7478 TO # ponsoring Orgniztion Nme nd Address 13. Type of Report nd Period vered Minnesot Deprtment of Trnsporttion Finl Report John Irelnd Boulevrd Mil top po g A y 14. ponsoring Agency de t. Pul, Minnesot upplementry Notes This report is unpublished. 15 copies were produced nd distributed. ee inside cover for distribution. 16. Abstrct (Limit: 2 words) This report presents the results of study of utomted route plnning nd optimizing softwre to be used by Mn/DOT Metro Division nd by Hennepin unty for snow plow nd for snow nd ice control logisticl plnning. The study hs: 1. Produced uniform set of specifictions for the two gencies; 2. Identifyed nd nlyzed lrge number of commercilly vilble softwre simultion pckges for route nd logisticl plnning; 3. Prepred recommendtions on how to proceed with the project with detiled nlysis of their dvntges nd shortcomings. 17. Document Anlysis/Descriptors 18. Avilbility ttement route plnning snow removl optimized plowing rc routing 19. ecurity lss (this report) 2. ecurity lss (this pge) 21. No. of Pges 22. Price Unclssified Unclssified 3

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5 Automted Route Plnning nd Optimizing oftwre Finl Report Prepred by Mri Gini Deprtment of mputer cience University of Minnesot Minnepolis, MN Yiyun Zho Deprtment of Aerospce Engineering nd Mechnics University of Minnesot Minnepolis, MN Februry 1997 Published by Minnesot Deprtment of Trnsporttion Office of Reserch Administrtion 2 Ford Building Mil top University Avenue t. Pul, Minnesot The contents of this report reflect the views of the uthors who re responsible for the fcts nd ccurcy of the dt presented herein. The contents do not necessrily reflect the views or policies of the Minnesot Deprtment of Trnsporttion t the time of publiction. This report does not constitute stndrd, specifiction, or regultion. The uthors nd the Minnesot Deprtment of Trnsporttion do not endorse products or mnufcturers. Trde or mnufcturers' nmes pper herein solely becuse they re considered essentil to this report

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7 Acknowledgements The uthors express sincere pprecition to the members of the Technicl Advisory Pnel from the Hennepin unty Deprtment of Public Works, from the Minnesot Deprtment of Trnsporttion Metro Division, Office of Mintennce Reserch, Office of Mintennce Opertions, Office of Informtion Resource Mngement, nd Office of Reserch Administrtion for their help nd coopertion in this reserch. pecil thnks go to the Technicl Lison, Mr. Mrc imcox. The project ws conducted with funding from the Locl Rod Reserch Bord.

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9 ntents 1 Executive ummry 1 2 Introduction 3 3 Development of pecifictions for imultion oftwre 5 4 urvey nd Anlysis of Existing imultion oftwre for now Plow Routing, nd now nd Ice ntrol Logisticl Plnning gdsie from Grphic Dt ystems GeoRoute Municipl from PR Group TrnsAD from liper Other products exmined Products exmined tht do not meet minimum specifiction requirements Recommendtions for how to Proceed for the Next Phse of the Project Option Recommended: buy TrnsAD Options Not Recommended References 28 List of Tbles 1 pecifictions for simultion softwre 5 2 pecifictions for simultion softwre nd nlysis of softwre pckges 18

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11 1 Executive ummry Mn/DOT nd Hennepin unty shre snow nd ice removl responsibilities for common geogrphicl res. The min gols of this reserch re: 1. to identify uniform set of specifictions for the two gencies for the simultion softwre; 2. to survey nd nlyze existing softwre, nd ssess its potentil usefulness for optimizing snowplow routing, minimizing dupliction of trvel nd resources, nd improving the locliztion of new fcilities such s truck sttions; 3. to mke detiled recommendtions on how to proceed with the project. The study conducted hs stisfied ll the gols by 1. producing uniform set of specifictions for the two gencies; 2. identifying nd nlyzing lrge number of softwre simultion pckges for route nd logisticl plnning; 3. prepring detiled recommendtions on how to proceed with the project with detiled nlysis of dvntges nd shortcomings. The technology for simultion softwre hs mde gret dvnces in the lst few yers. Powerful pckges re now vilble on personl computers, with simple nd esy to use interfces. The benefits of using simultion softwre for snow plow routing pper to be substntil, in terms of better use of the fcilities nd equipment, more shring of work mong drivers nd (potentilly) mong the two gencies, guidnce in locting truck sttions nd in determining levels of logisticl support, nd overll incresed utomtion of the snow removl process. A finl recommendtion is mde to proceed with the project by cquiring n existing simultion softwre pckge, TrnsAD from liper, tht stisfies the needs of the two gencies nd tht is powerful tool for vriety of other trnsporttion pplictions.

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13 2 Introduction Bckground Mn/DOT nd Hennepin unty shre snow nd ice removl responsibilities for some geogrphicl res. nowplow route plnning tools cn optimize routing, minimize dupliction of trvel nd resources, nd improve the locliztion of fcilities such s truck sttions. There is extensive literture on route plnning lgorithms [1]. pecilized lgorithms hve been developed to minimize trvel time in time dependent networks [2, 3], or minimize distnce trveled, or other criteri. The benefits of route plnning hve often been described [4] but hve not been widely used in the contest of snowplow routing. A notble exception is the APER system [5, 6, 7, 8] tht is used by the Indin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. A few municiplities hve strted experimentl projects, such s those reported in [9]. Arc routing [1] differs from point-topoint routing becuse rc routing problems require finding n efficient wy to trvel over set of links nd perform opertions while trversing the links. Exmples of rc routing problems include meter reding, mil delivery, grbge pickup, street clening, snow plowing, etc. Objectives The mjor purpose of this project is to prepre detiled recommendtions to Mn/DOT Metro Division nd Hennepin unty for development or cquisition of simultion softwre to be used in devising optiml snow plow route plns nd in determining optiml truck sttion loctions. This requires: 1. identifying uniform set of specifictions for the simultion softwre; 2. surveying nd nlyzing existing softwre; 3. mking recommendtions with benefit/cost nlysis. Ech of the objectives of the reserch is covered in seprte chpter of this report.

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15 3 Development of pecifictions for imultion oftwre The gol of this prt of the project is to develop detiled specifictions for simultion softwre. The specifictions hve been developed from interviews with the two gencies, through questionnire tht hs been distributed to the two gencies, nd from discussions with the Technicl Advisory Pnel. The set of specifictions, shown in Tble 1, is uniform for the two gencies. HOULD Weight: 1 = Low, 2 = Medium, 3 = High importnce Item Description Must/ Weight hould GENERAL 1.1 Run on IBM comptible personl computers MUT 1.2 Output for high resolution (VGA) color monitors MUT 1.3 Run under Microoft Windows (3.1 or lter) MUT 1.4 Work within t lest one of the following networking environments: MUT ( Novell, (b) IBM LAN, (c) Windows NT 1.5 Be comptible with non-proprietry dtbse (ANI QL, ODB, MUT nd OLE 2. complint) MAJOR FUNTIONALITIE 2.1 Pln snow plow routes tht minimize the time required to obtin the MUT level of service desired 2.2 Pln snow plow routes tht optimize the use of equipment, mteril, MUT nd stock piles 2.3 Assist in identifying dupliction of trveled routes mong gencies MUT 2.4 Assist in locting nd sizing new truck sttions MUT PROGRAM OUTPUT 3.1 equentil pln of rods to be plowed, in tbulr form with ccurte MUT descriptions of mp nodes 3.2 Route timing, ctegorized s productive nd non-productive times MUT 3.3 Length of plow route (pss miles/lne miles/centerline miles/time) MUT 3.4 Inventory of equipment used nd their ssignments to ech plow route MUT 3.5 Inventory of spre equipment MUT 3.6 Mps showing just the routes, nd complete mps MUT 3.7 Loction of stock piles MUT 3.8 Truck sttion ssignments for equipment MUT 3.9 Points t which re-supply is necessry nd supply depot to go to MUT 3.1 Lists of equipment sorted by criteri such s sttion, route etc HOULD Equipment opertor informtion (driver, phone number etc) HOULD tlog of routes tht require specil ttention HOULD 1 Tble 1, Prt I: pecifictions for simultion softwre

16 HOULD Weight: 1 = Low, 2 = Medium, 3 = High importnce Item Description Must/ Weight ROAD INFORMATION PROGRAM INPUT hould Rod mps (connections, lengths) MUT Number of psses/segment MUT Trgeted time to complete ll psses MUT Mterils nd ppliction rte needed (slt/snd/chem) MUT Priority of rod MUT Time to service MUT Truck speed (difficulty) MUT Bridge loctions MUT ignlized intersections MUT Interchnges (including design type) MUT Averge dily trffic MUT Averge rush hour trffic HOULD Pek trffic nd times of occurrence. HOULD Trffic mgnets (those smll res tht hve high ADT counts). HOULD Defult equipment to be used per segment MUT EQUIPMENT INFORMATION Unit type, including truck, plow, nd snder type, effective plowing MUT width, snder clibrtion, brine tnk (pre-wetting) equipped, etc Loction of originting shops. MUT MATERIAL INFORMATION Inventory of commodities. MUT Loction of supply stock piles. MUT TRAINING AND UPPORT 5.1 rete dt bses importing dt from Mn/DOT's bse mp in MUT AR/INFO 5.2 upply the sme bsic pckge to both gencies MUT 5.3 ustomize nd updte the softwre MUT 5.4 Provide on site trining MUT 5.5 Provide trining schedule indicting durtion, scope, nd expected MUT computer proficiency level 5.6 Provide trining nd support for customiztions nd updtes MUT 5.7 Provide on site support during instlltion MUT 5.8 Provide telephone support t ll other times MUT 5.9 Allow for multiple licensing greements (including individul nd site MUT licenses) Tble 1, Prt II: pecifictions for simultion softwre

17 4 urvey nd Anlysis of Existing imultion oftwre for now Plow Routing, nd now nd Ice ntrol Logisticl Plnning The gol of this prt of the reserch project is to prepre survey nd nlysis of existing softwre for snow plow routing nd logisticl plnning. We hve identified three compnies (Grphic Dt ystems, PR Group, nd liper) tht hve simultion softwre pckges tht meet mny of the specifiction requirements, we hve invited them to give demonstrtion of their products, nd we hve then nlyzed their products in detil. Other compnies hve been contcted but their products did not stisfy enough of the requirements, nd so were not considered pproprite. The results of our nlysis re reported nd summrized in Tble 2. Tble 2 indictes wht requirements the three simultion softwre pckges stisfy nd compres their cost. The products re listed in the order in which the compnies were invited to demonstrte their products. 4.1 gdsie from Grphic Dt ystems Grphic Dt ystems (GD) nvergent Group 62. yrcuse Wy, uite 25 Englewood, O 8111 Phone: (33) Fx: (33) E-mil: tucker@gdscorp.com The product from this compny tht we hve nlyzed is clled gdsie. gdsie hs been developed under contrct from the Indin DoT, s n improvement of the originl APER system tht ws developed by Purdue University under contrct from Indin DoT. At this point, it is not completely cler who owns the rights to this softwre product, nd, ccording to Lrry Goode from Indin DoT, negotitions re still under wy. Lwrence Miller nd Jerry Fusuglio from GD demonstrted their'compny softwre on eptember 16th in the EE/ci building t the University of Minnesot. They brought n Alph VAXsttion nd connected high resolution monitor output to the deprtment's overhed projection system. The presenters were not entirely fmilir with their product, but they did demonstrte some of its mjor functionlities.

18 gdsie works with gdstrnsport, the min GI engine used by GD. While gdsie'meets mny of the requirements, mjor requirement tht it does not meet (requirement 1.1) is tht it runs on VAX system, not n IBM comptible P. gdsie lso does not run under ny of the networking environments specified in requirement 1.4. Mr. Mrtin nd Mr. Fusuglio stted tht GD ws working on doing these things but no timetble ws given. gdsie strives to blnce routes, minimize dedhed trvel nd reduce the mount of time required to cler routes. All of these gols re greeble with the requirements we hve specified, but requirement 2.2 (to optimize the use of equipment, mteril nd stock piles) is not specificlly ddressed. In the version used by Indin DoT, there is only one stockpile per zone, nd ech route is plnned ssuming tht re-loding is not necessry. Mr. Fusuglio stted tht stockpile usge could be dded to the softwre in recent telephone converstion. In subsequent telephone converstions with Mr. Mrtin nd Mr. Fusuglio, they hve stted tht ll the progrm output requirements tht re not met cn be dded, through use of the dtbse engine. They stted tht ll the input requirements tht were not met in the current version of gdsie could lso be dded, becuse the GI engine tht GD uses cn tke ny number of ttributes, nd cn import dt from mny commercil dtbses (including AR/INFO). The formt used for dt is bsed on the U Geologicl urvey Digitl Line Grph (DLG), the dtbse supported is Orcle. One of the questions rised during the demo ws why the optimiztion hd to be iterted by hnd; this seems to be due to the lgorithm used for optimiztion (tbu serch). The dvntge of this lgorithm over lgorithms used in other pckges is tht it llows for multiobjective optimiztion (minimize dedhed time, minimize devition for trget service times, nd mximize rod clss continuity). Another question rised ws whether it ws possible to input constrints, such s forcing plows to work in tndem; there ws no nswer vilble t the meeting. The softwre ssumes single depot with multiple vehicles. The constrints used re: ech rc must be serviced only s prt of one route, routes must be continuous, routes should strt nd end t the depot, subtours re not llowed, route service times must be clculted bsed on whether the rc is being serviced or used to dedhed over. Indin DoT is ctully using the softwre for pproximtively 1/3 of the stte, covering both urbn nd rurl res, with prevlence of rurl res. nsidering tht the cost of truck nd

19 its opertions is estimted t $144,/yer, nd considering tht by using the softwre 17 fewer trucks re needed, the svings mount to pproximtively $1,5,/yer. Indin DoT expects to be ble to cover the entire stte nd so to increse the svings. Additionl svings re expected from new lgorithms being developed t Purdue tht llow to rellocte rod segments to counties. A mjor problem with gdsie is its cost. The cost of the gdsie system would surely be more tht $1,,, nd less thn $4,,, ccording to Mr. Mrtin, depending on how much "scrubbing" the dt tht we provide requires. He noted tht the dt bse thus produced would be usble by other deprtments, nd in Denver permitting ppliction dt bse ws used for gdsie. The pckge is minly intended to be used by the entire stte, s opposed to individul counties. The wy the softwre is used in Indin is on centrl computer (n Alph VAX 7), tht runs the softwre nd provides the dt for six district offices connected by dedicted 56Kbud phone lines. Ech route designer in the district uses VAXsttion 4. The response time for frther wy res is quite slow, ccording to Lrry Goode, minly when lrge mps re displyed. $3, would buy "turnkey" pckge for one county/orgniztion. This would include the softwre, customiztion, trining nd support. But this figure is highly dependent on GD hving "look t the dt". This look would cost $7,-8, for 4 dy sty nd irfre, nd would involve interviews besides ctully looking t the dt. $12, would buy one "set", i.e. the license for gdstrnsport on one worksttion; no trining is included. [Note tht gdstrnsport is not the sme s gdsie]. st of gdsie (for ech gency) 6.1 st of single user licens $3, (turnkey pckge for one county) 6.2 st of dditionl licenses To be determined 6.3 Dt conversion from Mn/DOT's bse mp Included 6.4 On site trining Included 6.5 Additionl on site support during instlltion $8, for 4 dys on site 6.6 ustomiztion To be determined 6.7 Annul support nd mintennce To be determined

20 4.2 GeoRoute Municipl from PR Group PR Group 31 Moodie Drive, uite 121 Nepen, Ontrio, nd K2H 94 Phone: (613) Fx: (613) PR Group is consulting compny tht is licensed by GIRO to sell the GeoRoute softwre. The product we re interested in, clled GeoRoute Municipl, supports mny of the GI type plnning opertions tht occur in municiplities, such s bus route, mil route, nd grbge collection plnning. Included is the cpbility to pln nd optimize snowplow routes. Pul Frigon of PR cme to the EE/ci deprtment on eptember 23rd to demonstrte their product. He brought lptop computer (IBM comptible) nd routed the output through the deprtment's overhed monitor projector. GeoRoute Municipl meets most of the mjor requirements, except tht it doesn't run under Windows (requirement 1.2). It runs currently under O/2, nd Windows '95 is plnned for future development, but no firm dte is given. Orcle is supported but there is no mention of OLE complince in ny of the literture provided (requirement 1.5). The softwre minimizes the time for completing the service required (requirement 2.1). Optimizing the use of equipment, mteril nd stock piles (requirement 2.2) is not specificlly ddressed, but cn be chieved itertively, for instnce by chnging the service time to force the system to exmine different routes. Output requirements re either explicitly met (requirements 3.1 to 3.3 nd 3.6 to 3.8) or their formts should be trivilly customized (requirements 3.4, 3.5 nd 3.1 to 3.11). Points t which re-supply is necessry nd the supply depot to go to (requirement 3.9) my be dded by using refill ctivity, much like ssigning coffee nd mel breks. Ech truck would be ssigned supply depot nd the durtion of the loding ctivity would be included. The routing process would trck the reduction of vehicle content, route the vehicle to the pproprite depot when it ws empty, include the durtion of the loding ctivity, nd then, fter refilling, reroute the vehicle bck to the point where it left off. GeoRoute's bility to import dt from AR/INFO llows it to receive ll the inputs required. 1

21 There is no explicit mention tht the inventories of commodities (requirement 4.3.1) cn be input, nd it is not cler if the trffic informtion (requirements , , ) cn be used in the optimiztion. The cost of the pckge is pproximtively s follows: $6, for license, $1, for trining, $2, for dt conversion, $1, to $15, for dditionl implementtion support, $1, for customiztion. There is 15%/yer chrge for support nd mintennce. ince two licenses would be needed for the two gencies, nd the implementtion support nd dt conversion will hve to be done for both gencies, this will bring the totl for the two gencies to pproximtively $175,. st of GeoRoute Municipl (for ech gency) 6.1 st of single user license $6, 6.2 st of dditionl licenses $6, ech I 6.3 Dt conversion from Mn/DOT's bse mp $2, 6.4 On site trining $1, (for the two gencies) 6.5 Additionl on site support during instlltion $15, 6.6 ustomiztion $1, (for the two gencies) 6.7 Annul support nd mintennce 15% 4.3 TrnsAD from liper liper rportion 1172 Becon treet Newton, MA 2161 Phone: (617) 5277 Fx: (617) E-mil: webmster@cliper.com URL: cliper. cor/defult.htm liper rportion produces TrnsAD for Windows, GI used to store disply, mnge, nd nlyze trnsporttion dt. The softwre ws demonstrted by Grhm Brrowmn on October 18, 1996 in the conference room of T. TrnsAD supports Microsoft's Open Dtbse nnectivity specifiction which cn ccess mny commercilly vilble dtbse mngement systems nd spred sheet pplictions such s ORA- 11

22 LE, YBAE nd INGRE. It lso supports Microsoft's Object Linking nd Embedding cpbility, llowing mps tht re creted nd mintined by TrnsAD to be linked nd embedded within documents tht re creted by other OLE comptible pplictions. Included with the softwre is GI oftwre Development Kit (GIDK(TM)) tht provides ccess to the full rnge of geogrphic dt mngement nd nlysis functions, nd supports the development of mcro progrms, custom user interfces, nd other extensions. The softwre supports trip genertion, trip distribution, trffic ssignment, optiml site loction, minimum cost distribution, routing with time windows, multi-vehicle routing, trvel demnd modeling, etc. The softwre comes with lrge collection of dt (U.. streets with ddress rnge informtion for geocoding, UDOT files on highwys, rilrods, public trnsit, wterwys nd irports, etc). The system cn lso be interfced to dt collection tools including GP. liper hs developed modules for rc routing problems (for pplictions such s grbge pickup, etc) nd some modules for snow plow routes. The min fetures of TrnsAD re its bility to do rc routing on network of streets, solve shortest pth problems, nd hndle time nd distnce optimiztion problems (by minimizing dedhed time or distnce). TrnsAD cn crete worklod shifts nd output text files with detiled directions tht cn be esily edited. It cn lso import dt from GI dtbses nd will support s mny ttributes s desired for the links describing rod sections. Externl devices such s GP cn be esily connected. Output requirements re either lredy met (requirements 3.1 to 3.3 nd 3.6 to 3.8) or should be trivilly customized (requirements 3.4, 3.5 nd 3.1 to 3.11). No explicit wy is given on how to hndle resupply of snd or chemicls (requirement 3.9). TrnsAD llows multiple psses of truck on the sme street, but it does not llow for multiple types of trucks (requirement 4.2.1). Truck fetures cn be specified but the lgorithms require tht ll vehicles from the sme depot hve the sme cpcity. Multiple depot pplictions cn be run in single pss (streets hve to be ssigned to depots in dvnce), shifts nd truck routes cn be computed esily. No explicit wy is given to use trffic dt (4.1.12, , ). For optimiztion purposes, penlties cn be specified (for instnce for left turns, or on specific segments, or on intersections). Penlties cn lso be expressed s constrints (e.g. the time to mke right turn from secondry rod into primry rod is greter tht the time to mke turn from primry to primry rod) in nturl nd simple wy. TrnsAD is minly toolkit, nd cn be extended by using specilly designed mcro lnguge 12

23 tht is prt of the pckge or by linking it to softwre written in other progrmming lnguges. This mkes the pckge very flexible nd reltively esy to customize. The cost of the pckge is pproximtively $1,, with the cost decresing with the number of pckges cquired. On site trining is vilble t $1,/dy + expenses. ome scheduled trining is vilble in selected cities for $6 for 2 dys of bsic trining. Additionl support nd customiztion re vilble from the compny t cost to be negotited. Technicl supports nd upgrdes for yer re included with the softwre, nd vilble for subsequent yers subject to license renewl fee of $995/yer. st of TrnsAD (for ech gency) 6.1 st of single user license $9, st of dditionl licenses $8,995 (copies 2-5), $7,995 (6-15), $6,995 (16 nd up) 6.3 Dt conversion from Mn/DOT's bse mp To be determined 6.4 On site trining $1/dy + expenses 6.5 Additionl on site support during instlltion To be determined 6.6 ustomiztion To be determined 6.7 Annul support nd mintennce $995/copy 4.4 Other products exmined Here we list other compnies we hve contcted tht hve products for snow plow route plnning nd optimiztion. None of the products listed here stisfies enough of the specifiction requirements, so we did not perform n in-depth nlysis of their products s we did for the three compnies listed bove. * Ener Inc. 15 N. Michign Av, uite 12 hicgo, IL Phone: (312) Fx: (312) ENERA hs developed the Winter Rod Mintennce ystem (WRM) to be used in cndinvi nd possibly Norwy strting this yer. WRM runs in the WINDOW environment 13

24 nd hs three modules: 1) plnning module (which includes the importtion of rod dt, used to fcilitte mnul plnning; 2) cll-out module for rpid communiction to mintennce personnel nd 3) module for reporting rod conditions nd the sttus of ssignments over the telephone. ENERA demonstrted their system on August 19th t the Trnsporttion building in t. Pul. Their GI cpbility ws shown to be dequte, but they hd no softwre for snowplow route optimizing. They hve expressed keen interest in utomting the plnning of routes s prt of this project, in support of nother entity with expertise in route optimiztion. * Orr chelen Myeron & Assocites (OM), Inc. 3 Prk Plce Est 5775 Wyzt Boulevrd Minnepolis, MN Phone: (612) Fx: (612) OM hs expertise with GI nd could provide the GI support for snow plow routing. They do not hve ny specific product tht stisfies the requirements nd do not pln on developing ny product for routing. However, they hve lredy used AR/INFO for mnul snow plowing optimiztion. The pproch they propose is to use AR/INFO for the GI dtbse, to set mnully routes, nd use AR/INFO to compute dedhed time, given the desired level of service, priority, etc. s result of optimizing routes, indictions cn be obtined on the loction of truck sttions nd optiml boundries between districts cn be computed. The estimted cost of doing this for the two gencies is $2,. * Tech Mster Group 221 Victory Prkwy incinnti, Ohio 4526 Phone: Although this compny hs product, NOWMATER, tht ppers to meet the requirements, they do not seem to be ble to deliver ny products t this time. It is not cler wht the current stte of the product is, the compny does not pper interested (even fter repeted phone clls they hve not sent ny mteril), nd hs bd reputtion mong Depts 14

25 of Trnsporttion (the Illinois DoT hs informed us tht they re no longer doing business with this compny becuse of the compny filure to stisfy contrct with them). 4.5 Products exmined tht do not meet minimum specifiction requirements None of the products listed here llows for rc routing, so none of them is pproprite for snow plow routing, but we include them here for completeness. Logistics oftwre * AP LOGITI 27 umberlnd Prkwy Atlnt, Georgi Phone: (77) Fx: (77) This is softwre development firm specilizing in the res of trnsporttion, distribution nd logistics. Their flgship product, TOOLKIT, provides supply chin mngement (site loction, customer ssignment, open/close scenrios), vehicle routing nd scheduling nd shipment plnning. No rc routing is vilble. * rtegrph ystems, Inc. 166 Embssy West Dr Dubuque, IA Phone: (319) Phone: rte'grph ystems Inc. produces softwre tht is used minly for pvement, signl, bridge nd sign mngement. They hve developed softwre for trffic mngement nd inventory using dbse in Windows environments. Although not true GI solution, they pln to develop one soon tht will be generic, such s Microsttion or ArcView. * Lightstone Group 25 Old untry Rod Mineol, NY 1151 Phone: (516)

26 Fx: (516) E-mil: Lightstone Groups' Resources in Motion Mngement ystem (RIMM) works in Windows environment s logisticl plnner. It hs vrious functionlities to llow the user to see scheduled ctivity on route, overview ll ctivities scheduled for route, nd see the time ech ctivity will occur. RIMM incorportes user defined rules bout conditions tht need to be met to optimize logisticl solutions, nd cn shre dt with other informtion systems. No rc routing is vilble. GI oftwre * Environmentl ystems Reserch Institute, Inc. 38 New York t. Redlnds, A Phone: (99) Fx: (99) E-mil: info@esri.com URL: Environmentl ystems Reserch Institute, Inc. produces some of the most widely used GI dtbse tools, such s ARVIEW, AR/INFO, P AR/INFO, ArcAD. BusinessMAP, MpObjects, DE, etc. No logisticl softwre is vilble directly from the compny, but mny other vendors build products using AR/INFO. * Geogrphic Designs, Inc Meru Lne nt Brbr, A 9315 Phone: (85) Fx: (85) Emil: inquiry@geodesigns. corn URL: http : //www. geodesigns. com Their products re used lmost exclusively for GI file nd dt mngement, browsing, nd querying GI dtbses. 16

27 * GENAY II IN The Gensys Building 151 outh Lemy Avenue Fort llins, O 8524 Phone: (97) Fx: (97) GENAY hs mny products tht del with the disply nd mnipultion of geogrphic dt, but no products tht perform routing or logisticl nlysis. * Kositzky & Assocites, Inc. 161 Greenbrir Pl. te J, Oklhom ity, OK ntct: Dvid B. Johnson Phone: (45) , Fx: (45) E-mil: geoinfo@geowhiz.com URL: com Their softwre does point to point routing. They hve expressed no interest in developing snow plow route plnning pckges, t this time. Note: They re looking into the fct tht they nd GIRO hve products with the sme nme. * EI Informtion Technology Informtion Delivery ervices 15 North Wcker Drive, uite 215 hicgo, IL 6614 Phone: (312) Fx: (312) E-mil: msterns@sei-it. com EI produces EnRoute, which is dtbse engine tht they use for in-vehicle route guidnce. They lso developed routing services for the World Wide Web nd other online commercil services. Their focus is on ccessing nd mnging their GI dtbse system, not logisticl plnning. 17

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31 5 Recommendtions for how to Proceed for the Next Phse of the Project The gol of this prt of the reserch is to provide detiled recommendtions on how to proceed with the project, using the specifiction requirements obtined in the first phse of the project, nd the results of our nlysis of existing simultion softwre systems obtined in the second phse of the project. We nlyze here number of options, indicte for ech of them dvntges nd shortcomings, nd mke our recommendtions ccordingly. Before exmining the lterntives we hve nlyzed, we hve to keep in mind tht none of the existing pckges stisfies in full the specifiction requirements, s shown in Tble 2. However, the three softwre simultion pckges we hve exmined in detil (gdsie from GD, GeoRoute Municipl from PR, nd TrnsAD from liper) stisfy most of the requirements, nd so re ll considered in our recommendtions. The softwre pckge tht stisfies lmost ll the requirements is TrnsAD. The mjor missing requirement is tht it does not llow for multiple types of trucks (requirement 4.2.1). However, s explined in detil lter, the compny is willing nd interested in providing customiztion to stisfy the missing requirements. GeoRoute Municipl lso stisfies most of the requirements. The mjor missing requirement is tht is runs under O/2 insted of Windows (requirement 1.3). gdsie does not stisfy some very importnt requirements, such s running on personl computer (requirement 1.1). Other mjor missing requirements re the fct it does not llow to specify the number of psses/segment (requirement 4.1.2), ssumes signle stock-pile (requirement 3.7) nd single truck sttion (requirement 3.8). Both GeoRoute Municipl nd gdsie re substntilly more expensive thn TrnsAD, s shown in Prt III of the Tble 2, but do not offer significnt dditionl functionlities. The options nlyzed nd our recommendtions re: 1. Option Recommended: buy TrnsAD; 2. Options Not Recommended: ( buy GeoRoute Municipl; (b) buy gdsie; 21

32 (c) use consultnts to nlyze snow plow routes insted of buying simultion softwre pckge; (d) discontinue the project. These options cover the whole spectrum of choices vilble, nd this provides strong bsis for our recommendtions. nsidering dvntges nd shortcoming of ll the options exmined, we recommend to buy TrnsAD, s explined in detil lter, nd we reject ll the others options. 5.1 Option Recommended: buy TrnsAD The softwre pckge tht mximizes the number of requirements stisfied while minimizing the cost is TrnsAD from liper. Even though TrnsAD does not stisfy ll the requirements, converstion with compny representtive hs indicted tht it is possible to customize the pckge to chieve the missing requirements. The compny is willing to do the customiztion. The generl requirements nd mjor functionlities re ll stisfied. Optimizing the use of equipment, mteril nd stock piles (requirement 2.2) is not specificlly ddressed, but cn be chieved itertively by running multiple scenrios with different conditions. Output requirements re either lredy met (requirements 3.1 to 3.3 nd 3.6 to 3.8) or should be trivilly customized (requirements 3.4, 3.5 nd 3.1 to 3.11). No explicit wy is given on how to hndle resupply of snd or chemicls (requirement 3.9), but discussion with compny representtive hs indicted tht dding this requirement should be reltively simple. All the input requirements re met for rod nd mteril informtion. The mjor unstisfied requirement is the fct tht TrnsAD does not llow to use multiple types of trucks from the sme depot. Discussion with compny representtive hs indicted tht this requirement could be stisfied with dditionl customiztion of the softwre pckge. The trffic informtion requirements (these re only HOULD nd not MUT) re not met by ny of the pckges exmined. The trining nd support requirements re ll met. Mjor Advntges: * TrnsAD hs been designed from the beginning for personl computers, * it is n open system tht cn be esily integrted with other softwre (either by pssing dt through files nd dtbses, or by writing customized softwre) nd expnded, 22

33 * it supports lrge vriety of dt formts nd so cn be used with vilble dt, * it hndles lmost ll the requirements from the specifictions (s explined erlier in more detil), * it includes methods for finding optiml loction of fcilities (could be used to locte truck depots), * it hs n intuitive nd esy to use user interfce, * it provides n impressive collection of bsic tools nd fcilities tht cn be used for mny other pplictions tht require GI, * the product hs been used by other municiplities for pplictions tht require rc routing (even though not for snow plow routing). For instnce, the city of Austin, Texs hs completed pilot project for routing solid wste collection vehicles, * the cost of the softwre pckge is limited, compred to ny other pckge with similr functionlities. Two licenses will cost $18,99 nd cost of dditionl copies is decresing. liper offers turnkey softwre license (tht includes one copy of TrnsAD, dt bse preprtion nd conversion, on-site instlltion, nd one dy of trining) for $19,995, * the time needed for instlling TrnsAD nd using it effectively is short, considering its esy to use interfce, comprehensive documenttion, nd ese of importing dt files, * externl devices, such s GP units, cn be connected nd integrted with the routing softwre. Mjor hortcomings: * it llows for only one type of truck from ech depot, * the optimiztion is limited to optimize the time needed to deliver the desired level of service. No direct method is given to optimize fctors such s use of equipment, mteril, nd stock piles (even though this could be obtined indirectly by running multiple simultions with different conditions), * it does not llow for utomtic relloction of routes mong different depots (when routing from multiple depots, the rods hve to be ssigned to ech depot in dvnce of running the optimiztion) 23

34 nsidering tht the dvntges gretly outweigh the shortcomings, nd tht the compny tht produces the softwre is willing to negotite customiztion of the product to stisfy the missing requirements, this is the only option we recommend. The TrnsAD pckge is flexible, powerful, esy to use, resonbly priced, nd we expect multiple dditionl uses of it by the two gencies for other pplictions. There is lso gret potentil for use of TrnsAD from other gencies nd municiplities in the stte of Minnesot. 5.2 Options Not Recommended ( Buy GeoRoute Municipl GeoRoute Municipl is perhps the most complete product vilble for snow plow routing, but lcks some of the generl cpbilities vilble in TrnsAD, it is not s flexible nd open, nd hs much higher price. GeoRoute Municipl meets most of the generl requirements, except tht it doesn't run under Windows (requirement 1.2). It runs currently under O/2, nd Windows '95 is plnned for future development, but no firm dte is given. Orcle is supported but there is no mention of OLE complince in ny of the literture provided (requirement 1.5). The softwre stisfies the requirement of minimizing the time for completing the service required (requirement 2.1). Optimizing the use of equipment, mteril nd stock piles (requirement 2.2) is not specificlly ddressed, but cn be chieved itertively by running multiple simultion scenrios. All progrm input nd output requirements re stisfied, nd so re the trining nd support requirements. Mjor Advntges: - the mount of customiztion needed is limited, - the softwre could be opertionl in short period of time, - the product hs lredy been used by other municiplities for pplictions tht include snow plow routing, for instnce, in the city of Ottw (Ontrio), the Regionl municiplity of Ottw rleton, nd the city of Llle (Quebec), 24

35 - PR is willing to discuss forms of lese, forms of pyments prorted on the expected svings, etc. Mjor hortcomings: - the price to be pid for the softwre is steep, nd it remins to see if the cost of the softwre is justified by the expected svings produced by n improved use of the equipment nd the fcilities. The estimted cost of this option (provided by PR) is pproximtively $175, for the two gencies. All things considered we do not recommend this option. There is no cler technicl dvntge in GeoRoute Municipl over TrnsAD, nd its cost is significntly higher. (b) Buy gdsie gdsie hs been developed s n improvement of the originl APER system developed for the Indin DoT by Purdue University. At this point, it is not completely cler who owns the rights to this softwre product. The mjor generl requirement tht gdsie does not meet is tht it runs on VAX system, not n IBM comptible P (requirements 1.1 nd 1.3). gdsie lso does not run under ny of the networking environments specified (requirement 1.4). All the mjor functionlities re met except tht requirement 2.2 (to optimize the use of equipment, mteril nd stock piles) is not specificlly ddressed. In the version used by Indin DoT, there is only one stockpile per zone, nd ech route is plnned ssuming tht re-loding is not necessry. The progrm output requirements tht re not met cn be dded, ccording to compny representtive, through the use of the dtbse engine. All the input requirements tht re not met in the current version of gdsie could lso be dded, becuse the GI engine used cn tke ny number of ttributes, nd cn import dt from mny commercil systems (including AR/INFO). However, it is not cler if the optimiztion softwre will be cpble of hndling different number of psses per segment (requirement 4.1.2). Mjor Advntges: 25

36 - the product is derived from the APER system, system developed by the Indin DoT nd in regulr use there. Mjor hortcomings: - gdsie does not meet mny of the requirements, s detiled erlier, - the system is less flexible in the'support of dtbses (the dtbse supported is Orcle) nd dt formts, - the price to be pid for the softwre is steep, nd it remins to see if the cost of the softwre is justified by the expected svings produced by n improved use of the equipment nd the fcilities. The estimted cost of this option (provided by GD) is pproximtively $3, for ech gency, - who owns the legl rights to the softwre is not completely cler right now, nd pprently, some negotitions re still under wy with the Indin DoT. nsidering the numerous nd serious shortcomings, we do not recommend this option. (c) Use consultnts to nlyze snow plow routes This option clls for sking consultnt to perform mnul nlysis of the snow plow routing for the two gencies, for instnce s proposed by OM. Mjor Advntges: - the estimted cost is pproximtively $2, for the two gencies, - there is no long term commitment to ny specific softwre pckge. Mjor hortcomings: - this is one shot solution, nd the gencies will not hve the bility to run the sme nlysis t different times, with different scenrios, under different conditions, etc., - ny other gency (Mn/DoT district, Minnesot county, or municiplity) interested in optimizing snow plow routes will hve to go through the sme process t the sme expected cost, hring of results nd trnsfer of technology cross the different gencies will be miniml, 26

37 - the cost ppers high for one shot solution, considering tht it is not cler tht the svings in opertionl costs tht would be obtined from this nlysis will be sufficient to offset its cost. nsidering tht the shortcomings re substntilly greter thn the dvntges, this is n option we do not recommend. (d) Discontinue the project The lst option we exmine is to discontinue the project. Mjor Advntges: - this choice will not crete ny commitment to specific product nd technology. nsidering tht technology dvnces rpidly, this will llow to consider in the future more dvnced nd less expensive solutions, tht would likely become vilble s technology develops, - this is the lest expensive option, no money is spent. Mjor hortcomings: - it ignores the current dvnces in the computer nd GI technology tht mke utomted snow plowing n objective within rech, - it ignores future benefits of incresed utomtion, future svings of equipment, opportunity to provide better service using the sme mount of resources, - it ignores the fct tht technology is expected to continue improving t rpid pce for mny yers to come, nd tht witing for perfect time to dopt it would unnecessrily dely benefits tht re currently within rech nd ffordble. This is n option tht we do not recommend. The time ppers ripe for using the technology tht is vilble tody t n ffordble cost. Terminting this project now tht vible simultion softwre pckge hs been found will result in wsted effort. 27

38 References [1] T. H. rmen,. E. Leiserson, nd R. L. Rivest. Introduction to lgorithms. McGrw Hill, 199. [2] R. W. Hll. The fstest pth through network with rndom time-dependent trvel times. Trnsporttion cience, 2(3): , [3] D.E. Kufmn nd R. L. mith. Fstest pths in time-dependent networks for intelligent vehicle-highwy systems ppliction. IVH Journl, 1(1), [4] JHK & Assocites. tte of the rt technology report: Rurl pplictions of ATI. Technicl report, prepred for Federl Highwy Administrtion, [5] Ry Pittmn. Indin stremlines permitting nd ice/snow removl. Public works, pges 49-5, Februry [6] Lrry Goode nd Tommy Nntung. APER: the friendly, efficient snow routes plnner. TR News, pges 2-21, November-December [7] Jin-Yun Wng, Pdm Kndul, nd Jeff Wright. Evlution of computer-generted routes for improved snow nd ice control. Trnsporttion Reserch Record 159, pges [8] Jeff Wright. Re-designing rurl snow nd ice service routes. In Proc. Rurl Intelligent Trnsporttion ystems, [9] W. Mxwell Miner, P. Eng, imon Bretherton, nd P. Eng. Route optimiztion for winter mintennce ctivities field tril of rodwy snow plowing. In Proc TA Annul nference, [1] H.A. Eiselt, M. Gendreu, nd G. Lporte. Arc routing problems, prt i: the chinese postmn problem. Opertions Reserch, 43(2): ,

39