Modelling Distribution Routes in City Logistics by Applying Operations Research Methods
Abstract
The article focuses on the up-to-date subject from the practical as well as scientific point of view. It specif-ically discusses a proposal of an approach concerning transport or distribution problems in the range of city logistics and investigates possibilities to use opted oper-ations research methods in this particular area. Specific suggestions lie first and foremost in using selected tools of operations research (i.e. a set of methods concerning vehicle routing problem) to model multiple variants of distribution paths from a determined hub to multiple spokes in order to minimise the overall travelled distance in an urban area. As far as the very research goes, to de-fine distribution paths to supply multiple logistics objects in the range of city logistics, ensuing methods are step by step used: Clarke-Wright algorithm, Mayer algorithm and the nearest neighbour algorithm. The article con-sists of a conceptual section, describing the relevant the-ory as well as data and methods used, the practical part and the section encompassing an assessment of the key findings, along with the discussion. A suitable combina-tion of adequate operations research methods and their application to city logistics issues is where an innovative solution of this research lies.
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