Showing papers on "Fleet management published in 2007"

Heuristic Approaches for the Fleet Size and Mix Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

Abstract: The fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem with time windows (FSMVRPTW) is the problem of determining, at the same time, the composition and the routing of a fleet of heterogeneous vehicles aimed to serve a given set of customers. The routing problem requires us to design a set of minimum-cost routes originating and terminating at a central depot and serving customers with known demands, within given time windows. This paper develops a constructive insertion heuristic and a metaheuristic algorithm for FSMVRPTW. Extensive computational experiments on benchmark instances show that the proposed method is robust and efficient, and outperforms the previously published results.

Vehicle Routing And Scheduling Models, Simulation And City Logistics

Abstract: The distribution of goods based on road services in urban areas, usually known as City Logistics, contributes to traffic congestion and is affected by traffic congestion, generates environmental impacts and incurs in high logistics costs. Therefore a holistic approach to the design and evaluation of City Logistics applications requires an integrated framework in which all components could work together that is must be modelled not only in terms of the core models for vehicle routing and fleet management, but also in terms of models able of including the dynamic aspects of traffic on the underlying road network, namely if Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) applications are taken into account. This paper reports on the modelling framework developed in the national projects SADERYL-I and II, sponsored by the Spanish “Direccion General de Ciencia y Tecnologia” (DGCYT) and tested in the European Project MEROPE of the INTERREG IIIB Programme. The modelling framework consists of a Decision Support System whose core architecture is composed by a Data Base, to store all the data required by the implied models: location of logistic centres and customers, capacities of warehouses and depots, transportation costs, operational costs, fleet data, etc.; a Database Management System, for the updating of the information stored in the data base; a Model Base, containing the family of models and algorithms to solve the related problems, discrete location, network location, street vehicle routing and scheduling; a Model Base Management System, to update, modify, add or delete models from the Model Base; a GIS based Graphic User Interface supporting the dialogues to define and update data, select the model suitable to the intended problem, generate automatically from the digital map of the road network the input graph for the Network Location and Vehicle Routing models, apply the corresponding algorithm, visualize the problem and the results, etc. To account for the dynamics of urban traffic flows the system includes an underlying dynamic traffic simulation model (AIMSUN in this case) which is able to track individually the fleet vehicles, emulating in this way the monitoring of fleet vehicles in a real time fleet management system, gathering dynamic data (i.e. current position, previous position, current speed, previous speed, etc.) while following the vehicle, in a similar way as the data that in real life an equipped vehicle could provide. This is the information required by a “Dynamic Router and Scheduler” to determine which vehicle will be assigned to the new service and which will be the new route for the selected vehicle

Intelligent Fleet Management System with Concurrent GPS & GSM Real-Time Positioning Technology

Abstract: Fleet management system is a rapid growing industry This system helps institutions to manage vehicle fleet efficiently and effectively through smart allocation of resources In this project, an intelligent fleet management system which incorporates the power of concurrent Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) real-time positioning, front-end intelligent and web-based management software is proposed In contrast to systems which depend solely on GPS positioning, the proposed system provides higher positioning accuracy and is capable to track the target at areas where GPS signals are weak or unavailable The terminal is powered by Front-End Intelligent Technology (FEI), a comprehensive embedded technology that is equipped with necessary artificial intelligence to mimic human intelligence in decision-making for quicker response, better accuracy and less dependence on a backend server With less dependency on the backend, large scale fleet management system can be implemented more effectively The proposed system is successfully implemented and evaluated on twenty vehicles including buses and cars in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Results from the test-bed shown that user can monitor and track the real-time physical location and conditions of their vehicles via Internet or Short Message Service (SMS) The web-based fleet management software also helped the user to manage fleets more effectively

TurboRouter: An Interactive Optimisation-Based Decision Support System for Ship Routing and Scheduling

Abstract: Shipping companies must manage their fleets efficiently in order to stay in business Ship routing and scheduling is a complex planning problem that may play an important role in this respect We present TurboRouter, a decision support system that has been developed to aid planners in this process The system includes both functions for manual planning and advanced optimisation algorithms for automatic planning, as well as semi-automatic planning functions The system is currently in use by a number of shipping companies We report on the practical impact of using the system in the ship routing and scheduling planning process The savings are considerable, both regarding the quality of solutions and in terms of the time used for planning The system has also proven to function well as a support in negotiation of spot cargoes, as well as in strategic analyses such as contract optimisation and determination of optimal fleet size and mix both for existing business and in bidding processes

Useful Life of Transit Buses and Vans

Abstract: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) sponsored this research to assess both the appropriateness of its existing minimum service-life policy for transit buses and vans, and the need to change that policy. The research evaluated the federal minimum service-life requirements based upon the actual experience of both transit operators and vehicle manufacturers. The analyses in this research provide the transit industry and the FTA with a better understanding of (1) the current useful life of transit buses and vans, (2) the appropriateness of FTA’s minimum service-life policy, and (3) the policy’s impact on transit vehicle life expectancies and vehicle retirement decisions at the agency level. Actual ages of buses retired from service generally exceed FTA minimums. Transit agencies interviewed cited availability of capital funds for bus replacement as the primary determinant of retirement age.

Incorporating Pricing Decisions into the Stochastic Dynamic Fleet Management Problem

Abstract: This paper shows how to coordinate the decisions on pricing and fleet management of a freight carrier. We consider a setting where the carrier announces its prices at the beginning of a certain time horizon and the load arrivals over this horizon depend on the announced prices. Assuming that the vehicle fleet is managed according to a particular class of fleet management models, we present a tractable method to obtain sample path-based directional derivatives of the objective function with respect to the prices. We use this information to search for a good set of prices. Numerical experiments show that our approach yields high-quality solutions.

Sensitivity Analysis of a Dynamic Fleet Management Model Using Approximate Dynamic Programming

Abstract: We present tractable algorithms to assess the sensitivity of a stochastic dynamic fleet management model to fleet size and load availability. In particular, we show how to compute the change in the objective function value in response to an additional vehicle or an additional load introduced into the system. The novel aspect of our approach is that it does not require multiple simulations with different values of the model parameters, and in this respect it differs from trial-and-error-based “what-if” analyses. Numerical experiments show that the proposed methods are accurate and computationally attractive.

Real-Time Fleet Management At Ecourier Ltd

Abstract: In this chapter we describe an innovative real-time fleet management system designed and implemented for eCourier Ltd (London, UK) for which patents are pending in the United States and elsewhere. This paper describes both the business challenges and benefits of the implementation of a real-time fleet management system (with reference to empirical metrics such as courier efficiency, service times, and financial data), as well as the theoretical and implementation challenges of constructing such a system. In short, the system dramatically reduces the requirements of human supervisors for fleet management, improves service and increases courier efficiency. We first illustrate the overall architecture, then depict the main algorithms, including the service territory zoning methodology, the travel time forecasting procedure and the job allocation heuristic

A Mathematical Modeling Approach to Improving Locomotive Utilization at a Freight Railroad

Abstract: Moving freight by rail remains one of the major transportation modes in today's business world. Although railcars compare unfavorably with trucks and airplanes with respect to mobility, flexibility, and speed, the shipping costs are lower and the energy-efficiency is higher. In order to become more competitive in the logistics industry, railroads have taken a number of new initiatives to improve their operations in recent years. One of such efforts made by Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) is described in this paper. The main focus of the present study is on helping Conrail increase the utilization of its locomotive fleet by developing a mixed integer linear program (MILP) to determine the least-cost plan of allocating locomotives to yards and moving light engines between yards. The MILP is tested on a set of real data gathered at Conrail and it is proven to be superior to the existing method. A simple sensitivity analysis is also performed to gain insight into the trade-off between investment in additional locomotives and cost of light engine moves.

Apparatus and method for monitoring tyre wear

Abstract: A fleet management system for monitoring the tread depth of a plurality of tyres in use in a fleet of vehicles, includes an electronic database of information relevant to the depth of tread for each of a plurality of tyres in use in a fleet of vehicles, an apparatus (100) for testing vehicle tyres, the apparatus (100) including eddy current sensors (120) arranged for detecting the relative position of a metallic reference point within a tyre, and an electronic controller for automatically updating said electronic database in response to test data received from said apparatus (100).

Coordinated scheduling models for allied airlines

Abstract: Recently, as a means of forming global networks and improving operation efficiency, major air carriers have increasingly entered into alliances with other carriers. Fleet routing and flight scheduling are not only important in individual airline operations, but also affect the alliances. The setting of a good flight schedule can not only enhance allied airline operating performance, but can also be a useful reference for alliance decision-making. In this research, we develop several coordinated scheduling models, which will help the allied airlines solve for the most satisfactory fleet routes and timetables under the alliance. We employ network flow techniques to construct the models. The models are formulated as multiple commodity network flow problems which can be solved using a mathematical programming solver. Finally, to evaluate the models, we perform a case study based on real operating data from two Taiwan airlines. The preliminary results are good, showing that the models could be useful for airline alliances.

Dynamic Management Of A Delayed Delivery Vehicle In A City Logistics Environment

Abstract: Distribution schedules designed a priori may not cope adequately with unexpected events that occur during the plan execution, such as adverse traffic conditions or vehicle failures. This limitation may lead to delays, higher costs, and inferior customer service. This chapter presents the design and implementation of a real-time fleet management system that handles such unexpected events during urban freight distribution. The system monitors delivery vehicles, detects deviations from the distribution plan using dynamic travel time prediction, and adjusts the schedule accordingly by suggesting effective rerouting interventions. The system has been tested in a Greek 3PL operator and the results show significant improvements in customer service

Wireless technologies for logistic distribution process

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the integration of logistic management with information and communication technologies to largely improve the effectiveness of logistic fleet operations. The work presented here shows a real‐world fleet management system that integrates mobile communication and supports real‐time logistic information flow management.Design/methodology/approach – First, the application of information and mobile communication technologies in providing effective logistic distribution service is introduced. Then, the proposed real‐time fleet management system (RTFMS) architecture is depicted, the technology profiles for mobile data terminal (MDT) and logistic information system are described, and the considerations of various wireless mobile communication technologies for logistic distribution process are also addressed. Finally, the implications of this paper are discussed and plans for further work are outlined.Findings – The proposed architecture for a real‐world logistic f...

Real-Time Traffic Operations Data Using Vehicle Probe Technology

Abstract: The vehicle probe industry is emerging as a viable means to monitor traffic flow, delivering both speed and travel-time information for the purposes of advanced traffic management systems and advanced traveler information services applications, as well as supporting a myriad of other transportation agency requirements, including monitoring the impacts of construction activities, planning, and engineering. Meanwhile, the high cost of installing and maintaining fixed-point loop detectors is driving transportation authorities to consider both outsourcing traffic monitoring and developing new methods of detection. Vehicle probe technology, as discussed in this paper, encompasses two primary methods: GPS data obtained from fleet management services and geo-location schemes that leverage cellular phone infrastructure. The proliferation of GPS and mobile data services is fueling these industries and strengthening the demand from travelers for accurate real-time traffic information. One of several ongoing procurements for such data is sponsored by the I-95 Corridor Coalition. As technical advisor to the Coalition, the University of Maryland assisted in developing an appropriate procurement strategy for acquiring vehicle probe data services. This paper reports on various aspects of vehicle probe technology, including technology differentiation, lessons learned from previous demonstrations, risk assessment, intellectual property issues, and institutional barriers for adopting and leveraging new technology.

Airlife - towards a fleet management tool for corrosion damage

Abstract: The corrosion degradation of a irframes occurs in a host of different environments over the lifetime of the aircraft. Most external corrosion occurs while the aircraft is on the ground or during low-level flight. Through a knowledge of the local environment including temperature, humidity, washing cycles, rain frequency and local pollution sources as well as a knowledge of how aerosols deposit onto surfaces in flight, it might be possible to determine the incremental degradation to an aircraft resulting f rom any particular weather event. Given this knowledge, it would then be possible to determine how (i) aircraft base location and washing cycles may change the incremental degradation, and (ii) corrosion may be reduced over the lifetime of the aircraft through appropriate maintenance. A research program has developed a tool known as Airlife, which simulates some of the environmental variables that affect corrosion development. This paper will demonstrate how the Airlife concept could be used to manage aircraft

Vehicle Telematics: A Literature Review

Abstract: October 30, 2007 Vehicle Telematics: A Literature Review Ian Cassias, Andrew L. Kun Vehicle telematics is the use of computing, sensing and telecommunication technologies to provide services in an automotive environment. Vehicle telematics service categories include navigation, remote diagnostics, fleet management, safety, information access, context awareness and mobile commerce. Supporting these services requires unique hardware and software architectures. Additionally, issues such as privacy, data security and human factors design must be considered in the implementation of vehicle telematics services. The following sections summarize current work and research in the field of vehicle telematics.

Stream Processing Based Intelligent Transport Systems

Abstract: In this paper, we present a Fleet Management Center application implemented using a stream processing infrastructure we call System S. System S enables the deployment of large scale applications with mechanisms for sharing multi-party data sources, software components, and even intermediate results. This approach significantly reduces the cost of software integration, and ownership, the major factor in Intelligent Transportation Systems. In addition, the system includes an adaptive data source management that determines the list of relevant data sources based on the current locations of the entities monitored or managed by the applications.

Data Stream Processing Infrastructure for Intelligent Transport Systems

Abstract: Intelligence Transportation Systems are critical to improve the efficiency of modern transportation. A system that is flexible and powerful enough to handle diverse demands from a large user base, is still elusive. Studies have shown that developing and integrating the various components constitute a significant portion of the capital cost and complexity of such systems. In this paper, we present a stream processing infrastructure we call System S. System S enables the deployment of large scale applications. It supports a mechanism for sharing data sources, software components, and even intermediate results allowing a reduction in the cost of software integration, and ownership. We experiment the stream processing infrastructure with a Fleet Management Center, and demonstrate how the infrastructure can be used to address unique issues in traffic management.

A Parallelizable And Approximate Dynamic Programming-Based Dynamic Fleet Management Model With Random Travel Times And Multiple Vehicle Types

Abstract: This chapter presents an approximate dynamic programming-based dynamic fleet management model that can handle random load arrivals, random travel times and multiple vehicle types. Our model decomposes the fleet management problem into a sequence of time-indexed subproblems by formulating it as a dynamic program and uses approximations of the value function. To handle random travel times, the state variable of our dynamic program includes all individual decisions over a relevant portion of the history. We propose a sampling-based strategy to approximate the value function under this high-dimensional state variable in a tractable manner. Under our value function approximation strategy, the fleet management problem decomposes into a sequence of time-indexed min-cost network flow subproblems that naturally yield integer solutions. Moreover, the subproblem for each time period further decomposes by the locations, making our model suitable for parallel computing. Computational experiments show that our model yields high-quality solutions within reasonable runtimes

Evaluation of a fleet safety management information system

Abstract: Despite recent interest in work related road safety, relatively little research has been conducted to examine the effects of institutional factors on fleet safety. This paper conceptualized an evaluation framework and utilized it to assess fleet coordinators' attitudes toward and the usage of a fleet safety management system. First, focus group interviews revealed that monitoring fleet safety was not considered an important task within the government agencies participating in the research. Second, similar results were obtained in a survey of the fleet coordinators, which showed that most fleet coordinators were not utilising the full diagnostic capabilities of the management information system. In particular, fleet coordinators reported significantly higher competence, usage and importance on the coordination of fleet vehicle efficiency than on the coordination of fleet safety. These results were supported by the finding that fleet coordinators were required to report more on fleet efficiency than on fleet safety.

The Vehicle Routing Problem: The Case of the Hong Kong Postal Service

Abstract: With the growth in population and development of business activities in Hong Kong, the range and level of services provided by Hongkong Post have multiplied. However, the schedule of its postal vehicles, including mail collection and delivery, is still constructed manually on a daily basis, based on the experience of staff and transportation reviews. In this paper, the problem of scheduling a set of n collection points (District Post Offices) from a depot (General Post Office) in Hong Kong Island is addressed. The objectives pursued are the maximization of resource utilization and minimization of operation costs. In other words, the variable cost is expected to be reduced. To achieve these goals, an integer linear programming (IP) model of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) is developed in an effort to obtain optimal solutions. As the model involves computational complexity, a commercial software package CPLEX is used to solve the problems efficiently. The results show that the proposed model can ...

Incorporating the pricing decisions into the dynamic fleet management problem

Abstract: This paper presents a model to coordinate the pricing and fleet management decisions of a freight carrier. We consider a setting where the loads faced by the carrier over a certain time horizon are deterministic functions of the prices. We want to find what prices the carrier should charge so that its pricing and fleet management decisions jointly maximize the profits. Our solution approach is an iterative one. At each iteration, we solve the fleet management problem with fixed prices, and then, adjust these prices by using the primal-dual solution to the fleet management problem so as to obtain ‘better’ prices. Computational experiments show that our approach yields high-quality solutions and can efficiently be applied on large problems.

Plateforme de simulation pour la gestion dynamique de tournées de véhicules

Abstract: This paper concerns a transportation problem of dynamic fleet management in which vehicles pick-up or delivery a set of customer requests defined by a pickup or a delivery location. More precisely, we study the Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows which is an extension of conventional routing problems in which occurrences of new customers appear over time and after initial routes were constructed. A java simulation platform is presented in order to validate and compare different solving models of dynamic management of vehicles. The solving model tested in this paper is based on a genetic algorithm adapted to this dynamic optimisation context. The results obtained on a set of benchmarks demonstrate the efficiency of our approach compared to others existing in the domain.

Integrated vehicle fleet-sizing, leasing and dispatching policy in a shuttle service system

Abstract: In this paper, we aim to develop an integrated Markov model for fleet management decisions such as fleet sizing, vehicle leasing, loaded vehicle dispatching and empty vehicle repositioning in a two-terminal shuttle service, where vehicles are moving between terminals to satisfy random customer demands. The problem is approached in two stages. In the first stage, the optimal vehicle dispatching policy (including vehicle leasing) is derived with fixed fleet size. In the second stage, the fleet size is optimised. The model provides a framework to examine the detailed control structure of the optimal vehicle dispatching policy, which can lead to much simpler near-optimal policies that are easy to interpret and implement for terminal managers. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the results.

Arguing for a Comprehensive Space Protection Strategy

Abstract: : The contributions that space brings to our daily lives extend far beyond the military. In June 2006, while serving as chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I held a hearing to bring focus to the magnitude of our military and economic dependence on space. Lt Gen C. Robert Kehler, vice-commander of U.S. Strategic Command, provided several examples of how space capabilities are integral to the daily execution of virtually every military campaign, operation, and exercise involving U.S. forces. In Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) space capabilities enabled blue-force tracking (which lowered combat losses), command and control of dispersed ground forces (which facilitated ground maneuver around enemy strong points), and the geolocation of downed aircrews. The use of global positioning system (GPS)-guided precision munitions also resulted in lower collateral damage, more efficient use of limited munitions inventory, and mission execution during adverse weather conditions. On the commercial side, the executive director of the Satellite Industries Association, Mr. David Cavossa, estimated that space contributes over 90 billion dollars annually to the global economy, supporting daily activities such as truck fleet management, credit card validations, pay-at-the-pump services, ATM withdrawals, high-speed Internet, traffic and weather reports, and almost all television and radio distribution. Not only has space become essential to modern warfare, it also has established itself as a permanent utility in our global commerce.

Bus speed estimation by neural networks to improve the automatic fleet management

Abstract: In the urban areas, public transport service interacts with the private mobility. Moreover, on each link of the urban public transport network, the bus speed is affected by a high variability over time. It depends on the congestion level and the presence of bus way or no. The scheduling reliability of the public transport service is crucial to increase attractiveness against private car use. A comparison between a Radial Basis Function network (RBF) and Multi layer Perceptron (MLP) was carried out to estimate the average speed, analysing the dynamic bus location data achieved by an AVMS (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System). Collected data concern bus location, geometrical parameters and traffic conditions. Public Transport Company of Palermo provided these data.

Development of a Fleet Allocator Model for Calgary, Canada

Abstract: The Calgary commercial vehicle model is an attempt to model all commercial vehicle movements in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, as part of a larger model system that includes a personal travel model. One type of commercial vehicle initially modeled in a simple, gravity-based fashion because of limited data is the fleet allocator. Fleet allocators are commercial vehicles that make many stops in a coordinated pattern. These include services such as garbage pickup, newspaper and mail delivery, and couriers. From an existing linear regression trip generation model and a gravity-based distribution model, a more complex tour-based model system consistent with the approach for the remainder of the commercial vehicles was adopted. With available aggregate fleet allocator information provided with the cooperation of the City of Edmonton, Canada, along with the parameters estimated for other types of commercial vehicles in the existing tour-based Calgary commercial vehicle model, a full tour-based fleet allocator model was developed and calibrated to match the available observed data. The process used was a successful demonstration of using an existing model to cover a different set of movements by calibrating the model parameters using the additional available data.

Onboard monitoring and reporting for commercial motor vehicle safety

Abstract: This Final Report describes the process and product from the project, Onboard Monitoring and Reporting for Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety (OBMS), in which a prototypical suite of hardware and software on a class 8 truck was developed and tested. The OBMS suite allows for online measurement of a set of driving characteristics which are indicators of unsafe driving behavior. These characteristics included speed, following distance, lane-keeping performance, safety belt use, and the use of turn signals. Feedback could be provided to the drivers, either directly via real-time feedback or through carrier management, to allow drivers to significantly improve their safety performance. Commercial fleets would pioneer this concept because they have the resources and organizational structure to provide feedback and training to professional drivers. This concept differs from commercial onboard devices in that it is an ensemble set of instruments with a safety focus and different feedback modalities. It is comprehensive in that it addresses crash causes and provides "corrective" feedback in real-time and/or post trip feedback, depending on the particular subsystem(s) which are activated. In essence, the objective is to improve driver safety behavior. Thus, it does not explicitly address fleet management or other non-safety operations (for example, vehicle location).