Optimization of Waste Collection in Smart Cities with the use of Evolutionary Algorithms

A multi-dimensional digital twin use cases classification framework

“…(7) Waste management: At a different level, DTs offer novel approaches to waste management. Several studies have exploited new technologies such as IoT and computer vision to monitor the level of waste in garbage cans, aka smart bins, which can then notify the relevant teams when waste should be collected, and possibly suggest optimum driving routes to be followed during the process of waste collection from a myriad of bins across the city (Rao et al, 2020;Aktemur et al, 2020;Jadli & Hain, 2020). (8) Resource management: This involves identifying the best use of available scarce resources, whether monetary or physical, to realize greatest value.…”

“…It is important to highlight though, that the idea of a SoS isn't a utopian dream, but rather a mere mindseta systemic way of thinking that can cross the organizational boundaries and dissolve the infrastructure sectoral silos. For instance, it was practically adequate for Aktemur et al (2020) and Jadli and Hain (2020) to consider the functional interdependency between elements of the waste network (i.e. smart bins) and their location with respect to road network in order to identify the best travel route for waste collection.…”

“…Depending on the purpose of a use case, in less common cases, a DT may need not involve more than one city layer, similar to how Rao et al (2020) and Aktemur et al (2020) were only concerned with infrastructure layer only. Yet, more frequently a DT may penetrate through multiple relevant city layers.…”

“…For instance, Barmpounakis and Geroliminis (2020) and Nallaperuma et al (2019) produced comprehensive information with details about individual vehicles. Some studies introduced DTs to provide information about every single smart bin across the city (Rao et al, 2020;Aktemur et al, 2020;Jadli & Hain, 2020), while others have rather captured city buildings separately (Francisco et al, 2020) and individual 50m x 50m grids (Kim, 2020). When it comes to national scale, Pang et al (2020) worked on integrating city DTs across the nation to support better prediction of pandemic infection spreading patterns.…”

“…This type is tied-up in an enduring connection with the twinned real entity and constantly receiving up-to-date influx of data; thus, can never go obsolete as long as this live digital thread persists. To illustrate, Francisco et al (2020) relied on IoT technology and smart meters to monitor the energy consumption of buildings in real-time (Rao et al, 2020;Aktemur et al, 2020;Jadli & Hain, 2020;Nallaperuma et al, 2019).…”