Vehicle Routing Models and Algorithms for Winter Road Spreading Operations

Abstract

Winter road maintenance operations involve challenging vehicle routing problems that can be addressed using operations research (OR) techniques. Three key problems involve routing trucks and specialized vehicles for spreading chemicals and abrasives on roadways, snow plowing, and snow disposal, all of which are undertaken in a very difficult and dynamic operating environment with stringent level of service constraints. This chapter provides a survey of recent optimization models and solution methodologies for the routing of vehicles for spreading operations. The authors also present a detailed classification scheme for spreader routing models developed over the past 40 years. Key trends in recent model developments include the inclusion of more details of the practical operating constraints, the use of more sophisticated hybrid solution strategies and consideration of more comprehensive models that integrate vehicle routing with models for other related strategic winter maintenance problems. They highlight some factors that may be limiting the application of OR models in practice and discuss promising future research trends.

Adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm for the rural postman problem with time windows

“…The ice control problem is a time‐sensitive arc routing problem. This is an important feature on winter road maintenance noted in several surveys; for instance, Eglese et al and Perrier et al state that the timing of operations is crucial to achieve the desired level of service in winter road maintenance. The literature regarding to time‐sensitive arc routing problems in this context is still scarce.…”

“…Later, Perrier et al provide a survey of recent optimization models and solution methodologies for the routing of spreading operations. They present a detailed classification scheme for spreader routing models developed over the past 40 years.…”

Arc routing problems: A review of the past, present, and future

“…It may be combined with snow removal in some circumstances, which is covered in the next subsection. Surveys and more detailed descriptions of the operation and models used can be found in Perrier et al [185,188] and Eglese et al [83]. The key operation is to spread a de‐icing agent, such as salt, on to the surface of roads to prevent ice forming and so making the roads dangerously slippery for traffic.…”

An updated annotated bibliography on arc routing problems

“…Perrier et al , Campbell et al , and Eglese et al survey papers considering the routing of vehicles for winter abrasive or chemical spreading operations. These surveys contribute to the literature by offering a classification scheme for the models developed and by providing methodologies including some practical operating constraints.…”