The VRP algorithms have been successfully applied in the system of public city bike rentals. The solution, which has been immensely popular in crowded urban centers
The applied VRP algorithms confirm that Polish enterprises which research and expand the optimization algorithms, such as E-mapa S.A., are going in the right direction.
The management of a bike fleet in the context of an effective redistribution
The system of city bikes is a form of mass urban transportation. It was designed to cover short distances within the city limits.
The system contributes to:
- reducing CO2 emissions
- savings on transportation
- promoting the concept of a healthy lifestyle.
Fleet management system of a bikes ames at finding an optimal schedule for the vehicles that distributes them. The need is to minimize the total wait time for bike stations in a state of imbalance. To meet the goals and requirements of the city bike users, the ongoing redistribution between bike stations is crucial. It should ensure satisfactionof a user and provide a highly effective and reliable form of city transportation.
Redistribution minimizes the problem of bike shortages at stations. This is when it is impossible to rent bikes because of overfilled stations. Also when it is difficult to return them. Redistribution typically takes place at night when the intensity of using the urban bike system is low. The demand on bikes changes dynamically, depending on the station’s location, and requires constant supervision and a swift reaction. It is noteworthy that bike transportation takes place via specially designed vehicles.
VRP in the system of city bikes
The VRP algorithms lower the cost of the redistribution process. They also shorten the time required to cover the route during bike transportation. It is possible because the VRP algorithms select the most optimal route of bike transportation. It considers the traffic volume, as well as conditions on the road. Additionally, they care about applicable traffic regulations, such as the maximum speed or no turning.
This holistic approach to route planning and the management of the bike supply/demand at specific stations in real time both enables the best possible distribution of bikes and improves the route planning strategies, which helps reduce the costs of bike transportation. Moreover, thanks to reliable data, it is possible to perform an estimate of the costs linked to bike redistribution.
Routing and information administration
In order to optimize the process of redistribution, it is essential that the data from the bike station monitoring is provided. To plan the optimal routes for the trucks transporting bikes, it is necessary to indicate the latitude and longitude of the bike station, its name or the number of bikes available for rental. What is more, one should’t fogret about the number of docks to return the bikes .
It is often necessary to use the Google Directions API interface. It calculates the distance, travel time or navigation services between the locations.