Development and implementation of algorithms for vehicle routing during a no-notice evacuation

• Main Authors: Xin Chen, Zhu Zhang, Ryan Fries
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016-12-01
• Series: Cogent Mathematics
• Subjects: arc labeling; assignment problem; evacuation; time-dependent shortest path; VBA; vehicle routing
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311835.2016.1163767
• ISSN: 2331-1835

This article develops and implements time-dependent shortest path and assignment algorithms for vehicle routing and assignment during a no-notice evacuation. A time-dependent shortest path algorithm with arc labeling is designed to improve computer storage space efficiency. Visual Basic for Application (VBA) is used to improve time efficiency of both shortest path and assignment algorithms. Performance of the algorithms is analyzed and compared through implementation in VBA and the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS). Since VBA seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Excel and enables efficient data manipulation, the algorithms implemented in VBA are more efficient and obtain optimal solutions faster than those implemented in the GAMS. The shortest path algorithm with arc labeling implemented in VBA may be used for real-time vehicle routing for large road networks during no-notice evacuations.