2015 VeRoLog Solver Challenge winner named

The winner of the Vehicle Routing and Logistics Optimisation (VeRoLog) Solver’s Challenge was announced by PTV Group announced at the 2015 VeRoLog conference in Vienna. The competition was initiated by PTV Group and the Association of the European Operational Research Societies (Euro) Working Group on VeRoLog, with the aim of solving a specific transport planning problem derived from practice. Sixteen teams from Europe, India, South America and Africa participated in this year's challenge. First prize was
July 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

The winner of the Vehicle Routing and Logistics Optimisation (VeRoLog) Solver’s Challenge was announced by 3264 PTV Group announced at the 2015 VeRoLog conference in Vienna.

The competition was initiated by PTV Group and the Association of the European Operational Research Societies (Euro) Working Group on VeRoLog, with the aim of solving a specific transport planning problem derived from practice.

Sixteen teams from Europe, India, South America and Africa participated in this year's challenge. First prize was won by Professor Dr Martin J. Geiger, University of the Federal Armed Forces in Hamburg, head of the Department of Business Administration. In addition to the Solver trophy, the winner also received a prize of US$1,000.  Second prize winner was Abdelghani Bekrar from France.

The VeRoLog Working Group deals with numerous transport planning and logistics optimisation issues. It consists of 1,000 members worldwide and is a part of Euro (Association of the European Operational Research Societies).

The competition saw 16 teams tackle the challenge of solving a specific route planning problem related to coach tours, Coach Trip with Shuttle Service Problems (CTSSP), suggested by PTV.

The task was to find a solution that allowed passengers to get from different stops to a central point for a coach trip by taking multiple restrictions into account, in a way that was the most efficient for both coach operators and passengers. The most challenging task was to deploy the coaches and a number of different vehicles for shuttle services as efficiently as possible in order to ensure optimum passenger pick-up. This involved complex trip structures which had not yet been modelled as part of standard approaches or which are not yet computable.

According to the Professor Geiger, many logistics planning issues have not yet been solved satisfactorily. New developments, such as the inclusion of existing road networks, a real-time solution for larger instances and the integration of complex, practically applicable restraints, would make it necessary to search for, implement and test new innovative algorithms.

Geiger said: "Our contribution related to the optimisation problem proved to be successful. In addition to new data structures that are completely adjusted to the optimisation issue, we were able to present an approach which also solves major instances satisfactorily."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transportation management market set to grow 12.3 per cent by 2019
    February 13, 2014
    MarketsandMarkets recently conducted a study on the Transportation Management Market [Transportation Management Systems, Fleet Management Solutions, Freight Audit & Payment, Route Planning & Optimisation, Managed Services, Business Services] - Global Advancements Market Forecasts and Analysis (2014 - 2019), which analysed and studied the major market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific (including Japan), and Latin America. The study report
    Read More
  • Machine vision standards definition moves forward with establishment of new forum
    December 3, 2012
    The new Future Standards Forum will homogenise standards develop in the machine vision and partnering sectors. Here, machine vision industry experts discuss developments. By Jason Barnes At the Vision Show, which took place in Stuttgart at the beginning of November, the European Machine Vision Association, the US’s Automated Imaging Association and the Japan Industrial Imaging Association (JIIA) established a joint initiative, the Future Standards Forum (FSF). This, said the EMVA’s President Toni Ventura, a
    Read More
  • Performance indicators help differentiate between truck tolling systems
    August 20, 2014
    Traffic Quality Management Karl Ernst Ambrosch talks to ITS International about a new KPI-based methodology for assessing the efficacy of electronic toll collection schemes The debate over which is the ‘best’ solution for applications such as truck tolling is now years old.
    Read More
  • Real-world testing is needed in wake of VW emissions scandal, says expert
    November 18, 2015
    As vehicle manufacturers, regulators and governments around the world seek solutions to prevent another emissions cheating scandal similar to the Volkswagen case, a major vehicle emissions inspection company has compiled and analysed on-road emissions data indicating that emissions violations of vehicles under real-world driving conditions may well go far beyond VW diesels. Opus Inspection says a two-pronged approach that continuously monitors real-world emissions is the only effective remedy. Lothar Ge
    Read More

Highlighted Content