dc.description.abstract | This research presents the results of our research project on optimizing the utilization of
intercity bus trips by combining them into a single transportation route. The project focuses
on efficiently utilizing available bus vehicles to create cost-effective and efficient routes.
Instead of operating individual bus trips, we investigate the consolidation of intercity bus
trips into a single route to enhance transportation efficiency and reduce unnecessary vehicle
usage. Our research methodology is based on optimization models and algorithms to
determine optimal routes and schedules for intercity bus trips. We utilize information such
as distances, travel times, and passenger capacities of the bus vehicles to identify the optimal
combinations and allocations of trips. This paper provides a detailed description of our
approach, including the mathematical models and algorithms used to optimize the
consolidation of intercity bus trips and construct efficient transportation routes. We applied
our method to real-world data to validate the effectiveness and practicality of our research.
Our research project has achieved positive results, and the optimized trip consolidation
method has been implemented in practice to improve efficiency and cost savings in intercity
bus transportation. The main scope of the project was to solve fleet-assignment, bus-routing,
crew-pairing, and crew-rostering problems on real-world data. The special characteristics
of the bus carrier, operating between specific time windows every day, have motivated us
to design models and algorithms that are tailored to the unique requirements of the bus
industry rather than relying on approaches typically developed for large bus companies. | en_US |