NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS -
Caliper Corporation is pleased to announce the release of a new Vehicle
Routing with Time Windows application. Designed in response to user requests
for the standard Vehicle Routing with Time Windows (VRPTW) to include
additional constraints, the new application, referred as VRPMTW, supports
vehicle type restrictions at stops and depots, and also allows multiple time
windows at each stop. Time windows refer to the earliest and latest times
that vehicles can service a particular delivery or pickup point. As with the
standard VRPTW application, TransCAD will generate cost-efficient vehicle
routes for pickup or delivery alone, or for mixed pickup and delivery over a
street network. Developed to run as an add-in to Caliper Corporation’s
TransCAD
transportation planning software,
this user-friendly program has been successfully tested by TransCAD users
for real-world routing applications.
In general, the Vehicle Routing programs of TransCAD are all designed to
create a set of routes with minimal system-wide travel cost and vehicle
utilization cost. The standard VRPTW considers one time window at each
customer stop and allows the user to set route duration constraints. It can
also reduce undesirable or unsafe vehicle movements, such as U-turns, by
allowing the user to specify penalties associated with specific or
system-wide movements. The routing programs create itineraries outlining the
routes and vehicle loads at each stop. The graphical and user-friendly
nature of TransCAD allows the user to generate very impressive route maps
quickly and easily. A route map showing the entire system of routes is
generated automatically with routes displayed using different colors.
There are two main differences between the new VRPMTW and the standard VRPTW
in TransCAD. The new application allows users to specify multiple time
windows at each stop. For example, a customer may only take deliveries at
two separate time windows such as 6:30-7:30am and 5:30-6:50pm. The current
edition of the add-in allows for up to three time windows, however Caliper
Corporation can customize the application to allow for more than three time
windows. The new application also allows users to specify a subset of
vehicle types that can service a stop. For example, if you have a fleet of
vehicles with different sizes or devices, and some customer sites have
restrictions as to which sizes or devices are allowed, the new add-in will
generate efficient routes that honor these restrictions. The application can
be customized to any number of vehicle types that the user requires.
Located in Newton, Massachusetts, Caliper Corporation is a leading developer
of geographic information system software (GIS) for Windows. TransCAD
transportation planning
software is the only commercially available GIS
that has been designed to support transportation applications. TransCAD is
currently used worldwide to support applications including transportation
planning, facilities management, and routing and logistics. More information about Caliper GIS software, mapping software and
transportation planning software can be found
here.