Route optimization computation
Basic principles
Route optimizations are run from the My visits page, via the address location page.
Optimization has two main stages:
-
preparing and launching the optimization. this first stage consists of the following:
- saving any data needed for the route optimization
- sending the data to the optimization servers
- if necessary, the route optimization is queued
- calculation of the time/distance matrix corresponding to a route calculation between all locations concerned by the optimization (visits, geolocated resources, sites if necessary)
- starting the optimization engine
-
optimization computation ... This second stage consists of:
- calculation of a first solution, or of an existing solution, if a calculation performed in evaluation mode exists.
- iterative improvement on the first solution found by the optimization engine. During this second stage, it will be possible to save the optimization data and settings in a simulation that can be reloaded subsequently.
Utilisation
Preparation and launch of the optimization
When you run the optimization, a processing-in-progress window opens automatically to inform you of the different stages of data preparation and launch of the optimization as they happen:
Route optimization stage
Once the optimization is under way, the window divides up into two sections:
- tracking the optimization in progress
- saving the simulation
Tracking the optimization in progress
The left-hand part of the window shows two curves and a series of indicators allowing you to:
- track progress on the route optimization process as it takes place
- if necessary, you can stop the route optimization
Two curves show variations in the following as the optimization takes place:
- total cost of the simulation
- total distance travelled on the road for all routes being optimized
Underneath these curves you will find a series of indicators, the values of which are updated constantly during the optimization process:
- initial cost calculated at the optimization start-up (this could be the cost of the first solution or the solution suggested during your utilization of evaluation mode)
- total carbon footprint for routes, via the volume of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2)
- total drive-time duration expressed in the format HH:MM:SS
- total work duration expressed in the format:MM:SS
- accumulated waiting time before visits and expressed in the format HH:MM:SS
- number of visits completed, presenting the currrent value (in blue) for the number of visits completed as compared to the total number of visits assigned to each route
- number of vehicles corresponding to the number of resources being called upon to deliver goods or services
- real number of routes
You can click at any time on the button opposite the time since optimization start option to stop the route optimization process and see the best results obtained so far during the process. Automated stop can also take place at the end of a preset maximum optimization duration, configured by the user, as defined under optimization preferences in the My activity page.
Saving the simulation
The right-hand part of the window serves to save data and settings for the current optimization simulation (associated visits and constraints). Here you can customize the:
- simulation name: this name is customizable on the basis of an automated datestamping of the simulation at the time the optimisation starts running
- route plan date; in the case of multi-date routes, this date corresponds to the date of the first day optimized
- description in a text field over several lines
The button saves the settings defined in this right-hand half of the window.
Happy TourSolving!