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A Decision Support System for Optimal Depot and Fleet Management

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

03/01/07

END DATE

02/28/08

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE, MTC
SPONSORS

Midwest Transportation Consortium
Missouri Department of Transportation

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Wooseung Jang

About the research

Develop an optimization-based decision support system to address depot and fleet management issues associated with typical DOT maintenance system operations. Sub-objectives include:

  • Develop a protocol for determining the desired level of service and the required constraints.
  • Develop an integrated model and efficient algorithms for large scale applications.
  • Validate the model/algorithms and apply results to the state of Missouri.

Abstract

Most DOTs have multiple maintenance depots or sheds to provide public services such as winter snow removal, roadway striping, mowing, and herbicide application. The location of these sites has typically been based on geographical dispersion to provide the best coverage from a distance perspective. Each depot has a fleet of trucks to cover an assigned service sector. The location of depots as well as the fleet assignment is usually determined by the managers and engineers based on their experience, not on scientific evaluation processes. This research proposes, through systems analysis, to design a decision support system that provides DOT decision makers with efficient management tools for depot location and fleet assignment operations.

Potential Benefits of the Project

The decision support system will be able to evaluate any given scenarios and compute the optimal numbers of depots and trucks. These solutions can then be used directly or used as part of a decision support system for the asset management aspects of this important problem.


Funding Sources:
Midwest Transportation Consortium
Missouri Department of Transportation

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