Optimization of Green Pickup and Delivery Operations in Multi-depot Distribution Problems

Abstract

In this work, the Multi-Depot Green VRP with Pickups and Deliveries (MDGVRP-PD) is studied. It is a routing optimization problem in which the objective is to construct a set of vehicle routes considering multiple depots and one-to-one pickup and delivery operations that minimize emissions through fuel consumption, which depends on weight and travel distance. In one-to-one problems, goods must be transported between a single origin and its single associated destination. Practical considerations imply addressing the pickup and delivery of customers from multiple depots, where a logistics service company can efficiently combine its resources, thus reducing environmental pollution. To tackle this problem, we develop a mathematical programming formulation and matheuristic approach based on the POPMUSIC (Partial Optimization Metaheuristic under Special Intensification Conditions) framework. The results show that if the weight carried on the routes as part of the fitness measure is considered, our matheuristic approach provide an average percentage improvement in emissions of $30.79\%$, compared to a fitness measure that only takes into account the distances of the routes.