Date of Award

3-9-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Operations Research

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

James T. Moore, PhD

Second Advisor

Jeffery D. Weir, PhD

Abstract

The routing and scheduling problem involves both constructing efficient routes to deliver goods or services to and from customers from a single depot or set of depots, as well as scheduling particular vehicles to these routes such that customers receive their goods within a specified time window. There have been several different methods developed to reduce the costs incurred in transporting goods or services (i.e. students) to customers (i.e. schools). This problem may be used to model many circumstances in logistics and public transportation. Several school districts do not utilize operations research techniques to minimize, as much as possible, the costs associated with the operation of its pupil transportation system. In contrast, Dayton Public Schools (DPS) employs the optimization software package VersaTrans to minimize its transportation expenses. However, due to the importance it has placed on customer satisfaction, DPS has ultimately been reduced to door-to-door pickups. This, combined with an open enrollment policy and higher fuel prices, has resulted in an explosion of transportation related costs. Though DPS has made many great strides to gain control of its spending, due primarily to better management, there is still much to accomplish. This thesis seeks to utilize the VersaTrans routing software available to the Dayton Public School district to construct efficient routes that are feasible under a consolidated bell schedule so that both bus usage and route times are minimized.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GOR-ENS-09-18

DTIC Accession Number

ADA500570

Comments

Co-advised thesis.

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