Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Search Results (231)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = dynamic vehicle routing problem

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
28 pages, 6252 KB  
Systematic Review
Machine Learning-Enabled Robust Optimization for Green Vehicle Routing Problems: A Systematic Literature Review
by Wibi Anto, Herlina Napitupulu, Diah Chaerani and Adibah Shuib
Mathematics 2026, 14(10), 1771; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14101771 - 21 May 2026
Abstract
This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesizes current research on integrating machine learning (ML) into robust optimization (RO) frameworks for solving Green Vehicle Routing Problems (Green-VRP) under uncertainty. The key contributions include utilizing the EmbedSLR 2.0 framework for objective screening, establishing a functional ML [...] Read more.
This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesizes current research on integrating machine learning (ML) into robust optimization (RO) frameworks for solving Green Vehicle Routing Problems (Green-VRP) under uncertainty. The key contributions include utilizing the EmbedSLR 2.0 framework for objective screening, establishing a functional ML role taxonomy, and mapping uncertainty sets to computational tractability. Following PRISMA guidelines, searches across Scopus, Sage, and Dimensions identified 82 eligible studies validated through a three-point quality assessment scale. Bibliometric analysis indicates that the VRP has evolved into an interdisciplinary field that combines the power of rigorous RO with the integration capabilities of ML to achieve sustainability and resilience goals. Based on the results of the literature review, it was found that ML plays four crucial functional roles: as an end-to-end problem solver, a tool for predicting input parameters, a guide for search subroutines, and a mechanism for constructing more precise uncertainty sets. Various frameworks such as Adjustable Robust Optimization (ARO), Distributionally Robust Optimization (DRO), and Data-Driven Robust Optimization (DDRO) have been reported in various studies to offer improved cost efficiency and robustness compared to conventional static RO models by utilizing data more dynamically to reduce the level of conservatism. The integration of these environmental factors is carried out through emission and energy consumption parameters, which systematically give rise to operational trade-offs. This SLR has several limitations, including database and language limitations, the absence of cross-reference validation in EmbedSLR 2.0, and limitations in quality assessment. This publication is funded by the Universitas Padjadjaran through the LPDP on behalf of the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and managed under the EQUITY Program (Contract No. 4303/B3/DT.03.08/2025 and 3927/UN6.RKT/HK.07.00/2025), as well as the Universitas Padjadjaran Research Grant under Research Grant for Graduate Students (Hibah Riset Melibatkan Mahasiswa Pascasarjana - RMMP) with contract number 5598/UN6.3.1/PT.00/2025. This systematic review was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) on 8 May 2026. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D2: Operations Research and Fuzzy Decision Making)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 697 KB  
Article
Learning-Based Routing for Autonomous Shuttles Under Stochastic Demand Using Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning and Reinforcement Learning
by Hyun Kim and Branislav Dimitrijevic
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(5), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10050287 - 20 May 2026
Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted to develop technologies that enable paratransit systems to operate autonomously, including advanced sensing technologies and associated software. However, there remains a gap in research addressing adaptive operational algorithms for such systems under stochastic and dynamically evolving demand. To [...] Read more.
Extensive research has been conducted to develop technologies that enable paratransit systems to operate autonomously, including advanced sensing technologies and associated software. However, there remains a gap in research addressing adaptive operational algorithms for such systems under stochastic and dynamically evolving demand. To address this gap, this study develops an imitation-learning-assisted deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach for autonomous shuttle routing. The proposed framework integrates generative adversarial imitation learning with proximal policy optimization to enable sequential pickup and drop-off decision-making under stochastic passenger demand without centralized re-optimization. The DRL agent was trained over approximately 1.5 million training steps and evaluated across 1000 episodes with stochastic passenger generation. Its performance was benchmarked against a deterministic dial-a-ride problem (DARP) solver implemented using Google’s OR-Tools, as well as online heuristic baselines. Results indicate that while heuristic methods achieve lower average time-based performance metrics, the proposed approach is capable of learning adaptive routing policies and demonstrates consistent behavior across diverse demand realizations. These findings highlight the feasibility of learning-based routing in controlled environments and provide a foundation for extending such approaches to more complex and realistic autonomous mobility systems. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 8195 KB  
Article
A Guided Collaborative Optimization Framework for the Stability-Constrained UAV Routing and Three-Dimensional Loading Problem
by Changhui Han, Mengmeng Zhang, Jie Zhang and Xiaolong Ma
Algorithms 2026, 19(5), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/a19050403 - 18 May 2026
Viewed by 185
Abstract
The joint optimization of routing and three-dimensional loading is a highly complex NP-hard combinatorial problem, particularly when stringent center-of-gravity (CoG) stability constraints are required for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations. Existing algorithms typically adopt a route-first, load-second evaluation strategy for these interconnected components, [...] Read more.
The joint optimization of routing and three-dimensional loading is a highly complex NP-hard combinatorial problem, particularly when stringent center-of-gravity (CoG) stability constraints are required for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations. Existing algorithms typically adopt a route-first, load-second evaluation strategy for these interconnected components, often yielding distance-optimal yet physically infeasible solutions. To address this bottleneck, this paper formulates the Three-Dimensional Loading-Constrained UAV Routing Problem (3DLC-UAVRP), integrating unloading sequence consistency, spatial packing feasibility, and CoG deviation control into the routing decision process. A guided collaborative optimization framework, GLS-WSCPA, is proposed, coupling an Improved White Shark Optimization (IWSO) algorithm for global route exploration with a Human-like Divide-and-Conquer Packing Strategy (HLDCPS) for spatial arrangement. Unlike conventional decoupled approaches that treat loading feasibility as a post hoc filter, a Center-of-Gravity-Guided Path Adjustment (CGPA) and Local Loading Repair (LLR) mechanism is introduced to establish a dynamic feedback loop between routing search and loading evaluation, so that CoG violations are actively translated into guided routing perturbations rather than simply triggering solution rejection. Experimental results demonstrate that GLS-WSCPA generally achieves better solutions than the compared algorithms across the tested problem scales, with the performance gap tending to widen as the instance size increases within the tested range. Ablation studies verify the complementary roles of CGPA and LLR, and sensitivity analysis confirms that moderately relaxing payload and CoG constraints reduces routing distance within safety boundaries. Case analysis shows that the proposed method reduces fleet size by 20% and total delivery distance by 6.85% compared to traditional decoupled strategies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2891 KB  
Article
Electric Heterogeneous Fleet Vehicle Routing Optimization for Campus Commuter Services: A Two-Stage Heuristic Approach
by Xuyichen Yan, Lan Wu, Xinfei Zhang, Ming Yang, Lintong Han and Qian Chen
World Electr. Veh. J. 2026, 17(5), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj17050267 - 17 May 2026
Viewed by 165
Abstract
The Multi-Destination Vehicle Routing Problem (MD-VRP) with a heterogeneous electric fleet is a critical challenge in optimizing commuter services for large-scale institutions and logistics operations. To address the complexities of electric fleet composition uncertainty and multi-center routing in “micro-city” campus environments, this paper [...] Read more.
The Multi-Destination Vehicle Routing Problem (MD-VRP) with a heterogeneous electric fleet is a critical challenge in optimizing commuter services for large-scale institutions and logistics operations. To address the complexities of electric fleet composition uncertainty and multi-center routing in “micro-city” campus environments, this paper establishes a robust multi-objective programming model. The model aims to simultaneously minimize three conflicting objectives, the total number of vehicles, total driving distance, and total electric energy consumption (kWh), under constraints of flow conservation and vehicle availability. Considering the nondeterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-hard) nature of the problem, a novel two-stage hybrid heuristic algorithm is proposed. In the first stage, a Modified Kruskal’s algorithm is employed to aggregate scattered stops into optimized clusters to reduce dimensionality. In the second stage, a State-Compressed Dynamic Programming (SC-DP) algorithm is applied to determine the optimal routing and electric vehicle type selection for each cluster. The methodology is validated using a case study of a large-scale campus network with 100 nodes. The optimization results identify an optimal fleet configuration of 41 campus electric commuter vehicles across three specific types (capacities of 45, 55, and 60), resulting in an annual total energy consumption of 5893.98 kWh. Compared with a global Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) baseline in this case study, the proposed framework reduces the required fleet size by 22.6% and annual energy consumption by 9.2%; however, this comparison should be interpreted as a preliminary case-study benchmark because the proposed method adopts a decomposition-based “Cluster-First, Route-Second” strategy. The results indicate that the approach achieves higher solution efficiency, offering an economically and environmentally friendly scheme for electric vehicle fleet operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Supply and Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 521 KB  
Article
Multi-Shift Scheduling of Electric Service Operations Under Fuzzy Uncertainty via Preference-Guided Deep Learning: The Single-Vehicle Case
by Francesco Nucci
Eng 2026, 7(5), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng7050244 - 16 May 2026
Viewed by 208
Abstract
The electrification of field service fleets introduces complex constraints: shift limits, overtime fairness, and battery–range feasibility. This paper proposes the Multi-Shift Single Electric Vehicle Routing Problem under Possibilistic Uncertainty (MS-SEVRP-PU), a formulation focused on a single-vehicle multi-shift planning unit and capturing imprecise travel/service [...] Read more.
The electrification of field service fleets introduces complex constraints: shift limits, overtime fairness, and battery–range feasibility. This paper proposes the Multi-Shift Single Electric Vehicle Routing Problem under Possibilistic Uncertainty (MS-SEVRP-PU), a formulation focused on a single-vehicle multi-shift planning unit and capturing imprecise travel/service times and state-of-charge dynamics. Travel durations and energy consumption are modelled as triangular fuzzy numbers to reflect expert knowledge when probabilistic data is limited. A closed-form credibility function evaluates overtime risk, while an Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) aggregation of per-shift risks ensures fairness by discouraging systematic overload on specific shifts. To solve this multi-objective problem, we develop a Pareto-Conditioned Transformer with risk-aware and battery-conscious large neighbourhood search (PCT-RABLNS), combining a preference-conditioned attention policy with targeted local search. Computational experiments on calibrated municipal maintenance case studies indicate that PCT-RABLNS improves hypervolume by 2–5% over strong baselines and reduces maximum shift overtime risk by 15–25%, with a marginal makespan overhead of only 1–3%. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework is a promising decision-support approach for energy-aware, risk-fair, and operationally compliant planning of single-vehicle, multi-shift electric service operations, jointly integrating multi-shift routing, fuzzy uncertainty, and preference-conditioned reinforcement learning. The paper also discusses how the framework can be extended to multi-vehicle settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Insights in Engineering Research 2026)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4790 KB  
Article
Digital Twin-Driven Dynamic Feasible Route Planning for Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes: An Engineering Case Study in a Nomadic Prefabricated Beam Yard
by Peiwen Sun, Jianwei Yang and Hanzhang Ding
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4891; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104891 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 152
Abstract
This study focuses on a large rubber-tired gantry crane (RTGC) operating in a nomadic prefabricated beam yard and develops a Digital Twin-driven dynamic feasible route planning method for the path planning problem under the combined effects of a discrete topological road network, dynamic [...] Read more.
This study focuses on a large rubber-tired gantry crane (RTGC) operating in a nomadic prefabricated beam yard and develops a Digital Twin-driven dynamic feasible route planning method for the path planning problem under the combined effects of a discrete topological road network, dynamic road occupation, time-window constraints, and right-of-way priority rules. By integrating the existing digitalized yard management system with field-acquired data, an operational-stage updating mechanism for dynamic topology and time windows is established. On this basis, long-vehicle occupancy, time-window constraints, and right-of-way priority rules are embedded into the A* search and rolling replanning process, forming a Digital Twin-based dynamic A* (TD-A*) feasible route planning algorithm under evolving operational constraints. Results from a representative operational case show that, under long-path conditions with significant dynamic constraints, TD-A* reduces transportation distance by 16.8% and operation time by 18.9%. For the full-process results, the transportation distance is reduced by 16.4%, the operation time by 12.8%, and the number of turning maneuvers by 50.0%. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can improve the adaptability of feasible route planning to dynamic road occupation and traffic conflicts in a real nomadic beam yard with a single RTGC, and demonstrate the engineering feasibility of embedding Digital Twin-driven dynamic constraints into the route planning process. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 844 KB  
Article
Simulation Model and Intelligent Optimization Methods for Freight Transportation Under the Digital Transformation of the Transport System of the Republic of Kazakhstan
by Aizhan Kamysbayeva, Alisher Khussanov, Botagoz Kaldybayeva, Oleksandr Prokhorov, Zhakhongir Khussanov, Aibarsha Dosmakanbetova, Baurzhan Korganbayev and Aikerim Issayeva
Logistics 2026, 10(5), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics10050109 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Background: In the context of the digital transformation of transport systems and the increasing complexity of logistics flows, the role of intelligent route forming methods capable of accounting for the spatial structure of transport networks, time constraints and resource limitations is growing. [...] Read more.
Background: In the context of the digital transformation of transport systems and the increasing complexity of logistics flows, the role of intelligent route forming methods capable of accounting for the spatial structure of transport networks, time constraints and resource limitations is growing. This issue is particularly relevant for the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is characterized by a vast territory, a distributed network of transport nodes and significant transit potential. Methods: This article presents an integrated model for the intelligent optimization of freight transportation based on the combined use of the Google OR-Tools library and simulation modeling in the AnyLogic environment with the application of geographic information technologies. The main variants of vehicle routing problems are implemented, including VRPTW, CVRP, and MDVRP. Results: The developed model enables both identification of optimal routes and simulation of their execution in a dynamic environment, forming the basis for a digital twin of the transport system. Experimental studies demonstrate the impact of time constraints, capacity limitations, and spatial structure on routing solutions. Conclusions: The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach for logistics flow distribution in a distributed transport system and its potential for decision support in the digital transport sector. Full article
23 pages, 1397 KB  
Article
Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones Considering Weather Conditions and Time Windows
by Meiling He, Xi Yang, Xun Han, Jin Zhang, Xiaohui Wu and Xiaolai Ma
World Electr. Veh. J. 2026, 17(5), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj17050253 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Inspired by the practical need for reliable drone-assisted logistics under varying weather conditions, this study investigates the vehicle–drone collaborative routing problem with weather constraints and time windows. The objective is to minimize the total delivery cost, including vehicle fixed costs, vehicle travel costs, [...] Read more.
Inspired by the practical need for reliable drone-assisted logistics under varying weather conditions, this study investigates the vehicle–drone collaborative routing problem with weather constraints and time windows. The objective is to minimize the total delivery cost, including vehicle fixed costs, vehicle travel costs, drone flight costs, and time window penalty costs. To capture the impact of weather conditions on drone operations, a wind-speed-dependent dynamic flight speed function is introduced. A mathematical model is formulated, and an adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm integrated with genetic operations is proposed to enhance both local search efficiency and global exploration capability. Computational experiments on benchmark instances demonstrate that the proposed algorithm obtains high-quality solutions across different problem scales. Compared with the adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm and the improved genetic algorithm, the proposed approach reduces the optimal total delivery cost by an average of 4% and 2%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis further shows that increasing wind speed levels and the proportion of no-fly periods reduces the number of drone service tasks and increases total system cost, highlighting the significant impact of weather conditions on vehicle–drone collaborative delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Automated and Connected Vehicles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1100 KB  
Article
A Grid-Aware Two-Stage Dynamic Routing and Charging Station Selection Framework for Electric Vehicles Under Traffic–Energy Coordination
by Minhao Zhong, Hao Wang and Jun Yang
Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094500 - 3 May 2026
Viewed by 412
Abstract
Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential for sustainable urban mobility, coordinating transportation demands with energy distribution networks. However, uncoordinated EV charging neglects trip chain continuity, inducing spatial–temporal congestion and overloading local charging capacities. Thus, effectively guiding EVs is a key problem in mitigating traffic [...] Read more.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential for sustainable urban mobility, coordinating transportation demands with energy distribution networks. However, uncoordinated EV charging neglects trip chain continuity, inducing spatial–temporal congestion and overloading local charging capacities. Thus, effectively guiding EVs is a key problem in mitigating traffic emissions and preventing power grid-side stress. In this paper, a two-stage dynamic routing framework within a traffic–energy coordination architecture is proposed, integrating an AHP–Entropy–TOPSIS model for station selection and an Improved Ant Colony Optimization algorithm for trajectory execution. Using this framework, a series of macro–micro simulations on the Sioux Falls network was conducted alongside a congestion-driven dynamic pricing mechanism. The results indicate that the pricing strategy facilitates spatial load balancing through peak shaving at core nodes. Compared to conventional standard meta-heuristic baselines, this framework reduces average economic costs by 28.9% while ensuring battery safety and limiting indirect carbon emissions. The proposed framework provides a multi-objective navigation solution that prevents cross-layer decision fragmentation, supporting the sustainable development of smart city infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1994 KB  
Review
Reinforcement Learning-Driven Autonomous Path Planning for Unmanned Surface Vehicles: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Prospects
by Zexu Dong, Jiashu Zheng, Chenxuan Guo, Fangming Zhao, Yijie Chu and Xiaojun Chen
Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092852 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 1679
Abstract
The continuous advancement of autonomy and intelligence in marine shipping has made the safe and efficient navigation of unmanned surface vehicles in complex waters a major research focus. As a key link of the autonomous decision-making system for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), local [...] Read more.
The continuous advancement of autonomy and intelligence in marine shipping has made the safe and efficient navigation of unmanned surface vehicles in complex waters a major research focus. As a key link of the autonomous decision-making system for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), local path planning needs to achieve real-time collision avoidance and motion optimization under dynamic obstacles, multiple rule constraints, and strong environmental uncertainty. In recent years, reinforcement learning has gradually become an important technical route for local path planning of USVs by virtue of its autonomous decision-making ability in high-dimensional continuous state space and adaptability to complex nonlinear problems. Combined with the evolution of the algorithm paradigm and its functional positioning in different water scenarios, this paper systematically reviews the relevant literature by examining the evolution of algorithmic paradigms; focuses on summarizing deep Q-network (DQN), Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), Soft Actor-Critic (SAC), and Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3), along with the collaborative architectures integrated with traditional planning methods such as A* and Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT); and summarizes the performance characteristics, advantages, and limitations of various methods in typical scenarios. The review shows that the main bottlenecks of current research include insufficient reward mechanism design, low sample utilization efficiency, difficulty in transferring from simulation to real ships, and insufficient safety and trustworthiness verification. This paper looks forward to the future development trends from the two directions of data fusion and security enhancement in order to provide reference for related research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sensing, Control and Path Planning for Robotic Systems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 4119 KB  
Article
Path Optimization for Multi-Vehicle and Multi-UAV Collaborative Delivery in Flood Rescue Under Road Disruptions: A Case Study of the 2024 Guangdong Flood Disaster
by Xiya Dong, Benhe Gao and Runjia Liu
Drones 2026, 10(5), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10050322 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 285
Abstract
Flood disasters often disrupt road networks and severely reduce ground accessibility, hindering the timely delivery of emergency supplies. To address this challenge, this study investigates a collaborative routing problem involving multiple vehicles and multiple UAVs under road disruptions and formulates a mixed-integer linear [...] Read more.
Flood disasters often disrupt road networks and severely reduce ground accessibility, hindering the timely delivery of emergency supplies. To address this challenge, this study investigates a collaborative routing problem involving multiple vehicles and multiple UAVs under road disruptions and formulates a mixed-integer linear programming model that jointly minimizes mission makespan and priority-weighted response time for critical nodes. The model explicitly captures road feasibility, vehicle speeds affected by flood depth, multi-point UAV sorties, payload-dependent energy consumption, and vehicle–UAV spatiotemporal synchronization. To balance solution quality and scalability, a dual-track solution framework is developed: exact optimization is used for small instances, while a adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm with embedded dynamic programming is designed for larger instances. A case study based on the 2024 Guangdong flood with 135 demand points shows that the heuristic can obtain high-quality solutions efficiently and outperforms time-limited MILP solutions on large instances. Comparative experiments further demonstrate that multi-point sorties, integrated coordination, and embedded sortie refinement are all crucial to performance improvement. Sensitivity analysis indicates that setting the trade-off coefficient α within 0.2–0.8 provides a robust balance between overall mission efficiency and timely response to critical nodes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1047 KB  
Article
Dynamic Collection Routing Optimization for Domestic Waste with Mixed Fleets
by Manna Huang, Ting Qu, Ming Wan and George Q. Huang
Systems 2026, 14(5), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14050461 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 262
Abstract
Influenced by factors such as residents’ living habits, commuting patterns, and commercial activity cycles, the generation of domestic waste exhibits a distinct double-peak distribution. To meet the high demand during peak periods, collection companies typically deploy excess transportation capacity, which leads to severe [...] Read more.
Influenced by factors such as residents’ living habits, commuting patterns, and commercial activity cycles, the generation of domestic waste exhibits a distinct double-peak distribution. To meet the high demand during peak periods, collection companies typically deploy excess transportation capacity, which leads to severe resource idleness during off-peak periods, imposing significant economic and environmental burdens. To address this issue, this study develops a dynamic smart waste collection routing model aimed at minimizing the coordinated collection cost between self-owned and outsourced multi-compartment vehicles, and designs a two-phase algorithm to solve it. In the pre-optimization phase, an improved Harris Hawks Optimization algorithm integrated with multiple heuristic algorithms is employed to generate initial collection routes. In the re-optimization phase, a hybrid strategy combining periodic and continuous re-optimization is used to dynamically update collection routes. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm is validated through case studies. Furthermore, a systematic sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of key parameters, yielding practical insights for waste collection management. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 12958 KB  
Article
Multi-Objective Emergency Facility Locations Considering Point-Flow Integration Under Rainstorm Environments
by Chao Sun, Huixian Chen, Xiaona Zhang, Peng Zhang and Jie Ma
Systems 2026, 14(5), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14050454 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Urban transportation systems are facing increasingly severe threats from extreme weather events such as rainstorms, which can trigger cascading failures and lead to regional traffic paralysis. The strategic location of emergency facilities to enhance system resilience has emerged as a critical proactive prevention [...] Read more.
Urban transportation systems are facing increasingly severe threats from extreme weather events such as rainstorms, which can trigger cascading failures and lead to regional traffic paralysis. The strategic location of emergency facilities to enhance system resilience has emerged as a critical proactive prevention strategy. This study proposes a multi-objective hierarchical coverage location model that integrates point and flow demands to improve the resilience of urban road traffic systems under rainstorm conditions. First, the resilience risk levels of road nodes were quantified using an entropy-weighted TOPSIS method that combines topological attributes, traffic flow performance, and indirect propagation intensity. Second, a flow-capturing mechanism was introduced to address the dynamic rescue demands of stranded vehicles in motion, enabling the pre-positioning of “safe havens” along critical travel routes. The model balances two objectives: maximizing the resilience risk value of the covered demands and minimizing facility construction costs. A case study was conducted in Jianghan District, Wuhan, a flood-prone area, and the NSGA-II algorithm was employed to solve the multi-objective optimization problem. The results demonstrate that the proposed model significantly outperforms traditional single-demand location models in terms of coverage effectiveness and cost efficiency, achieving improvements in resilience risk coverage of up to 311.6% and cost reductions of up to 63.6%. This study provides a systems science perspective for pre-disaster emergency resource allocation, shifting the paradigm from infrastructure-centric protection to human-centered rescue. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 550 KB  
Article
Resilient Multi-Agent State Estimation for Smart City Traffic: A Systems Engineering Approach to Emission Mitigation
by Ahmet Cihan
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3972; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083972 - 19 Apr 2026
Viewed by 342
Abstract
Uninterrupted traffic flow monitoring is a prerequisite for optimal resource allocation and minimizing vehicular emissions in smart cities. However, centralized traffic management architectures are highly vulnerable to single points of failure. When structural sensor malfunctions occur, the resulting network unobservability paralyzes dynamic signalization, [...] Read more.
Uninterrupted traffic flow monitoring is a prerequisite for optimal resource allocation and minimizing vehicular emissions in smart cities. However, centralized traffic management architectures are highly vulnerable to single points of failure. When structural sensor malfunctions occur, the resulting network unobservability paralyzes dynamic signalization, triggering cascading traffic congestion, extended idling times, and severe greenhouse gas emissions. To address this cyber-ecological vulnerability, we propose the Hybrid Multi-Agent State Estimation (H-MASE) protocol, a fully decentralized decision-support framework designed from an applied systems reliability engineering perspective. By deploying PSAs and VLAs directly onto IoT-enabled edge devices at smart intersections, H-MASE leverages a hop-by-hop edge computing topology to collaboratively track macroscopic route flow dynamics. Mathematically, this distributed estimation process is formulated as a network-wide least-squares convex optimization problem, where local projection operators function as exact Distributed Gradient Descent steps to minimize the global residual sum of squares. The distributed consensus mechanism acts as a spatial variance reduction tool, effectively dampening measurement noise and stochastic demand fluctuations. Furthermore, we introduce an autonomous anomaly detection logic that isolates severe structural faults rapidly, which is mathematically structured to prevent false alarms under bounded disturbance conditions. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the protocol yields a highly resilient optimality gap (e.g., a Root Mean Square Error of merely 0.81 vehicles per estimated state) even under catastrophic hardware failures. Ultimately, H-MASE provides a robust, fail-safe data foundation for sustainable urban logistics and green-wave signalization, ensuring that smart cities maintain ecological resilience and optimal resource utilization under severe structural disruptions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Transportation and Smart City)
Show Figures

Figure 1

55 pages, 1516 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Electric Vehicle Optimization Problems: Taxonomy, Methods, and Research Challenges
by Lucero Ortiz-Aguilar, Marcela Palacios-Ortega, Martin Carpio and Julio Funes-Tapia
Automation 2026, 7(2), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7020061 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 437
Abstract
The rapid integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into transportation systems and power grids has significantly increased the complexity of optimization challenges related to routing, charging coordination, scheduling, and energy management. Despite significant research growth, the field remains conceptually fragmented, lacking a unified framework [...] Read more.
The rapid integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into transportation systems and power grids has significantly increased the complexity of optimization challenges related to routing, charging coordination, scheduling, and energy management. Despite significant research growth, the field remains conceptually fragmented, lacking a unified framework to systematically organize Electric Vehicle Optimization Problems (EVOPs). To address this gap, this study presents a systematic review of 144 peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and January 2025 and proposes a structured EVOP taxonomy based on problem characteristics and dominant decision variables. The analysis examines mathematical formulations, solution methodologies, and emerging research trends. The results indicate the predominance of metaheuristic methods, while exact techniques are mainly limited to small-scale problems. Additionally, there is a growing trend toward multi-objective and stochastic models that incorporate uncertainty and dynamic decision-making environments. However, challenges remain regarding large-scale validation, standardized benchmarking, and integrated multi-domain modeling. The proposed taxonomy provides a coherent framework that facilitates comparison across optimization domains and supports the development of scalable and intelligent EV management systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Smart Transportation and Autonomous Vehicles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop