Applicability of highway alignment optimization models

Abstract

This paper presents an intelligent optimization tool that assists planners and designers in finding preferable highway alignments, connecting specified endpoints or zones. It integrates genetic algorithms with a geographic information system (GIS) for optimizing highway alignments and processes massive amounts of relevant data associated with highway design and alternative evaluation. To show the applicability of the proposed model to a real-world problem, two actual highway projects in the state of Maryland have been analyzed using the model. An extensive analysis of sensitivity to key model parameters is also conducted to describe the model capabilities. The analysis results show that the model can effectively optimize highway alignments in an area combining complex terrain and various types of natural and cultural land-use patterns, and provide detailed information of optimized alignments as a model output. It is also found that the alignments optimized by the model are quite similar to those obtained through conventional manual methods by a state agency, but the model can greatly reduce the time required for highway planning and design as well as produce lower cost solutions. Finally, the results confirm that all dominating and alignment-sensitive costs should be simultaneously evaluated in the alignment optimization process because many trade-off opportunities exist among those costs. The proposed model can greatly contribute to the productivity of highway planners as well as to the quality of the resulting infrastructure.