Optimizing noise exposure in the Vehicle Routing Problem: A case study of last-mile freight deliveries in Stockholm

Abstract

Improvements in noise mapping techniques and smart cities infrastructure have fostered the development of new ways to evaluate traffic noise exposure. An example of one such outcome is the noise exposure sensitivity map, which quantifies the noise exposure potential of a road network as a function of the vehicle type, the prevailing background noise, and the population exposed. The potential for planning vehicle routing that is offered by the above-mentioned map calls for revisiting the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) with a focus on accounting for the noise exposure in the optimization process. A case study is chosen for applying the VRP, and it is taken from last-mile off-peak deliveries performed in Stockholm, Sweden, in the context of the CIVITAS Eccentric project. The VRP is independently solved for the following objectives: distance travelled, driving time, and driving noise exposure potential. Also considered is a heterogeneous objective that is consisting of a combination of these factors. The impact of the objective function on the resulting routes is presented. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the trade-offs between the chosen factors.