GIS TECHNOLOGY FOR VEHICLE-ROUTING AND SCHEDULING IN SOLID-WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEMS

Rapid improvements in the hardware and software for geographic informa tion system (GIS) have enhanced its potential for solving various type s of engineering and management problems. This study develops a multio bjective, mixed-integer programming model for collection vehicle routi ng and scheduling for solid waste management systems synthesized withi n a GIS environment. The integration of the mathematical programming m odel and the GIS were demonstrated through application to a specific s ite in Taiwan. The proposed interactive design procedure using GIS all ows a decision maker to analyze many waste collection alternatives bef ore selecting a final operational scenario. Such a system also has pot ential application in many other environmental planning and management problems.