How can I use ESRI's advanced optimization settings? – URBANTZ | SUPPORT

Info How can we configure ESRI to help us achieve tailored optimizations?

Overview:

Defining ESRI
Where to find ESRI advanced configuration
Defining the impedance value
Vehicle and route preference options explained
Road restrictions explained
ESRI traffic calculations

1. Defining ESRI

ESRI is a world-leading research solution for route optimization. It offers a high capacity in calculation power and a large range of configuration options. It helps to optimize costs and speed, which will result in having the best applicable case route solution.

2. Where to find ESRI advanced configuration

ESRI custom configuration can be found under Administration > Optimization > select one existing optimization > then Optimization > select Advance mode

3. Defining the impedance value

With the impedance value, we model the travel time and adjust the optimization to vehicle-specific properties.

Selecting a predefined travel mode will result in having the best properties for the mode of travel. The benefits are time savings and reduced complexity as the parameter accurately characterizes the vehicles you're modeling.

Currently, we have the following impedance measurements, that can be defined:

Travel Time—Historical and live traffic data is used. This option is good for modeling the time it takes automobiles to travel along roads at a specific time of day, using live traffic speed data where available.
Truck Travel Time —historical + live traffic data are taken into account + we can add a maximum speed for vehicles.
Truck without live tracking data—Live traffic data is not used, but the lower historical average speed for automobiles and the posted speed limits for trucks are used.
Walk Time—The default is a speed of 5 km/hr on all roads and paths, but this can be changed
Minutes—Live traffic data is not used, but historical average speeds for automobile data are used.
Speed At 1KPH—The default is a speed of 1 km/hr on all roads and paths. The speed cannot be changed using any attribute parameter.

If travel time or truck travel time is selected, it is possible to configure the maximum speed limit of the vehicle. However, if the road speed limit is lower, the value configured won't have any effect.

If walking time is selected, it is possible to set the walking speed. This will be constant throughout the entire round.

4. Vehicle and route preferences options explained

Vehicle and route preferences options can be currently defined with:

Spatially clustered routes: favor solution where deliveries or pickups are gathered due to proximity
Use hierarchy in analysis: favor larger roads as highways against small ones (best for long distances, such as travel between cities, for city delivery only might not be the best approach as it might lead to detour instead of taking the shorter way)
Curb Approach: define if the vehicle can approach and depart in either direction from the stop. This decision may depend on the width of the road and the amount of traffic, or whether the stop has a parking lot where vehicles can pull in and turn around.

Image source here.

U-turn policy: define a U-turn policy that will be considered by the system when creating the route
Time window factor. We can define either a low, medium or high-level violation time. This value is referring to which degree can a preestablished task closing time be crossed.
Excess transit factor: when we have a pickup and a delivery task that are linked, we have the possibility to either decrease (HIGH) at maximum the travel time between them at the expense of increasing the overall travel costs. Or we set it up on (LOW) and the system will try to find a solution that minimizes overall solution cost, regardless of the travel time between the paired pickup and delivery task.

5. Road restrictions constraints explained

After setting up the first part of the custom configuration, we have the option to further define road restrictions and constraints. As below:

These parameters will define restrictions on the path the vehicle can take.

For example, with Avoid Toll Roads, we can define whether the vehicle will take roads with tolls in preference or not. For Avoid Toll Roads set to prohibited, the vehicle won't take any toll road; if preferred high is selected, the vehicle will prefer to take toll roads when available.

More about road restrictions:

Restriction Name	Description
Any Hazmat Prohibited	The result will exclude roads where transporting any kind of hazardous material is prohibited.
Avoid Carpool Roads	The result will avoid roads designated exclusively for carpool (high-occupancy) vehicles.
Avoid Express Lanes	The result will avoid roads designated as express lanes.
Avoid Ferries	The result will avoid ferries.
Avoid Gates	The result will avoid roads with gates, such as keyed-access or guard-controlled entryways.
Avoid Limited Access Roads	The result will avoid roads designated as limited-access highways.
Avoid Private Roads	The result will avoid roads that are not publicly owned and maintained.
Avoid Roads Unsuitable for Pedestrians	The result will avoid roads that are unsuitable for pedestrians.
Avoid Stairways	The result will avoid all stairways on a pedestrian suitable route.
Avoid Toll Roads	The result will avoid toll roads.
Avoid Toll Roads for Trucks	The result will avoid all toll roads for trucks.
Avoid Truck Restricted Roads	The result will avoid roads where trucks are not allowed.
Avoid Unpaved Roads	The result will avoid roads that are not paved (for example, dirt, gravel, etc.).
Axle Count Restriction	The result will not include roads where trucks with a specified number of axles are prohibited. The number of axles can be specified using the Number of Axles restriction parameter.
Driving a Bus	The result will exclude roads where buses are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Driving a Taxi	The result will exclude roads where taxis are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Driving a Truck	The result will exclude roads where trucks are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Driving an Automobile	The result will exclude roads where automobiles are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Driving an Emergency Vehicle	The result will exclude roads where emergency vehicles are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Height Restriction	The result will exclude roads where the vehicle height exceeds the maximum allowed height for the road. The vehicle height can be specified using the Vehicle Height (meters) restriction parameter.
Kingpin to Rear Axle Length Restriction	The result will exclude roads where the vehicle kingpin-to-rear-axle length exceeds the maximum allowed for the road. The vehicle's length between the vehicle kingpin and the rear axle can be specified using the Vehicle Kingpin to Rear Axle Length (meters) restriction parameter.
Length Restriction	The result will exclude roads where the vehicle length exceeds the maximum allowed length for the road. The vehicle length can be specified using the Vehicle Length (meters) restriction parameter.
Preferred for Pedestrians	The result prefers paths designated for pedestrians.
Riding a Motorcycle	The result will exclude roads where motorcycles are prohibited. Using this restriction also ensures the route will honor one-way streets.
Roads Under Construction Prohibited	The result will exclude roads that are under construction.
Semi or Tractor with One or More Trailers Prohibited	The result will exclude roads where semis or tractors with one or more trailers are prohibited.
Single Axle Vehicles Prohibited	The result will exclude roads where vehicles with single axles are prohibited.
Tandem Axle Vehicles Prohibited	The result will exclude roads where vehicles with tandem axles are prohibited.
Through Traffic Prohibited	The result will exclude roads where through-traffic (non-local) is prohibited.
Truck with Trailers Restriction	The result will exclude roads where trucks with a specified number of trailers on the truck are prohibited. The number of trailers on the truck can be specified using the Number of Trailers on Truck restriction parameter.
Use Preferred Hazmat Routes	The result will prefer roads designated for transporting any kind of hazardous materials.
Use Preferred Truck Routes	The result will prefer roads designated as truck routes, such as the roads that are part of the national network as specified by the National Surface Transportation Assistance Act in the United States, or roads that are designated as truck routes by the state or province, or roads in an area that is generally more suitable for trucks.
Walking	The result will exclude roads where pedestrians are prohibited.
Weight Restriction	The result will exclude roads where the vehicle weight exceeds the maximum allowed weight for the road. The vehicle weight can be specified using the Vehicle Weight (kilograms) restriction parameter.
Weight per Axle Restriction	The result will exclude roads where the vehicle's weight per axle exceeds the maximum allowed for the road. The vehicle's weight per axle can be specified using the Vehicle Weight per Axle (kilograms) restriction parameter.
Width Restriction	The result will have roads where the vehicle width exceeds the maximum allowed for the road. The vehicle width can be specified using the Vehicle Width (meters) restriction parameter.

6. ESRI Traffic calculations

ESRI is calculating traffic by using both historical and live traffic data from GPS trackers.

Historical traffic helps in providing accurate routes by considering seasonal changes and national or local holiday-recorded traffic. For example, in summer, we have calmer traffic, with fewer cars, whereas, in autumn, the streets are busier.

Historical traffic is looking back up to 3 years and this information gets updated every 5 minutes.

ESRI results are based on the average duration time of the route.

Tip: To find the perfect applicable solution we advise upon going live: setting up multiple optimizations, observing the results, and then deciding.

❕ For any additional questions about setting up a new optimization solution, please get in touch with your CSM representative and they will assist you.