A Hybrid Heuristic Algorithm for Large Scale Emergency Logistics

This paper presents a hybrid heuristic algorithm for large scale multiple depots vehicle routing problem (MDVRP) in relief work which combined genetic algorithm with ant systems and simulated annealing algorithm. The main idea of this new algorithm is a feedback loop. Using the best result of genetic algorithm to improve ant colony system and feed the best solution of ant system back to genetic algorithm. For other offspring, simulated annealing algorithm is been used in the genetic operation. Based on the data from VRPWeb, the experimental results illustrate that this new algorithm is able to solve large scale MDVRP effectively and efficiently.