A tool and methodology for designing the optimisation activities of a logistic system - case study

The current economic crisis combined with increasing fuel costs raises awareness that in value chains the logistics represents a large portion of costs and hence modern companies are increasingly interested in investments in research and development of specialised fleet optimisation tools. A new tool and methodology that enable the end-user to carry out a logistic research and optimisation in a relatively complex logistic system for snow plowing and road salting are presented. The tool incorporates the GIS and network data management, monitoring of GPS tracked vehicles and communication layers, together with a set of tools for planning, analysing and optimising the routes. The system also enables remote navigation by using an on-board computer connected to the application. A case of analysing a particular snow plowing operation is presented.