Practice of an improved many-objective route optimization algorithm in a multimodal transportation case under uncertain demand

Abstract

In recent decades, multimodal transportation has played a crucial role in modern logistics and transportation systems because of its high capacity and low cost. However, multimodal transportation driven mainly by fossil fuels may result in significant carbon emissions. In addition, transportation costs, transportation efficiency, and customer demand are also key factors that constrain the development of multimodal transportation. In this paper, we develop, for the first time, a many-objective multimodal transportation route optimization (MTRO) model that simultaneously considers economic cost, carbon emission cost, time cost, and customer satisfaction, and we solve it via the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm version III (NSGA-III). Second, to further improve the convergence performance, we introduce a fuzzy decision variable framework to improve the NSGA-III algorithm. This framework can reduce the search range of the optimization algorithm in the decision space and make it converge better. Finally, we conduct numerous simulation experiments on test problems to verify the applicability and superiority of the improved algorithm and apply it to MTRO problems under uncertain demand. This work fills the research gap for MTRO problems and provides guidance for relevant departments in developing transportation and decarbonization plans.