Genetic algorithms applied to a wood collection problem

This paper is related to a real-world problem of routing, sequencing and time-tabling of trucks for timber collection in Finland. The general features of the vehicle routing problem are described, and the special features of the wood transportation problem are explained. Timber collection poses special challenges, because of different kinds of timber, types of trucks, multiple start and delivery points, plus the huge size of the road network which may include all the public countryside roads of a substantial portion of Finland. A prototype system using genetic algorithms is described. Obtained results are encouraging and open to future development