Applications of Information Technology for Bus and Driver Scheduling

Research in bus and driver scheduling at Leeds University has been taking advantage of new technologies since the early 1960s, with the objective of yielding better schedules more quickly. Here recent SERC supported work is presented. Most bus scheduling systems produce schedules for only one operating scenario. In practice, planning and scheduling are interconnected, and operators have to explore flexibility in timings and route structures. An interactive framework is described which integrates tools designed to minimise trial and error in the process. We also report on two new approaches to driver scheduling. A knowledge-based approach has resulted in an effective set of domain specific rules critically analysing a given problem and accurately estimating the schedule composition and total number of duties required. This estimate will strengthen existing and new methods. Genetic algorithms are powerful in deriving refined solutions to problems very quickly. However, driver scheduling seems to be too difficult a problem for traditional genetic algorithms to yield schedules of acceptable quality. We have analysed the search processes of genetic algorithms and developed new algorithms to overcome shortcomings. Potential for further exploiting these researches is also discussed.