Solving a vehicle routing problem using geoprocessing tools
Two geoprocessing tools are designed to help you solve a vehicle routing problem: Make vehicle Routing Problem Layer (in the Analysis toolset) and Solve Vehicle Routing Problem (in the Server toolset). Use Solve Vehicle Routing Problem if your ultimate goal is to set up a VRP web service; otherwise, use Make Vehicle Routing Problem. This topic describes the steps for using Make Vehicle Routing Problem.
If you would like to learn more about the Solve Vehicle Routing Problem geoprocessing tool, see the links in the Related Topics section below.
- Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.1.
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On the menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Search For Tools.
The dockable Search window opens with the Tools category selected.
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In the search text box, type Make Vehicle Routing Problem Layer and press ENTER.
The results of the search are listed in the Search window.
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Click the Make Vehicle Routing Problem Layer link.
The Make Vehicle Routing Problem Layer dialog box opens.
- Specify the parameters on the tool's dialog box.
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Click OK.
A vehicle routing problem analysis layer is created.
- Use the Add Locations geoprocessing tool to create objects in the different network analysis classes that serve as input to the solver.
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Type Solve in the search text box and press ENTER.
The results of the search are listed in the Search window.
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Click the Solve link in the search results.
The Solve dialog box opens.
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Specify the parameters on the tool's dialog box.
Learn more about the Solve tool
The Input network analysis layer parameter should be set to the vehicle routing problem layer you created with the Make Vehicle Routing Problem Layer tool.
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Click OK.
The vehicle routing problem analysis layer is solved, given no errors were encountered.