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Time-Dependent SHARC-Routing

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Abstract

In recent years, many speed-up techniques for Dijkstra’s algorithm have been developed that make the computation of shortest paths in static road networks a matter of microseconds. However, only few of those techniques work in time-dependent networks which, unfortunately, appear quite frequently in reality: Roads are predictably congested by traffic jams, and efficient timetable information systems rely on time-dependent networks. Hence, a fast technique for routing in such networks is needed.

In this work, we present an efficient time-dependent route planning algorithm. It is based on our recently introduced SHARC algorithm, which we adapt by augmenting its basic ingredients such that correctness can still be guaranteed in a time-dependent scenario. As a result, we are able to efficiently compute exact shortest paths in time-dependent continental-sized transportation networks, both of roads and of railways. It should be noted that time-dependent SHARC was the first efficient algorithm for time-dependent route planning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Karlsruhe (TH), 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Daniel Delling

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  1. Daniel Delling
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Correspondence to Daniel Delling.

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Partially supported by the Future and Emerging Technologies Unit of EC (IST priority–6th FP), under contract no. FP6-021235-2 (project ARRIVAL) and the DFG (project WA 654/16-1).

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Delling, D. Time-Dependent SHARC-Routing. Algorithmica 60, 60–94 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00453-009-9341-0

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