How To Select Between Open And Closed Path Routing For Your Vehicle

There are 2 routing algorithms available in ElasticRoute for your vehicles when planning your runs.

    Types of Routing algorithm

  • Open Path Routing
  • Closed Path Routing
Comparison Between Open And Closed Path Routing
Type Usage Advantage Disadvantage
Open Path Routing Recommended for use if your vehicle is required to service all your stops fast. Will generate a run to service all the stops fast.
Total distance traveled to service all the stops (excluding return to depot) is shorter than Closed Path Routing.
Does not consider the journey to return to depot.
The final stop will be located far from the depot, incurring cost for returning back to depot.
Closed Path Routing Recommended for use if the time/distance to return to depot is to be considered. The journey to return to depot is taken into consideration to form a closed U-shape loop.
Total distance traveled to service all the stops (including return to depot) is shorter than Open Path Routing.
Some of the stops will be serviced at a later time compared to the open path routing.

Below is an image the expected path for Open and Closed Path Routing, with the Open Path Routing being depicted in blue, and the Closed Path Routing in green.

The numbers above and below of the map-marker icon are the job sequences of the stop in a run for Open Path Routing and Closed Path Routing respectively.

For Open Path Routing, the last stop is located far away from the depot; while for Closed Path Routing, the path form a U-shape back to the depot.

Image Of Open And Closed Path Routing

In this tutorial, you will find the steps required to select the routing algorithm. A list of stops was also being planned to compare Open and Closed Path Routing.

How To Set Up

Manual Addition Or Editing Of Vehicle
  1. Navigate to Settings > Vehicles.
  2. Click on either the Add Vehicle or Edit button.
  3. Scroll down to the Return To Depot section.
    Routing Algorithm Return to depot at the end of the day?
    Open Path Routing Uncheck
    Closed Path Routing Check

  4. Click Save when done.
Importing Of CSV To Create Vehicle
  1. Prepare a list of Vehicles.
    List Of Vehicles
    Name Return to Depot
    Driver1
    Driver2 0
      Note:

    • An entry of 0 will into the Return to depot field will set the routing algorithm to Open Path Routing for Driver2.
    • An empty entry (default) for Return to depot field will set the routing algorithm to Closed Path Routing for Driver1.

    For more information on other various fields, refer to How To Add Vehicles.

  2. Navigate to Settings > Vehicles.
  3. Click on Import > Import from CSV.

  4. Select your CSV and click Upload.

    Note:

  • Checking the “Return to depot" would also factor the Driver's Working Time into consideration before the stop is being assigned to the vehicle.
  • If the journey for returning back to depot is out of the working hours of the vehicle, the stop will not be assigned to the driver.
  • Refer to How To Set Driver Working Hours.

How To Use

A list of stops was created to show the differences between the 2 different route planning algorithms.

List Of Stops And Depot Address
Name Address
Stop1 9 Bishan Pl 579837
Stop2 21 Tampines Ave 1 529757
Stop3 3 Temasek Blvd 038983
Stop4 3000 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 569813
Stop5 53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 569933
Stop6 1000 Upper Changi Rd N 507707
Stop7 21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 689812
Stop8 2 Jurong East Street 21 609601
Stop9 1 Jurong West Central 2 648886
Depot 55 Airport Blvd 819647

Screenshot Before Planning

From the planned results below, it can be seen that the run (excluding the journey for return to depot) for Open Path Routing were completed faster and shorter than the Closed Path Routing, with the last stop located far away from the depot. The Open Path Routing would be more suitable for users who wish to service their stops fast, and do not need to consider the journey to return to the depot.

Excluding Journey For Return To Depot
Routing Algorithm Time (mins) Distance (km)
Open Path Routing 78 74.543
Closed Path Routing 86 83.427

However, when the return to depot is being factored into the calculation, the total time/distance for the Closed Path Routing is faster and shorter than the Open Path Routing, with a U-shaped route being generated. The Closed Path Routing would be more suitable for users who wishes to consider the journey to return to depot.

Including Journey For Return To Depot
Routing Algorithm Time (mins) Distance (km)
Open Path Routing 112 113.333
Closed Path Routing 103 102.257
Comparison Between Open Path And Closed Path Routing
Open Path Routing
Closed Path Routing
Seq Name Traveling Time (mins) Distance (km) Name Traveling Time Distance (km)
1 Stop6 10 8.31 Stop6 10 8.31
2 Stop2 12 12.76 Stop2 7 5.574
3 Stop3 8 7.027 Stop5 13 12.929
4 Stop1 10 10 Stop4 2 1.814
5 Stop5 4 3.024 Stop7 15 17.144
6 Stop4 2 1.814 Stop9 9 9.62
7 Stop7 15 17.144 Stop8 8 5.95
8 Stop8 10 8.773 Stop1 15 15.877
9 Stop9 7 5.691 Stop3 7 6.209
Run excluding Return To Depot Total Time 78 Total Distance 74.543 Total Time 86 Total Distance 83.427
* Return To Depot 34 38.79 Return To Depot 17 18.83
Run including Return To Depot Total Time 112 Total Distance 113.333 Total Time 103 Total Distance 102.257

Open Path Routing

Screenshot Of Planned Results

Screenshot Of Planned Results On Map

Closed Path Routing

Screenshot Of Planned Results

Screenshot Of Planned Results On Map