Postboxes Quantitative Optimization Model

Milica Šelmić, Miloš Nikolić and Aleksandar Čupić
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Milica Šelmić: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia
Miloš Nikolić: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Čupić: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Technological developments are having a significant impact on purchasing habits and consumer behavior, and threaten the traditional model of the delivery of goods by post. The replacement of traditional letter-post items with electronic forms of communication has led to declines in the volume of postal items. Therefore, the collection of postal items has become very inefficient. This paper proposes that the postal network segment needs to be reorganized by reducing the current number of installed postboxes. To this end, a mathematical model has been defined. Considering that postboxes are one of the most basic access points to the postal network, territorial accessibility must be taken into account. The proposed model, with minor modifications, can easily be applied to optimize other access points in transportation networks. For testing purposes, this paper presents the results of computational experiments based on real data. The final result consists of scenarios that present a decision support system for the redesign of postal networks.

Keywords: reorganization; postal network; mathematical model; postbox (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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