A new bidirectional search algorithm with shortened postprocessing

Wim Pijls and Henk Post

European Journal of Operational Research, 2009, vol. 198, issue 2, 363-369

Abstract: For finding a shortest path in a network bidirectional A* is a widely known algorithm. This algorithm distinguishes between the main phase and the postprocessing phase. The version of bidirectional A* that is considered the most appropriate in literature hitherto, uses a so-called balanced heuristic estimate. This type of heuristic is chosen, as it accounts for a short postprocessing phase. In this paper, we do not restrict ourselves any longer to balanced heuristics. First, we introduce an algorithm containing a new method for the postprocessing phase, reducing this phase considerably for non-balanced heuristics. For a balanced heuristic the new algorithm is nearly equivalent to the existing versions of bidirectional A*. An obvious choice for a non-balanced heuristic turns out to be superior in terms of storage space and computation time. Second, we show that the main phase on its own, when using this non-balanced heuristic estimate, is a useful algorithm, which provides us quickly with a feasible approximation.

Keywords: Shortest; path; Road; network; search; Bidirectional; search (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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