A sustainable approach to solve the routing problem for transportation services: a vehicle pollution assessment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58922/transportes.v34.e3048

Keywords:

Geographic Information System; Logistics routing; Analytic Hierarchy Process; Pollution routing problem; Urban solid waste.

Abstract

This study addresses a complex issue in transportation service management, focusing on vehicle pollution within the Pollution Routing Problem (PRP) framework. It examines how direct fuel costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are influenced by travel distance, road slopes, and vehicle speed. The research centers on the urban solid waste (USW) collection service in Miraporanga, managed by Uberlândia, Brazil. Using GIS tools, the study evaluates waste collection routes to minimize GHG emissions. Due to the multifaceted nature of transportation costs and factors, an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to rank the project variables effectively. The research compared two routing approaches: shortest path and flattest path, using a weighted implementation cost formula to determine which route is more sustainable. The findings reveal an 8% reduction in GHG emissions per collection. Additionally, applying the PRP showed a 16% decrease in fuel consumption by optimizing for distance, speed, and road slopes. This approach demonstrates a practical method for enhancing environmental sustainability in urban waste management.

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Author Biographies

Gabriel Henrique Carvalho Rezende, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

An analytical approach to the optimal city layout. Ph.D. Program in Civil Engineering. BarcelonaTech. Expected end date: 2026. Bio: Gabriel is passionate about cities and how their geometric nuances, transportation networks, and planning designs ensure happiness and let interrelationships thrive. Gabriel completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering extending a post-graduate course in Project Management for Urban Solutions. He also completed a master’s degree in Transport Infrastructure Planning, both from the Federal University of Uberlândia (Brasil). Currently, Gabriel is in his Ph.D. journey in a project related to City Planning and Urban Mobility framework to ensure an ideal, equal, accessible, and climate-friendly city for citizens. Over his academic journey, he has held the position of Urban Engineer and Civil Engineer in several projects involving consultancy and urban solutions in Brazil. Currently, he is also involved in Iberian projects in Portugal and Spain.

Raquel Naiara Fernandes Silva, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

He has a degree from the Federal University of Viçosa (2010), a master's degree in the Postgraduate Program in Geodetic Sciences from the Federal University of Paraná (2012) and a PhD in Solid Mechanics and Vibrations from the Postgraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlândia ( 2017). She currently holds the position of Adjunct Professor level 4, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlândia - MG. He works at undergraduate level and also in the Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC-UFU), where he carries out research in the areas of Structural Integrity Monitoring (SHM), Geodetic Monitoring, Spatial Analysis applied in Environmental and Transport Engineering.

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Published

2026-04-09

How to Cite

Henrique Carvalho Rezende, G. and Fernandes Silva, R. N. (2026) “A sustainable approach to solve the routing problem for transportation services: a vehicle pollution assessment”, Transportes, 34, p. e3048. doi: 10.58922/transportes.v34.e3048.

Issue

Vol. 34 (2026)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Raquel Fernandes, Gabriel Henrique Carvalho Rezende

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Last update: 11/27/2025