Multiple Approaches of Solving Allocation Problems on Postal Transportation Network in Conditions of Large Countries

The article deals with the optimizing the postal transportation network with two different optimizing methods. The research adopted in this article uses allocation models within graph theory to obtain results for addressed optimization problem. The article presents and compares two types of these models: p-median and uncapacitated fixed charge facility location model. The aim of p-median model is to find the location of P facilities in network, serving all demands in a way ensuring the average transport cost to be minimal. Fixed charge location model approach the issue of facility location based on minimizing the overall costs of implementation of selected variants. The latter this two models are subsequently applied on the postal network to determine the optimal location of postal facilities. These two models are adopted in the condition of large country with area above 300 000 km². The Italy was chosen as a typical country that fits this condition. The underlying infrastructure of Italy is represented by simplified model of a postal network, abstracted by a graph G = (V, E, c, w).

The results can serve as a basis for modification of the used models for the simulation of networks in the postal sector and as a key that compares the opportunities and results of application of these two models in the conditions large countries.