Representing Routes

Calculating a collection route to optimally cover an area leaves you with two problems. Communication to the operators who need to be able to drive the route. Communication from the drivers who need to make changes.

It is this second point which makes the process a bit tricky as it rules out most apps.

Once you have an area like this and an ideal route you need to segment it up for communication.

The first segment is grouped and labelled.

The middle segment of the route was a bit tricky.

The final run now looks more like this

A note on paper. While my inclination is to programme and automate I start on paper because it shows you how people want to change the information. I would have a driver draw, physically, the changes to their areas because I had no idea at the beginning what they wanted. It turned out that u turn symbols where very important.