TRANSPORT NETWORK OPTIMIZATION BASED ON FINDING OPTIMAL AND SUBOPTIMAL SOLUTIONS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE RIJEKA URBAN AGGLOMERATION

The paper investigates the modeling and optimization of the transport network in finding optimal and suboptimal solutions on the example of the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration with the aim of achieving and improving business results. The urban agglomeration of Rijeka consists of 14 cities and municipalities, which are also called transport hubs, and are connected by routes in the transport network. By modeling and optimizing the transport network of the Urban Agglomeration, Rijeka should provide optimal service to cities, municipalities and their distribution centers in the area of the agglomeration. The basic criterion for choosing optimal transport routes is the distance between cities (transport nodes). If the distance is the same or similar, dynamic selection can determine multiple transport routes in different periods can be obtained by dynamic selection, so from the point of view of other relevant criteria, one route can be optimal in one period, and another route can be optimal in another period. Based on the exhaustive search algorithm used to solve the traveling salesman problem (TSP), a visual model of the optimization of the transport network of the Urban Agglomeration of Rijeka can be created using the Visual Basic program in the Excel spreadsheet interface. In the example of optimization of the transport network of the Rijeka Urban Agglomeration, the optimization factors are the minimum length of the transport route, the shortest time at minimum cost, and the maximum utilization of transport capacity. By considering optimal and suboptimal solutions within a given deviation interval, it is possible to break down and analyze the synergy of all relevant factors that determine the best (optimal or suboptimal) solution in different situations in order to achieve the minimum length of the transport. The optimization of the transport network based on finding optimal and suboptimal solutions has significant impact on the efficient and flexible optimization of transport network, which enables the choice between alternative transport routes in different situations. The paper investigates the impact of optimization of the transport network based on the calculation of optimal and suboptimal solutions on business effects in the logistics and transport system.