Applying geographical information systems and combinatorial optimization to fiber deployment plans

A decision-support system for the Fiber Deployment Plan problem is developed for the telephone cable network design in the telecommunications industry. The system employs a Geographical Information System (GIS) and uses combinatorial optimization techniques as its components. A mathematical combinatorial optimization model is formulated for the problem and a heuristic solution procedure is developed for the model. A GIS within the ESRI Arc/INFO and ArcView environment is used to provide data needed to build the mathematical combinatorial optimization model and to furnish an interface between the users and computers in data input and in solution result display. Combinatorial optimization techniques are used in the heuristic solution procedure to find good solutions for the optimization model. The developed decision-support system has been used to solve real life problems and has resulted in tremendous improvements in the telephone cable network design process. The user is completely satisfied with the performance of the system.