Integration of global information systems, global positioning systems, and optimization technologies for the effective control of parcel delivery service

An intelligent monitoring and control system for parcel delivery service is described in this paper. To manage pick-up and delivery operations more effectively, geographical information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), and wireless communication technologies are applied to the system which consists of three subsystems, pick-up and delivery sequence planning system, pick-up and delivery monitoring system, and PDA execution system. Pick-up and delivery sequence planning system generates routes and schedules for pick-up and delivery using GIS and optimization techniques. Pick-up and delivery monitoring system monitors current positions of vehicles and actual pick-up and delivery results as compared with planned sequences, routes and visit times, while PDA execution system transmits information for vehicles' positions and actual pick-up and delivery results using GPS and wireless communication technologies. The intelligent monitoring and control system is currently being used for the pick-up service in a local post office of Korea Post.