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In order to improve delivery network efficiency and to solve consumer satisfaction problems, parcel locker location optimisation scheme is proposed based on the delivery demand under the e-commerce environment. In this paper, a bilevel programming (BLP) model is established to identify the optimal location for parcel lockers by considering benefits of consumers and logistics planning departments. The upper-level model is to determine the optimal location by minimising the planners' cost, and the lower one gives an equilibrium demand distribution by minimising the consumers' pick-up cost. On the special form of constraints, a bilevel genetic algorithm is proposed based on GIS data and a genetic algorithm. Finally, a numerical example is employed to demonstrate the application of the method, which indicates that the model can solve the problem of parcel locker location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As modern engineering design usually involves dependence of one discipline on another, multidisciplinary system analysis (MDSA) plays an important role in the multidisciplinary simulation and design optimization on coupled systems. The paper proposes an MDSA method based on minimal feedback variables (MDSA_MF) to enhance the solving efficiency. There are two phases in the method. In phase 1, design structural matrix (DSM) is introduced to represent a coupled system, and each off-diagonal element is denoted by a coupling variable set; then an optimal sequence model is built to obtain a reordered DSM with minimal number of feedback variables. In phase 2, the feedback in the reordered DSM is broken, so that the coupled system is transformed into one directed acyclic graph; then, regarding the inputs depending on the broken feedback as independent variables, a least-squares problem is constructed to minimize the residuals of these independents and corresponding outputs to zero, which means the multidisciplinary consistence is achieved. Besides, the MDSA_MF method is implemented in a multidisciplinary platform called FlowComputer. Several examples of coupled systems are modeled and solved in the platform using several MDSA methods. The results demonstrate that the proposed method could enhance the solving efficiency of coupled systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]