A PIONEERING AND COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE OF BALANCED AND UNBALANCED TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS FOR READY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF EXISTING AND NEW METHODS

Abstract

In this paper, we present a comprehensive database of the data tables of some important transportation problems from literature, and experience with the proposition of new initial basic feasible (IBF) solution methods for the transportation problems. The paper contains a comprehensive database of 140 transportation problems, of which 103 are balanced, 25 are unbalanced and 12 are from research papers. The detailed description of the varying-nature test problems is described, and the optimal solutions of the 140 problems have been obtained by using the TORA software with the modified distribution (MODI) method. The algorithms of three methods: North-West-Corner (NWCM), Least cost (LCM) and Vogel’s approximation (VAM) have been used for IBF solutions. The final optimal results are also quoted for the ready reference of researchers and practitioners. The database of problems and their optimal solutions will be a great aid to researchers and practitioners working with the existing and new methods for solving transportation problems. A pioneering investigation of the performance evaluation of NWCM, LCM and VAM has also been conducted as a benchmark for the similar assessment of other existing and forthcoming IBF and /or optimal solution methods for the transportation problems.