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Evaluation of Connectivity and Multi-Objective Optimization of National Highways in Nepal: A Case Study of Bagmati Province

Evaluation of Connectivity and Multi-Objective Optimization of National Highways in Nepal: A Case Study of Bagmati Province

Student: Kapil Shrestha

Supervisor: Er. Rajesh Khadka

Submitted Date: August, 2024

Abstract

This research focuses on a multi-objective optimization for planning the national highway network in Bagmati Province, a province with mountainous terrain. This Multi objective optimization addresses both accessibility and robustness in highway network proposed by Department of Road, Nepal. The study suggests constructing new highways or upgrading existing ones. The planned road network shows significant improvements: Alpha index rises from 0.131 to 0.189, Beta from 1.232 to 1.348, Gamma from 0.426 to 0.464, and GTP from 0.333 to 0.473. Eta index decreases from 31.081 to 24.097. The high correlation coefficient (0.9999) confirms these statistically significant enhancements. The study employs the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), a heuristic solution method for multi-objective optimization problems, to solve this optimization model. The effectiveness of the NSGA-II approach is initially tested on a small hypothetical network, demonstrating its ability to identify most Pareto-optimal/non-dominated solutions. The approach was then applied to the existing national highway network in Bagmati Province, Nepal. The findings show that the model offers numerous Pareto-optimal solutions to policymakers, making it well-suited for highway network planning in mountainous areas. This methodology can also be applied to other developing nations with similar geographic challenges.

Keywords

Multi-objective, optimization, Accessibility, Robustness, Connectivity, NSGA- II, Network planning.