Sustainable Optimization of Routes for Urban Waste Management through the Implementation of the Floyd–Warshall Algorithm and MCDM Methods
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20983/culcyt.2026.2.2e.1Keywords:
recyclable waste, Floyd-Warshall, TOPSIS, VIKOR, geographic information systemsAbstract
Recyclable waste management represents one of today’s major urban challenges due to population growth and the increasing consumption of packaged products. In this context, managing these materials requires determining the most suitable route when factors such as travel time, cost, risk, emissions, and service coverage are considered. This article describes a tool developed in C# that combines the Floyd–Warshall algorithm, used to calculate shortest paths between all pairs of nodes, with multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, particularly TOPSIS and VIKOR, to rank alternatives based on weighted criteria. The proposal was tested in a pilot scenario constructed using locations from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), which were interpreted as potential waste generation or collection points. The system calculates the shortest-distance matrix and exports the resulting routes in KML format for cartographic inspection. The results represent a distance-based proof of concept; therefore, multicriteria evaluation using operational data and subsequent field validation constitute the next stage of the study. The main contribution is a modular architecture that integrates route optimization, multicriteria analysis, and geographic visualization to support recyclable waste collection planning.
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