Optrek

Optrek is a computational framework and family of algorithms designed for planning optimal trekking and hiking routes. It addresses multi-criteria route optimization by balancing factors such as total distance, elevation gain, trail difficulty, surface quality, safety considerations, and user-specific preferences (fitness, pace, daylight limits). The goal is to present routes that best satisfy trade-offs rather than a single metric.

The concept emerged in the early 2020s in academic literature on multi-criteria path planning and in commercial mapping products that support outdoor activities. The name combines “opt” for optimization and “trek,” reflecting its focus on footpaths and trails.

Algorithmically, optrek extends traditional graph search methods with multi-criteria evaluation. It can compute Pareto-optimal routes, or convert multiple factors into a single composite cost using weighted sums or lexicographic ordering. It relies on graph representations of trail networks, elevation data, land cover, and weather or safety constraints. Solvers may prune the search using admissible heuristics to improve performance, and it supports both online queries and offline precomputation for commonly used regions.

Typical architecture is modular: a graph builder ingests map and terrain data; a cost model assigns factor-based costs to edges; a solver explores routes; and a visualization or UI layer presents options and trade-offs.

Open-source and commercial implementations often provide plug-ins for custom cost functions, regional data sets, and offline operation.

Optrek is used in outdoor navigation apps, trip planning tools, and training programs, where users seek routes that balance effort, risk, and scenery. Its effectiveness depends on data quality, model calibration, and user context.

See also: route planning, multi-criteria optimization, Pareto optimality, A* search, GIS.