Routenpfade

Routenpfade are the set of possible trajectories that connect a start point with a destination within a network, considering constraints such as distance, time, cost, safety, or legal restrictions. They are used in transport planning, logistics, navigation, and network routing.

In practice, a Routenpfad is represented as a sequence of waypoints or as a graph path comprised of nodes (junctions, stops) and edges (roads, routes). Each edge carries attributes like length, travel time, tolls, and capacity.

In graph theory, the concept corresponds to a path between two vertices. Pathfinding algorithms compute optimal or feasible Routenpfade, with weights encoding different criteria. Classic examples include Dijkstra’s algorithm for shortest distance, A* for heuristic search, and multi-criteria approaches for trade-offs between time, cost, and reliability.

In GIS and routing systems, Routenpfade are stored in network datasets and can be subject to dynamic conditions (traffic, closures). Handling multiple Routenpfade may involve sharing or combining subpaths, and constraints such as vehicle height or forbidden turns.

Challenges include real-time updates, scaling to large networks, multi-objective optimization, and uncertain data. The term is common in German-language technical literature, especially in transport engineering, logistics, and GIS.