This paper proposes a heuristic procedure created to improve the collection routes obtained with the support of the ArcGIS software and its complement, Network Analyst. After a series of experiments, it was found that the software presents several inconsistencies with logistical and operational management concepts, such as the unnecessary realization of U-turns in a dead end and unnecessary access to areas with difficult access to a single customer. These are issues that a collection route planner must consider to make a good decision that considers the cost of visiting areas with difficult access and the benefits of reaching that area. In this sense, our heuristic procedure considers a set of best practices in operational and logistical strategies that could be programmed within the Network Analyst. As it is well known in the science of vehicle routing, U-turns and sub-tours in the routes travelled by vehicles increase distances and operating costs, so in our work, we propose a systematic heuristic procedure to reduce the number of U-turns performed by a municipal waste collection truck, while using the ArcGIS-Network Analyst add-on to reduce the number of sub-tours in the route under the Directed-Capacitated Arc Routing Problem approach. It is then shown how the routes improved using our conceptual heuristic procedure, which provides better quality than the original routes obtained with ArcGIS and Network Analyst. Specifically, reducing the total distances travelled by the vehicle fleet, increasing the coverage of sidewalks visited by the truck in the urban perimeter of a city, and minimizing the time used in municipal solid waste collection operations. The importance of our work lies in the fact that effective MSW management is an essential municipal service whose regulation can drive innovation, sustainability, and efficiency in the MSW sector.

This work consists of a systematised review examining recent models for agri-food supply chain management (AFSCM), focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications and sustainability integration. Through PRISMA methodology, we conducted a descriptive statistical analysis of 183 articles published between 2019 and 2023. The dimensional analysis revealed that strategic modelling represented 55% of approaches, while perishable products were considered in 58% of studies. Sustainability principles were integrated into 74% of the models, while AI applications showed a limited 14% adoption across AFSCM. The analysis of AI implementations showed distribution in agricultural production management at 27%, transportation and logistics at 8%, and sustainability planning at 19%. A novel AFSCM taxonomy was developed through systematic classification, combining quantitative bibliometric analysis, qualitative thematic analysis and expert interpretation. The results identified gaps in mixed methods approaches and tactical or operational modelling, providing a structured framework for future research directions in AI integration and sustainable practices across agri-food supply chains.

This paper presents an application of an artificial neural network model in forecasting urban water demand using MATLAB software. Considering that in any planning process, the demand forecast plays a fundamental role, being one of the premises to organize and control a set of activities or processes. The versatility of the short, medium and long-term prediction that is provided to the company that offers the water distribution service to determine the supply capacity, maintenance activities, and system improvements as a strategic planning tool. Shown to improve network performance by using time series water demand data, the model can provide excellent fit and forecast without relying on the explicit inclusion of climatic factors and number of consumers. The excellent accuracy of the model indicates the effectiveness of forecasting over different time horizons. Finally, the results obtained from the Artificial Neural Network are compared with traditional statistical models.