Can Route Optimization Enhance the Travel Efficiency of Social Work Faculty Field Liaisons?

Abstract

Abstract Social work field education comprises a field seminar and an agency field practicum under the supervision of field instructors. Field students and instructors are guided and supported by field faculty liaisons during their field practicum experience. This study used a GIS-supported route optimization/VRP tool to simulate the most cost-efficient way for field liaisons to visit field students and instructors at field practicum sites. The study showed that cumulative travel efficiency improved substantially when the VRP tool allocated field students to field liaisons and preplanned their field visit routes. The simulations revealed that approximately one-quarter of the current practicum site visits were redundant and that only approximately half of the time and distance liaisons currently travel was necessary. Social work programs should consider using route optimization tools to allocate their field students to field liaisons to take advantage of their benefits. Social work programs interested in route optimization can use open-source routing and navigation software applications that can be installed and used for free. They may also collaborate with and access the expertise and resources of academic departments at their universities and colleges that use GIS as part of their curriculum.