Route compactness
Route compactness refers to the geographic density of nodes (customers) in a single route. A compact route keeps its stops close together, so each vehicle serves one focused territory instead of criss-crossing the map. Picture a catering company with 100 orders and 5 vans: left unconstrained, the vans overlap — one drives north-to-south while another does the reverse; with compactness, each van owns a single neighbourhood (Downtown, West Suburbs, …) and stays there.