scholarly journals Public Transportation Network Design and Frequency Setting: Pareto Optimality through Alternating-Objective Genetic Algorithms

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-267
Author(s):  
Theocharis Vlachopanagiotis ◽  
Konstandinos Grizos ◽  
Georgios Georgiadis ◽  
Ioannis Politis

The transportation network design and frequency setting problem concerns the optimization of transportation systems comprising fleets of vehicles serving a set amount of passengers on a predetermined network (e.g., public transport systems). It has been a persistent focus of the transportation planning community while, its NP-hard nature continues to present obstacles in designing efficient, all-encompassing solutions. In this paper, we present a new approach based on an alternating-objective genetic algorithm that aims to find Pareto optimality between user and operator costs. Extensive computational experiments are performed on Mandl’s benchmark test and prove that the results generated by our algorithm are 5–6% improved in comparison to previously published results for Pareto optimality objectives both in regard to user and operator costs. At the same time, the methods presented are computationally inexpensive and easily run on office equipment, thus minimizing the need for expensive server infrastructure and costs. Additionally, we identify a wide variance in the way that similar computational results are reported and, propose a novel way of reporting benchmark results that facilitates comparisons between methods and enables a taxonomy of heuristic approaches to be created. Thus, this paper aims to provide an efficient, easily applicable method for finding Pareto optimality in transportation networks while highlighting specific limitations of existing research both in regards to the methods used and the way they are communicated.

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1501
Author(s):  
Juan Ruiz-Rosero ◽  
Gustavo Ramirez-Gonzalez ◽  
Rahul Khanna

There is a large number of tools for the simulation of traffic and routes in public transport systems. These use different simulation models (macroscopic, microscopic, and mesoscopic). Unfortunately, these simulation tools are limited when simulating a complete public transport system, which includes all its buses and routes (up to 270 for the London Underground). The processing times for these type of simulations increase in an unmanageable way since all the relevant variables that are required to simulate consistently and reliably the system behavior must be included. In this paper, we present a new simulation model for public transport routes’ simulation called Masivo. It runs the public transport stops’ operations in OpenCL work items concurrently, using a multi-core high performance platform. The performance results of Masivo show a speed-up factor of 10.2 compared with the simulator model running with one compute unit and a speed-up factor of 278 times faster than the validation simulator. The real-time factor achieved was 3050 times faster than the 10 h simulated duration, for a public transport system of 300 stops, 2400 buses, and 456,997 passengers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 308 ◽  
pp. 01005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinasa Sueyoshi ◽  
Hideya Takagi ◽  
Yoshihiro Yasutake ◽  
Kentaro Inenaga

Public transportation is becoming increasingly important in regions where the residential population is decreasing. In Japan, many regional transportation systems are experiencing financial challenges. It is difficult for fixed-route transportation systems to operate at a surplus when serving only local resident users. We consider one of the problems of these regional public transport systems to be the lack of information on the Internet about regional public transportation routes. For people who are unfamiliar with the region, such as inbound tourists, there is no easy way to conduct a route search. In this paper, we describe our efforts to build a fundamental database of the regional public transportation provided by municipalities and to publish this data for those conducting route searches on the Internet. Specifically, we converted fundamental data regarding regional public transportation to the feed of the General Transit Feed Specification-Japan (GTFS-JP), which is based on the Google GTFS, as formulated by the Ministry of Land in Japan. Then we encouraged municipalities to publish these transit data to enable route searches on Google Maps and other domestic-content providers.


Author(s):  
Kenneth Perrine ◽  
Alireza Khani ◽  
Natalia Ruiz-Juri

Generalized Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) files have gained wide acceptance by transit agencies, which now provide them for most major metropolitan areas. The public availability GTFSs combined with the convenience of presenting a standard data representation has promoted the development of numerous applications for their use. Whereas most of these tools are focused on the analysis and utilization of public transportation systems, GTFS data sets are also extremely relevant for the development of multimodal planning models. The use of GTFS data for integrated modeling requires creating a graph of the public transportation network that is consistent with the roadway network. The former is not trivial, given limitations of networks often used for regional planning models and the complexity of the roadway system. A proposed open-source algorithm matches GTFS geographic information to existing planning networks and is also relevant for real-time in-field applications. The methodology is based on maintaining a set of candidate paths connecting successive geographic points. Examples of implementations using traditional planning networks and a network built from crowdsourced OpenStreetMap data are presented. The versatility of the methodology is also demonstrated by using it for matching GPS points from a navigation system. Experimental results suggest that this approach is highly successful even when the underlying roadway network is not complete. The proposed methodology is a promising step toward using novel and inexpensive data sources to facilitate and eventually transform the way that transportation models are built and validated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trynos Gumbo ◽  
Thembani Moyo

There have been growing concerns with regards to the state public transportation systems, particularly in the cities of developing countries. Chief among these concerns has been the lack of well-coordinated, efficient, and reliable transportation systems. The city of Johannesburg, just like any other fast-growing municipality in developing and emerging economies, has not been spared with regards to incessant public transport challenges. Consequently, there have been collective efforts from both public and private stakeholders to invest immensely in both innovative rail and road transport systems in the past decade. This article sought to achieve twin objectives. First, the work identified the state of connectivity between the rapid rail transportation and rapid bus transit systems based on Geoweb 2.0 data. Second, the work visualized the level of connectivity between these two modes to develop and formulate policy frameworks in integrating public transit systems in cities of the developing world, learning from the metropolitan city of Johannesburg. A mixed-method approach consisting of spatial and quantitative aspects was used to examine the state of connectedness and the promotion of access and mobility between the two modes. The local Moran’s I index was used to compute node clusters within the public transport system. Results from the analysis demonstrated that both high-clusters and low-clusters exist in the public transportation network, which have a high degree of centrality. It was revealed that commuters navigate from these nodes/stops with relative ease due to the short walking radius. However, the work revealed that most rail networks and bus routes, as well as the stations and bus stops, are not connected and are not significant in the local Moran’s I index, thus, making it difficult for commuters to conveniently move from the Gautrain to the Rea Vaya bus. There are, therefore, gaps with regards to the sharing of infrastructure between the two public transport modes and systems.


Author(s):  
Gerhard Grundnig ◽  
Christian Pucher

Wheel detection and axle counting systems provide the basic information for track vacancy detection, for controlling level crossing systems and a range of switching tasks or trigger functions. This technology is established throughout the world for standard gauge railways and is increasingly replacing track circuits. The requirements and the framework conditions in rail-based public transportation systems do, however, differ significantly from those in the standard-gauge railway and long distance track sectors. Nevertheless, in this segment too there is a clear trend towards wheel detection and axle counting systems. New lines and projects are increasingly being equipped with modern axle counting systems due to the benefits in terms of functionality and operating costs. Nowadays even in railed public transport systems, there is a clear move from track circuit systems to wheel detection and axle counting technology.


Author(s):  
Maria Morfoulaki ◽  
Yannis Tyrinopoulos ◽  
Georgia Aifadopoulou

This paper addresses quality considerations in public transportation systems and, in particular, the relation between quality of public transport service and customer satisfaction. Its aim is to provide insights into the factors that affect transit-rider satisfaction and to present a model to calculate the probability of customer satisfaction. The proposed model identifies the most important attributes of public transport service quality that can be used for service planning.


Author(s):  
Bhat Omair Bashir

Cable-propelled transit’ (CPT), in particular detachable aerial ropeways are widely employed as transportation systems in alpine areas. In recent years, these transport systems have also been increasingly used in urban areas and are no longer a niche public transportation technology (Hoffmann 2006, Alshalalfah, Shalaby, and Dale 2014). Cable cars systems compete with performance characteristics of other more common urban transport technologies and have the potential to enhance the existing transport provision in cities (O'Connor and Dale 2011). While many applications can be found as transportation systems in airport facilities, and to provide access to tourist attractions, several metropolitan areas have even incorporated gondolas and aerial tramways into their public transport networks. This paper focuses on aerial ropeway systems that operate as a mass transit service (similar to buses, BRT, LRT, etc.) and are part of the public transit systems in their respective cities. Therefore, the analysis and case studies presented in the paper concern systems that are used as a public transit service


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Guo ◽  
Yusak Susilo ◽  
Constantinos Antoniou ◽  
Anna Pernestål Brenden

The rapid development of automated buses holds great potential for the development of transportation systems. As research into innovative forms of automated transportation systems gains momentum, it is important to understand the public’s perceptions of such public transport systems. Previous studies have contributed based on hypothetical scenarios, but not based on real observations. Based on an online survey in Stockholm in March 2019, the current research addresses this gap by investigating the public’s perceptions from a real, fully operational, automated public transportation service operated in a mixed traffic environment on public roads. The respondents were selected along the automated bus line in Barkabystaden, Stockholm. Our findings indicate that (1) The presence of onboard operators has a positive impact on respondents’ perceived safety, (2) People who have not taken automated buses before have a more negative perception of driving speed of the bus service than people who have taken the buses before, (3) Attitudinal factors, such as public perceptions of safety, driving speed, reliability, and convenience, have a significant influence on the acceptance of the new bus system, (4) As an emerging and innovative transportation mode, automated buses are expected to attract a high share of regular public transportation mode users and the younger generations in the future, (5) Social-demographic characteristics such as gender and income had no significant impacts on the adoption of the new technology. The results provide the characteristics of early bus adopters and their travel behavior and help to prioritize possible investments and allow the policymakers and private industries to identify the special needs of users.


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