TRIP DISTRIBUTION MODELLING USING FUZZY LOGIC AND A GENETIC ALGORITHM

This article examines possibilities for the application of soft computing techniques for the prediction of travel demand. The model, based on fuzzy logic and a genetic algorithm, successfully solves the trip distribution problem. The possibilities of using the proposed model in solving trip generation, modal split and route choice problems have also been indicated. The model has been tested on a real numerical example. Exceptionally good correspondences between estimated and real values of passenger flows have been obtained.     

Link travel time inference using entry/exit information of trips on a network

This paper studies link travel time estimation using entry/exit time stamps of trips on a steady-state transportation network. We propose two inference methods based on the likelihood principle, assuming each link associates with a random travel time. The first method considers independent and Gaussian distributed link travel times, using the additive property that trip time has a closed-form distribution as the summation of link travel times. We particularly analyze the mean estimates when the variances of trip time estimates are known with a high degree of precision and examine the uniqueness of solutions. Two cases are discussed in detail: one with known paths of all trips and the other with unknown paths of some trips. We apply the Gaussian mixture model and the Expectation–Maximization (EM) algorithm to deal with the latter. The second method splits trip time proportionally among links traversed to deal with more general link travel time distributions such as log-normal. This approach builds upon an expected log-likelihood function which naturally leads to an iterative procedure analogous to the EM algorithm for solutions. Simulation tests on a simple nine-link network and on the Sioux Falls network respectively indicate that the two methods both perform well. The second method (i.e., trip splitting approximation) generally runs faster but with larger errors of estimated standard deviations of link travel times.     

Real-time trip purpose prediction using online location-based search and discovery services

The use of smartphone technology is increasingly considered a state-of-the-art practice in travel data collection. Researchers have investigated various methods to automatically predict trip characteristics based upon locational and other smartphone sensing data. Of the trip characteristics being studied, trip purpose prediction has received relatively less attention. This research develops trip purpose prediction models based upon online location-based search and discovery services (specifically, Google Places API) and a limited set of trip data that are usually available upon the completion of the trip. The models have the potential to be integrated with smartphone technology to produce real-time trip purpose prediction. We use a recent, large-scale travel behavior survey that is augmented by downloaded Google Places information on each trip destination to develop and validate the models. Two statistical and machine learning prediction approaches are used, including nested logit and random forest methods. Both sets of models show that Google Places information is a useful predictor of trip purpose in situations where activity- and person-related information is uncollectable, missing, or unreliable. Even when activity- and person-related information is available, incorporating Google Places information provides incremental improvements in trip purpose prediction.     

On the use of mathematical programming in the evaluation of transport policies

This paper focuses on the evaluation processes by which decisions regarding transportation alternatives can be assisted. A multidimensional approach usually called multiple criteria decision making is required to represent the complexity of transportation policy and systems.

The multiple criteria decision making techniques can be divided into two groups. The first is based on a ranking scheme approach and the second on a mathematical programming approach.

A multiple objective mathematical programming procedure known as Goal Programming is presented. The authors examined the use of that procedure in real transportation problems.

The results suggest that multiple objective mathematical programming techniques in general do not appear to be appropriate in transportation policy analysis involving mutually exclusive alternatives. Their use can be limited to special cases in the private sector.     

列车运行与优化系统的设计

随着世界能源消耗的逐年增长,燃油的节省技术越来越受到重视。本文就GE公司运输系统集团的新一代节油产品列车运行与优化系统设计展开讨论,针对软件模块功能进行介绍,也汇总了在全球应用的现状,最后展望了在中国应用的未来。     

一种基于GPS和IC卡数据的城市公交出行分布推算方法

城市公交规划、管理工作迫切需要信息化技术给予定量的决策数据支持.公交出行分布数据通常基于居民出行调查获得,然而因其调查代价巨大不能作为常态化调查手段.短期的公交线网调整工作更依赖于现状的公交出行分布需求,本文由此提出了一种利用公交GPS和IC卡(含老年卡)数据推算现状公交出行分布的实用方法.当前在大城市常住人口使用IC卡作为公交支付手段已得到相当普及,采用基于车载GPS和乘客IC卡记录能够推断得到全日公交OD数据并用于公交出行量回归模型的标定.模型检验通过后,可结合人口数据和就业岗位资料用标定模型计算以投币作为主要付费方式的流动人口公交OD;叠加两部分OD得到完整的城市公交出行分布结果.该模型的有效性通过2010年郑州市综合交通调查实践得以验证,对其它城市具有借鉴意义.     

A bi-objective cyclist route choice model

It is widely acknowledged that cyclists choose their route differently to drivers of private vehicles. The route choice decision of commuter drivers is often modelled with one objective, to reduce their generalised travel cost, which is a monetary value representing the combined travel time and vehicle operating cost. Commuter cyclists, on the other hand, usually have multiple incommensurable objectives when choosing their route: the travel time and the suitability of a route. By suitability we mean non-subjective factors that characterise the suitability of a route for cycling, including safety, traffic volumes, traffic speeds, presence of bicycle lanes, whether the terrain is flat or hilly, etc. While these incommensurable objectives are difficult to be combined into a single objective, it is also important to take into account that each individual cyclist may prioritise differently between travel time and suitability when they choose a route.This paper proposes a novel model to determine the route choice set of commuter cyclists by formulating a bi-objective routing problem. The two objectives considered are travel time and suitability of a route for cycling. Rather than determining a single route for a cyclist, we determine a choice set of optimal alternative routes (efficient routes) from which a cyclist may select one according to their personal preference depending on their perception of travel time versus other route choice criteria considered in the suitability index. This method is then implemented in a case study in Auckland, New Zealand.The study provides a starting point for the trip assignment of cyclists, and with further research, the bi-objective routing model developed can be applied to create a complete travel demand forecast model for cycle trips. We also suggest the application of the developed methodology as an algorithm in an interactive route finder to suggest efficient route choices at different levels of suitability to cyclists and potential cyclists.     

基于出行链的OD扩样方法研究

现状OD出行矩阵是分析城市居民现状出行特征的基础,也是未来出行分布模型标定的基础．本文借鉴出行链的理论研究成果,按照出行链的主要个体影响因素对不同属性的抽样数据分别进行扩样,在一定程度上消除了传统扩样方法的弊端,也提高了扩样过程的可理解性．同时,为保证该扩样方法具有可实施性,文中提出了构建城市街道的GIs平台、改进抽样方法、构建扩样系统和统一调研时间等四项措施,旨在进一步增加不同样本类别间抽样率的差别,提高扩样结果的质量．文章结尾进一步说明该方法在运用过程中需要同时注重出行链成果的更新和相应数据库的建立．     

城市居民个人属性与出行方式链相关性分析

首先引出基于活动理论的出行需求预测方法,将活动—出行理论和传统的出行方式相结合,提出出行方式链的概念,并明确出行方式链的两大特性:一致性和转换性;然后阐述城市居民个人属性与出行方式链相关性分析方法,并以2006年4月上虞市的居民出行调查数据为基础,对城市居民个人属性与出行方式链之间的相关性进行实例分析;最后,说明个人属性对出行方式链的选择起着至关重要的作用。     

Embedding risk attitude and decision weights in non-linear logit to accommodate time variability in the value of expected travel time savings

In recent years we have seen important extensions of logit models in behavioural research such as incorporation of preference and scale heterogeneity, attribute processing heuristics, and estimation of willingness to pay (WTP) in WTP space. With rare exception, however, a non-linear treatment of the parameter set to allow for behavioural reality, such as embedded risk attitude and perceptual conditioning of occurrence probabilities attached to specific attributes, is absent. This is especially relevant to the recent focus in travel behaviour research on identifying the willingness to pay for reduced travel time variability, which is the source of estimates of the value of trip reliability that has been shown to take on an increasingly important role in project appraisal. This paper incorporates, in a generalised non-linear (in parameters) logit model, alternative functional forms for perceptual conditioning (known as probability weighting) and risk attitude in the utility function to account for travel time variability, and then derives an empirical estimate of the willingness to pay for trip time variability-embedded travel time savings as an alternative to separate estimates of time savings and trip time reliability. We illustrate the richness of the approach using a stated choice data set for commuter choice between unlabelled attribute packages. Statistically significant risk attitude parameters and parameters underlying decision weights are estimated for multinomial logit and mixed multinomial logit models, along with values of expected travel time savings.