Comparing the performance of demand responsive and schedule-based feeder services of mass rapid transit: an agent-based simulation approach

Fixed-Route vs. Demand-Responsive Transport Feeder Services: An Exploratory Study Using an Agent-Based Model

“…In this article, we present an ABM, intending to integrate the benefits of the two methods: the model uses the simulation approach but on an ideal parameterizable environment so that the results are as scalable as possible. Based on [18,23], the new ABM goes beyond a pure analytic model by proposing realistic and real-time dispatching algorithms, but without being tied to a specific simulation network neither to a particular case study, so its results are easily adaptable to other contexts using the main experimental parameters.…”

“…Every time a new trip request i (consisting of a user or group of users) occurs, the optimal matching between the demand (users group requesting the trip) and the supply (vehicle fleet) is carried out by the dispatching algorithm (Figure 5). As in [23], our algorithm follows an insertion heuristic approach (An insertion heuristic approach is adopted because it is widely used in practice to solve transportation scheduling problems, as it often provides very good solutions compared to optimality, it is computationally fast, and it can easily handle complicating constraints [20]. ), involving three levels of exploration of the feasible solutions:…”

“…Based on these premises, this article aims at proposing the use of an agent-based model (ABM) to explore the performances of DRT in comparison with a fixed-route service as a feeder to mass transit. e authors began to address this issue in Calabrò et al [23] by presenting and applying a new ABM to simulate adaptive flexible/fixed feeder services in a low-demand urban area in Catania (Italy). In this article, we upgrade the model also to verify current analytical models that aim at distinguishing DRT from fixed services [18].…”