Integrating a Mode Choice Model into Agent-Based Simulation for Freight Transport Planning and Decarbonization Analysis

Abstract

This paper presents a framework for integrating a discrete mode choice model with agent-based simulation.The integrated framework provides a more realistic representation of long-haul freight transport and is applied to the real-world scenarios of moving freight from ports to inland destinations via road, rail, and inland waterways. It incorporates a mode choice component that captures demand shifts between modes in response to different policy and vehicle technology interventions. The objective is to investigate the financial and environmental impacts of introducing new vehicle technologies and associated energy sources under different future scenarios in a UK multimodal freight system.