Simulation Model for Evaluating Intelligent Paratransit Systems

Abstract

The latest advances in information technology, such as automatic vehicle location, digital telecommunications, and computers, have renewed interest among public transit agencies in applying these technologies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of their paratransit systems. This interest has also induced a need for relevant methodologies and tools that can help address some fundamental questions on the cost-effectiveness of these technologies. This type of evaluation has mostly relied on field studies that usually require a significant expenditure and are conditioned to limited operating environments. A simulation system is presented that has been developed to model a variety of technology-oriented dial-a-ride paratransit systems, offering a way to complement or replace the field evaluation method. The general concepts and models applied in the simulation system are discussed, focusing on how various components are modeled and how they interact with each other in the overall simulation framework. The simulation system is applied to evaluate the effects of trip cancellation on the operational performance of a partly synthetic paratransit system, with the goal of quantifying the potential benefits that may be attained by accepting real-time demand trips.

Stepwise multi‐criteria and multi‐strategy design of public transit shuttles

“…Their studies present a simulation model, Sim-Paratransit, which was developed for evaluating advanced paratransit systems, such as AVL (automatic vehicle location) and CAD (computer-aided dispatch) systems. The simulation model is described by Fu (1999Fu ( , 2001, and the evaluation of AVL and CAD systems by Fu and Xu (2001). The ability to track the location of a transit vehicle continuously allows for the introduction of intelligent paratransit systems, which will naturally lead to operating such systems at a significantly improved level of productivity and reliability.…”

“…These rules and algorithms, developed for mainframe computers, have limitations in their handling of large-size road networks with different routing strategies. The second wave of research was conducted by Fu (1999Fu ( , 2001 and Fu and Xu (2001), who considered the use of advanced technologies. Their studies present a simulation Fu (1999Fu ( , 2001, and the evaluation of AVL and CAD systems by Fu and Xu (2001).…”

Smart Feeder/Shuttle Bus Service: Consumer Research and Design

“…These studies were developed for mainframe computers and have limitations in handling large-size road networks with different routing strategies. The second research type, by Fu (2001) and his team, considered the use of advanced technologies. Their studies use a simulation model, Sim-Paratransit, which was developed to evaluate advanced paratransit systems with AVL (automatic vehicle location) and CAD (computer-aided dispatch) systems.…”

“…Their studies use a simulation model, Sim-Paratransit, which was developed to evaluate advanced paratransit systems with AVL (automatic vehicle location) and CAD (computer-aided dispatch) systems. The ability to track continuously a transit vehicle's location enables the use of intelligent paratransit systems that contribute to the operation of the paratransit systems at a significantly improved level of productivity and reliability (Fu 2001 The potential application of ATIS technologies to the bus transit service is significant, yet ATIS research in the transit area has lagged behind driver-oriented ATIS studies. Many transportation policy-makers and practitioners believe that transit users can benefit from getting real-time bus or shuttle information.…”

Untitled

“…Their studies use a simulation model, Sim-Paratransit, which was developed to evaluate advanced paratransit systems with AVL (automatic vehicle location) and CAD (computer-aided dispatch) systems. The ability to track continuously a transit vehicle's location enables the use of intelligent paratransit systems that contribute to the operation of the paratransit systems at a significantly improved level of productivity and reliability (Fu 2001). …”