Choice set generation in multi-modal transportation networks

Choice set generation in multi-modal transportation networks

Fiorenzo-Catalano, M.S.

Bovy, P.H.L. (promotor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

2007-06-05

Multi-modal transport relates to trips for which travellers use two or more transport modes, for example bicycle and train, train and bus, or private car and metro. The main theme in this dissertation is to establish a choice set generation model and algorithm, and demonstrate its validity and feasibility for demand prediction purposes. Choice set generation in the case of multi-modal trips exhibiting multiple-choice dimensions (such as transport modes, transfer nodes, public transport service types, and routes) is represented jointly as a case of route choice in a multi-modal network for predicting flows in the multi-modal network. A newly developed route choice set generation algorithm, the so-called doubly stochastic approach applicable to uni-modal and especially multi-modal networks, has been presented. In this approach not only the link attributes but also the preference (or behavioural) parameters of the cost function are randomized, since especially in a multi-modal context, variations in transport modes and in multi-modal combinations are desirable in the generated choice sets. This doubly stochastic method has been tested with respect to its empirical and probabilistic properties, and applied to various networks, in particular to a multi-modal network. The main conclusion of this study is that the various analyses performed with the doubly stochastic choice set generation approach show that the resulting choice sets have an adequate variety of uni-modal and multi-modal route alternatives, and match the desired properties in terms of choice set size (minimum and maximum size) and composition (variety in trip properties). The face validity (plausibility of generated alternatives) and empirical validity (conformity with observations) are very high.

choice set
route set generation
multi-modal network

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ef3b9c22-b979-4f46-9b02-110c82d67535

TRAIL

978-90-5584-087-8

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2007 M.S. Fiorenzo-Catalano