Modelling Intelligent Multi-Modal Transit Systems

The growing mobility needs of travellers have led the development of increasingly complex and integrated multi-modal transit networks. Hence, transport agencies and transit operators are now more urgently required to assist in the challenging task of effectively and efficiently planning, managing and governing transit networks. A pre-condition for the development of an effective intelligent multi-modal transit system is the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) tools that will support the needs of transit operators and travellers. To achieve this, reliable real-time simulation and short-term forecasting of passenger demand and service network conditions are required to provide both real-time traveller information and also successfully synchronised transit service planning and operations control.

Recent developments in information technology and telematics have enabled a large amount of data to become available, thus further attracting transport researchers to set up new models outside the context of the traditional data-driven approach. The alternative demand-supply interaction or network assignment modelling approach has improved greatly in recent years, and has a crucial role to play in this new context.

One of the key objectives of this work is to introduce the current trends in this newly emerging area. The book will be of interest to urban planners, public transport agency technicians, Decision Support System (DSS) tool developers, students and researchers.