This paper considers vehicle dispatching for a flexible transit system providing doorstep services from a terminal. The problem is tackled with an easy-to-implement threshold policy, where an available vehicle is dispatched when the number of boarded passengers reaches or exceeds a certain threshold. A simulation-based approach is applied to find the threshold that minimizes the expected system-wide cost. Results show that the optimal threshold is a function of demand, which is commonly stochastic and time-varying. Consequently, the dispatching threshold should be adjusted for different times of the day. In addition, the simulation-based approach is used to simultaneously adjust dispatching threshold and fleet size. The proposed approach is the first work to analyse threshold dispatching policy. It could be used to help improve efficiency of flexible transit systems, and thereby make this sustainable travel mode more economical and appealing to users.
Stein DM. Scheduling dial-a-ride transportation systems. Transportation Science. 1978;12(3): 232-249.
Daganzo CF. The distance traveled to visit N points with a maximum of C stops per vehicle: An analytic model and an application. Transportation Science. 1984;18(4): 331-350.
Diana M, Dessouky MM, Xia N. A model for the fleet sizing of demand responsive transportation services with time windows. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2006;40(8): 651-666.
Fu L. A simulation model for evaluating advanced diala-ride paratransit systems. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 2002;36(4): 291-307.
Shinoda K, Noda I, Ohta M, Kumada Y, Nakashima H. Is dial-a-ride bus reasonable in large scale towns? Evaluation of usability of dial-a-ride systems by simulation. In: Kurumatani K, Chen SH, Ohuchi A. (eds) Multi-Agent for Mass User Support. MAMUS 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3012. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2004. p. 105-119.
Quadrifoglio L, Dessouky MM, Ordóñez F. A simulation study of demand responsive transit system design. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 2008;42(4): 718-737.
Fu L. Analytical model for paratransit capacity and quality-of-service analysis. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2003;1841: 81-89.
Marković N, Milinković S, Schonfeld P, Drobnjak Z. Planning dial-a-ride services: Statistical and meta-modeling approach. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2013;2352: 120-127.
Marković N, Kim ME, Schonfeld P. Statistical and machine learning approach for planning dial-a-ride systems. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 2016;89: 41-55.
Jaw J-J, Odoni AR, Psaraftis HN, Wilson NHM. A heuristic algorithm for the multi-vehicle advance request dial-a-ride problem with time windows. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 1986;20(3): 243-257.
Toth P, Vigo D. Heuristic algorithms for the handicapped persons transportation problem. Transportation Science. 1997;31(1): 60-71.
Cordeau J-F. A branch-and-cut algorithm for the dial-aride problem. Operations Research. 2006;54(3): 573-586.
Teodorović D, Radivojević G. A fuzzy logic approach to dynamic dial-a-ride problem. Fuzzy sets and systems. 2000;116(1): 23-33.
Attanasio A, Cordeau J-F, Ghiani G, Laporte G. Parallel tabu search heuristics for the dynamic multi-vehicle dial-a-ride problem. Parallel Computing. 2004;30(3): 377-387.
Coslovich L, Pesenti R, Ukovich W. A two-phase insertion technique of unexpected customers for a dynamic dial-a-ride problem. European Journal of Operational Research. 2006;175(3): 1605-1615.
Stein DM. An asymptotic, probabilistic analysis of a routing problem. Mathematics of Operations Research. 1978;3(2): 89-101.
Daganzo CF. The length of tours in zones of different shapes. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 1984;18(2): 135-145.
Chang SK, Schonfeld PM. Optimization models for comparing conventional and subscription bus feeder services. Transportation Science. 1991;25(4): 281-298.
Kim M, Schonfeld P. Conventional, flexible, and variable-type bus services. Journal of Transportation Engineering. 2012;138(3): 263-273.
Kim ME, Schonfeld P. Integrating bus services with mixed fleets. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2013;55: 227-244.
Kim ME, Schonfeld P. Integration of conventional and flexible bus services with timed transfers. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2014;68): 76-97.
Quadrifoglio L, Li X. A methodology to derive the critical demand density for designing and operating feeder transit services. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2009;43(10): 922-935.
Li X, Quadrifoglio L. Optimal zone design for feeder transit services. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2009;2111: 100-108.
Li X, Quadrifoglio L. 2-vehicle zone optimal design for feeder transit services. Public Transport. 2011;3(1): 89-104.
Chandra S, Quadrifoglio L. A model for estimating the optimal cycle length of demand responsive feeder transit services. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2013;51: 1-16.
Jung J, Jayakrishnan R, Choi K. Dually sustainable urban mobility option: Shared-taxi operations with electric vehicles. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. 2017;11(8): 567-581.
Wang X, González JA. Assessing feasibility of electric buses in small and medium-sized communities. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. 2013;7(6): 431-448.
Földes D, Csiszár C. Model of information system for combined ride-sourcing service. In: 2017 Smart City Symposium Prague (SCSP), 25-26 May 2017, Prague, Czech Republic. IEEE; 2017. p. 1-6.
Atasoy B, Ikeda T, Song X, Ben-Akiva ME. The concept and impact analysis of a flexible mobility on demand system. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 2015;56: 373-392.
Ho SC, Szeto WY, Kuo Y, Leung J, Petering M, Tou T. A survey of dial-a-ride problems: Literature review and recent developments. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2018;111(C): 395-421.
Kay MG. Matlog: logistics engineering MATLAB toolbox; 2013.
Marković N, Nair R, Schonfeld P, Miller-Hooks E, Mohebbi M. Optimizing dial-a-ride services in Maryland: Benefits of computerized routing and scheduling. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 2015;55: 156-165.
Pepyne DL, Cassandras CG. Optimal dispatching control for elevator systems during uppeak traffic. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology. 1997;5(6): 629-643.
Guest Editor: Eleonora Papadimitriou, PhD
Editors: Dario Babić, PhD; Marko Matulin, PhD; Marko Ševrović, PhD.
The mission of our journal is to provide high quality communication of research results, which is crucial for the effectiveness of scientific research, the promotion of scientific information, new ideas, and original research in the field of traffic and transportation engineering.
1848-4069
0353-5320
Proud publisher
Accelerating Discoveries in Traffic Science |
2024 © Promet - Traffic&Transportation journal
