Optimising Techniques in Activities-Transport Models

Abstract

Thirty years ago, the possibility of building a mathematical model to represent a city or a region was at an experimental stage in just a few research centres. Today, after perhaps thousands of applications world-wide, it is a fairly common practice, and the field has had a significant effect on planning. Urban models are used to assess the effects of policies and investment proposals of a wide variety. After years of research, development and applications, urban models are becoming increasingly available and, of course, better and easier to use. The wide availability computer power and the emergence of low cost geographical information systems are only two elements that are going to increase the importance of urban models in the future even further. Also the range of applications will become wider than what it is today.