Simulation for Passengers Convenience Using Actual Bus Traffic Data

Abstract

Public transport bus service is an important means of transportation for commuting, schooling and daily life. However, many unpredictable problems arise, resulting in delays caused by traffic congestion or an increased number of passengers. Changing the operation schedule may alleviate these problems; however, determining the optimal schedule change requires an iterative process of trial and error. As the number and diversity of changes increase, it becomes necessary to notify users many times, which places a heavy burden on both users and bus operators. In addition, it is difficult to evaluate what kind of schedule is best for passengers and bus operators. Therefore, in this study, we propose a framework for simulating and analyzing various driving situations. We define a “dissatisfaction degree” based on factors related to the convenience of passengers, such as the waiting time or the congestion rate, from simulations based on actual bus traffic data. Then, we measure and evaluate the dissatisfaction degree when the driving situation changes quantitatively. Additionally, we develop a tool to confirm how operations change based on the conditions of the simulation, such as the number of buses or passengers.