NEtworK Optimization for CarSharing Integration into a Multimodal TRANSportation System (EkoCS-Trans)

Important results from the project

The goal was to research conditions that allow an increased availability and usage of the environmentally friendly transportation mode carsharing (CS) in Sweden as part of a multimodal transportation system. We aimed to develop a decision support tool for a CS-network design, as planned, this consists of two integrated parts (which we iterate): - Integration of the transport mode CS into an existing model for Stockholm of the multi-agent simulation MATSim - Development of an optimization framework for the CS system design Moreover, we compared different system designs for CS.

Expected long term effects

We combined a service-sensitive simulation for demand (re-) estimation and a demand-sensitive optimization for service (re-) design in an iterative process. This joint approach allows us to both create an attractive supply and to estimate the impact of a specific system on the transportation system. Our approach allows us to improve a system in an existing setting and we even see potential to generalise this approach, e.g., for mobility hubs instead of CS stations. Moreover, we evaluated different system designs (one-way, round trip, mixed) for the operation of a single CS company.

Approach and implementation

The project was initially planned and executed as a PhD project, however, we lost the PhD student who was planned for a majority of the work after about 2/3 of the project´s runtime. With the help of research engineers and senior researchers at both involved research institutes, we completed the aspired implementation steps because of the experience of those involved and as the cooperation between the simulation and optimization experts worked well. Both men and women were included in the project. Reference group meetings with a CSO and Stockholm city gave us valuable feedback.

External links

Link to publications within the project