Dynamic transport services using flexible positioning of bus stations

Abstract

In these years, a dynamic transport service which is called demand-bus system by using the contemporary realtime location technologies is focused by public administrations. The most important feature of the services is on-demand processing; i.e., customers can call transport vehicles anytime and get on/off anywhere. However, in the existing circumstances, the demand-bus system is still on the developing stage. In this paper, we classify the demand-bus system into two types: semi-demand and full-demand, on the basis of bus station types. Moreover, we propose methods to solve the real-time problems, (i.e., assignment and scheduling problems), in the demand-bus system by using anticipated future routes of transport vehicles. Finally, we report simulation results and consider effectiveness and possibility of the demand-bus system in an urban area.