Threshold value estimation of journey-distance using generalized polynomial function

Abstract

The present work demonstrates an experience in estimating the threshold value of journey distances travelled by transit passengers using generalized polynomial function. The threshold value of journey distances may be defined as that distance beyond which passengers might no more be interested to travel by their reported mode. A knowledge on this threshold value is realized to be useful to limit the upper-most slab of transit fare, while preparing of a length-based fare matrix table. Theoretically, the threshold value can be obtained at that point on the cumulative frequency distribution (CFD) curve of journey distances at which the maximum rate of change of the slope of curve occurs. In this work, the CFD curve of the journey distance values is empirically modelled using Newton’s Polynomial Interpolation method, which helps to overcome various challenges usually encountered while an assumption of a theoretical probability distribution is considered a priori for the CFD.