Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm

Traditional bus operations in suburban areas are inefficient due to their fixed routes and timetables. Since suburban operations deal with low demand spread in a large area, the service stays underused for most off-peak hours. In order to render the operation profitable and increase the number of pa...

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Main Authors: Fabio Sartori Vieira, Kenneth Sorensen, Pieter Vansteenwegen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi-Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Transportation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/7593649
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author Fabio Sartori Vieira
Kenneth Sorensen
Pieter Vansteenwegen
author_facet Fabio Sartori Vieira
Kenneth Sorensen
Pieter Vansteenwegen
author_sort Fabio Sartori Vieira
collection DOAJ
description Traditional bus operations in suburban areas are inefficient due to their fixed routes and timetables. Since suburban operations deal with low demand spread in a large area, the service stays underused for most off-peak hours. In order to render the operation profitable and increase the number of passengers on each bus, operators reduce the frequency of the service, which results in an increase of passenger waiting time for the service. As a solution to this problem, this paper introduces a demand-responsive public bus system that aims to adjust routes and timetables of a semiflexible system to the demand for transportation. The operation still offers a reliable service like the traditional system but aims to reduce the passenger travel time. A memetic algorithm is developed to optimize this demand-responsive system. For a network with 25 bus stops served hourly by three lines and with an average demand of 20 requests per hour, the memetic algorithm is demonstrated to reduce the passenger waiting time with almost 50% in comparison with a traditional system operating in the same network with fixed routes and timetable.
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spelling doaj.art-6f02f8224a4d4a7db2b3df8af64e3add2023-03-08T00:00:51ZengHindawi-WileyJournal of Advanced Transportation2042-31952023-01-01202310.1155/2023/7593649Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic AlgorithmFabio Sartori Vieira0Kenneth Sorensen1Pieter Vansteenwegen2KU LeuvenANT/OR University of Antwerp Operations Research GroupKU LeuvenTraditional bus operations in suburban areas are inefficient due to their fixed routes and timetables. Since suburban operations deal with low demand spread in a large area, the service stays underused for most off-peak hours. In order to render the operation profitable and increase the number of passengers on each bus, operators reduce the frequency of the service, which results in an increase of passenger waiting time for the service. As a solution to this problem, this paper introduces a demand-responsive public bus system that aims to adjust routes and timetables of a semiflexible system to the demand for transportation. The operation still offers a reliable service like the traditional system but aims to reduce the passenger travel time. A memetic algorithm is developed to optimize this demand-responsive system. For a network with 25 bus stops served hourly by three lines and with an average demand of 20 requests per hour, the memetic algorithm is demonstrated to reduce the passenger waiting time with almost 50% in comparison with a traditional system operating in the same network with fixed routes and timetable.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/7593649
spellingShingle Fabio Sartori Vieira
Kenneth Sorensen
Pieter Vansteenwegen
Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
Journal of Advanced Transportation
title Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
title_full Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
title_fullStr Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
title_short Optimization of a Semiflexible Demand-Responsive Feeder System in Suburban Areas Using a Memetic Algorithm
title_sort optimization of a semiflexible demand responsive feeder system in suburban areas using a memetic algorithm
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/7593649
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