Route Planning for Enhanced Transportation Network Utilization: A System Optimization Approach for Route Planning in Advanced Traveler Information Systems
The existing online mapping systems process many user route queries simultaneously, yet solve each independently, using typical route guidance solutions. These route recommendations are presented as optimal, but often this is not truly the case, due to the effects of competition users experience over the resulting experienced routes, a phenomenon referred to in Game Theory as a Nash Equilibrium. Additionally, route plans of this nature can result in poor utilization of the road network from a system-optimizing perspective as well. In this project, we introduce an enhanced approach for route guidance, motivated by the relevance of a system optimal equilibrium strategy, while also maintaining fairness to the individual. With this approach, the objective is to optimize global road network utilization (as measured by mobility, global emissions etc.) by selecting from a set of generally fair user route alternatives in a batch setting.
How to Cite
Banaei-Kashani, Farnoush, and Robert Fitzgerald. Route Planning for Enhanced Transportation Network Utilization: A System Optimization Approach for Route Planning in Advanced Traveler Information Systems, MPC-19-407. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2019.
Final Report 
The existing online mapping systems process many user route queries simultaneously, yet solve each independently, using typical route guidance solutions. These route recommendations are presented as optimal, but often this is not truly the case, due to the effects of competition users experience over the resulting experienced routes, a phenomenon referred to in Game Theory as a Nash Equilibrium. Additionally, route plans of this nature can result in poor utilization of the road network from a system-optimizing perspective as well. In this project, we introduce an enhanced approach for route guidance, motivated by the relevance of a system optimal equilibrium strategy, while also maintaining fairness to the individual. With this approach, the objective is to optimize global road network utilization (as measured by mobility, global emissions etc.) by selecting from a set of generally fair user route alternatives in a batch setting.