MultiModalRouten

MultiModalRouten is a framework and conceptual approach for planning journeys that traverse multiple transportation modes. It seeks to combine walking, cycling, public transit, ride-hailing, and other mobility services into a single itinerary, optimizing for multiple criteria such as travel time, transfers, cost, comfort, and environmental impact. The goal is to support user-centric, efficient, and adaptable trip planning in urban and regional contexts.

Data and inputs: The system integrates diverse data sources, including time-dependent transit schedules, road and path networks, real-time traffic and vehicle availability, accessibility information, and service disruptions. Data harmonization uses standard schemas and identifiers to enable cross-modality routing.

Routing and algorithms: MultiModalRouten typically employs time-expanded or time-extended graphs and multi-criteria optimization to compute Pareto-optimal itineraries. It accounts for transfer penalties, waiting times, mode changes, and user preferences. Real-time updates can adjust routes to delays, crowding, or service outages.

Architecture and implementation: The architecture is modular, comprising a data ingestion layer, a graph construction layer, a routing engine, and a presentation/API layer. Open data formats and interoperable APIs facilitate integration with consumer apps and municipal platforms.

Applications and impact: Potential uses include consumer trip planners, city mobility platforms, transit analytics, and accessibility assessments. The framework supports scenario analysis, capacity planning, and sustainability goals.

Limitations: Challenges include data quality, real-time reliability, computational complexity, privacy concerns, and the need for standardization across providers.

See also: multimodal transportation, GTFS, OpenStreetMap, time-dependent routing, multi-criteria optimization, OpenTripPlanner.