Carpooling Simulation Model for Dublin Transportation

Abstract
Carpooling is one of the emerging method people are using to reduce the cost and time of
commuting (Carroll, P., Caulfield, B. and Ahern, A., 2017). The technique is eco-friendly and
sustainable in terms of time saved, cost, resource use and traffic congestion (Shahram Tahmasseby,
Lina Kattan & Brian Barbour, 2015). Carpooling involves car-sharing between people going to
similar or different destinations in a particular direction. The process of carpooling starts with the
motive for car-sharing, communication of purpose between various agents, negotiation, and
feedback. The reasons for carpooling may be time-saving, convenience, cost of resources, and other
constraints.
The paper will focus on the simulation model of carpooling with the Janus multi-agent platform.
Essentially, it will simulate carpooling where one agent travelling from point A to B so will put a
request in the model which is also accessible by another person moving in the same direction who
will pool the same car. The model will tell how much time each of the agents takes to reach their
destinations assuming in the same direction. Therefore, the model can be used to compare the time
and cost taken by bus and car to travel the same route. The aim is to find an alternative to reduce
travel time in Dublin, mainly focusing on how carpooling if introduced, will help in achieving this.

Chapter 1
Introduction

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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Context
This research project is about exploring alternatives that could potentially reduce the travel time
users spend on public transport in Dublin. Independently of the demand for a particular route. In a
sense, the research project is about exploring alternative transportation options for Dublin, such as
carpooling; and understanding its potential impact via agent-based model experiments.
The public bus service follows strict timetable and other than being occasionally late it follows same
imposed rules, like for example bus 120 follows the route from Parnell Street to Ashtown and vice
versa starting from 6 a.m. with next bus at half an hour intervals and after 5 p.m the duration of next
bus increases to 45 to 50 minutes. With increasing use of technology, the public transport system
improved; however, its users still face many issues in travelling around; such as Real time passenger
information has been implemented, but the awareness and usage of this system differs from age
groups as per the finding mentioned in the case study of Dublin (Bryan Sweeney, Ba GPEP, 2012).
Even after the implementation of Real Time Information of the bus timings, there has been no
significant difference in the travel time that people experience (Bryan Sweeney, Ba GPEP, 2012). If
one misses the bus and has to be somewhere urgently the only current option is a taxi, and that is not
an affordable option to many, particularly if this need is presented with a certain regularity (e.g. daily
or occasional commute).
There are many routes in Dublin which are not connected by bus services or the frequency of buses
is just not good enough to meet the demand of the consumers, for example, if one has to travel from

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Clontarf to Blanchardstown, they will spend almost 1 and half hour by bus whereas the drive is just
20 minutes.
Figure 1: Clontarf to Blanchardstown by bus and by car travel time (GoogleMaps,
2005)
This is because there is no direct bus from Clontarf to Blanchardstown.
Another such example can be from Ashtown to Fairview.

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Figure 1: Ashtown to Fairview by bus and by car travel time (GoogleMaps, 2005)
1.2 Research Aims, Objectives and Hypothesis
1.2.1 Hypothesis
The hypothesis for the research project is 'Independent of the demand for a specific route Carpooling
if introduced can reduce the travel time spent in Dublin, thus providing an alternative travelling
option'.

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1.2.2 Aim
The study aims to critically examine the effect of introducing car-pooling in Dublin
and to verify if it has the potential to meet the increasing population and reduce
congestion in Dublin.
1.2.3 Objectives
In order for these aims to be achieved a number of objectives were set out:
 To explore the evidence on the benefits of implementing carpooling in
Dublin.
 To research and analyse existing systems or new approaches already proposed for the
same cause.
 To examine the reliability of carpooling.
 To establish what are the passengers greatest frustrations associated with taking
the bus, taxies etc. while traveling in Dublin.

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1.3 Research Structure
This capstone research project paper comprises of five chapters. The first chapter is the
introduction; second is the literature review, which will cover a range of related topics
regarding alternative approaches to improve transportation in Dublin and Dublin transportation
study. Chapter 3 describes the methodology used in the primary research, the agent-based
model and algorithms. Chapter 4 includes all of the main findings in the results Chapter, and
Chapter 5 is the conclusion.