A multi-class dynamic user equilibrium model for queuing networks with advanced traveler information systems

This paper presents a formulation and solution algorithm for a composite dynamic user-equilibrium assignment problem with multi-user classes, in order to assess the impacts of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) in general networks with queues. Suppose that users equipped with ATIS will receive complete information and hence be able to choose the best departure times and routes in a deterministic manner, while users not equipped with ATIS will have incomplete information and hence may make decisions on departure times and routes in a stochastic manner. This paper proposes a discrete-time, finite-dimensional variational inequality formulation that involves two criteria regarding the route and departure time choice behaviors, i.e., the deterministic dynamic user equilibrium and the nested logit-based stochastic dynamic user equilibrium. The formulation is then converted to an equivalent “zero-extreme value” minimization problem. A heuristic algorithm based on route/time-swapping process is proposed, which iteratively adjusts the route and departure time choices to reach closely to an extreme point of the minimization problem. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for assessing the ATIS impacts such as changes in individual travel costs, departure times, route inflows, queuing peaks and total network travel cost.