Article ID: | iaor201530333 |
Volume: | 81 |
Start Page Number: | 704 |
End Page Number: | 717 |
Publication Date: | Nov 2015 |
Journal: | Transportation Research Part B |
Authors: | Ehrgott Matthias, Wang Judith Y T, Watling David P |
Keywords: | behaviour, decision, decision theory: multiple criteria, programming: assignment, networks, stochastic processes |
There is extensive empirical evidence that travellers consider many qualities (travel time, tolls, reliability, etc.) when choosing between alternative routes. Two main approaches exist to deal with this in network assignment models: Combine all qualities into a single (linear) utility function, or solve a multi‐objective problem. The former has the advantages of a unique solution and efficient algorithms; the latter, however, is more general, but leads to many solutions and is difficult to implement in larger systems. In the present paper we present three alternative approaches for combining the principles of multi‐objective decision‐making with a stochastic user equilibrium model based on random utility theory. The aim is to deduce a tractable, analytic method. The three methods are compared both in terms of their theoretical principles, and in terms of the implied trade‐offs, illustrated through simple numerical examples.