A multi-criteria approach for evaluating the urban transport technologies by using SIMUS method

Abstract

The study purpose a methodology based on Sequential Interactive Modelling for Urban Systems (SIMUS) method for ranking the urban transport technologies. The methodology of research includes three steps. The first step defines quantitative and qualitative criteria for the assessment of urban transport modes. Fourteen criteria of four groups, as ecological, economical, technological and social for evaluating the transport alternatives in urban environment have been defined. The second step includes a selection of alternatives of transportation by different transport means for a given route. In this research is investigated transportation by metro, buses and cars. The SIMUS method is applied in the third step for ranking the variants of transportation. The method solves successive scenarios formulated as linear programming. This step involves the ranking of alternatives and choice of optimal type of transportation. The methodology is approved for study the alternative mode of transportation for parallel routes from Sofia's transport network. It was found that the carriage by metro is the best transport technology for investigated route. The methodology and defined criteria could be applied to study the transport alternatives for different routes of Sofia's transport network, and also to assess the modes of transport in urban area of Sofia or other city.