MyTIS: A MAS-based TIS for public transport users

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of myTIS, which is a multi-agent based architecture to support public transport users in planning and executing their trips on a daily basis. Commuters that use public transport in their daily lives are frequently faced with problems, such as finding out what time the next bus service to a certain destination arrives or how to improve their travel experience to minimise the time spend in transit. On the other hand, non-commuters must address even more complicated issues, as they are not familiar with the network and would need continuous assistance throughout the trip realisation. These scenarios bring about interesting and challenging problems that suggest the adequacy of the multi-agent systems (MAS) metaphor. In a first abstraction exercise, it is very intuitive to identify such characteristics in the public transport domain. myTIS (where the TIS excerpt stands for traveller information system) is intended to be a cross-platform for public transport travellers, divided in terms of agents that cooperate to fulfil users' trip planning goals. Such a design decision is a requirement as the system must cover the whole decision-making process of a commuting plan. The methodological approach followed in this project includes a modelling phase, in which the requirements of the system and its main functionalities are defined. This phase is supported by an in-depth state-of-the-art review and the study of similar applications and results in the design of a new generation MAS-based traveller information system. © 2009 WIT Press.