NoMoTown: An agent-based model of transport mode choice

Abstract

In most cities, cars remain the dominant mode of transport. This is a huge problem not only because of obvious effects such as congestion and pollution, but also because it causes health issues for commuters themselves which lead to further costs for the community. In our work, we have developed an agent-based simulation which offers mitigation strategies and tries to propose realistic lines of action for transport modes to more sustainable modes. Our approach can import from GIS or (raster) maps, thus acting as a planning tool for urban planners and city administrators; we also included the possibility for generating theoretical/idealized cities, as a testbed and theoretical tool for instructing policy makers. Our goal is to find an equilibrium between individual freedom in transport choice, financial effort required for maintaining the overall transport system and the health of the whole population.