Simulation and evaluation of urban bus-networks using a multiagent approach

Evolution of public road transportation systems requires analysis and planning tools to improve service quality. A wide range of road transportation simulation tools exist with a variety of applications in planning, training and demonstration. However, few simulation models take into account traveler behaviors and vehicle operation specific to public transportation. We present in this paper a bus network simulation tools which include these specificities and allows to analyze and evaluate a bus network at diverse space and time scales. We adopt a multiagent approach to describe the global system operation as behaviors of numerous autonomous entities such as buses and travelers.