Agent-based Simulation Model for Long-term Carpooling: Effect of Activity Planning Constraints

AbstractIn order to commute by carpooling, individuals need to communicate, negotiate and coordinate, and in most cases adapt their daily schedule to enable cooperation. Through negotiation, agents (individuals) can reach complex agreements in an iterative way, which meets the criteria for the successful negotiation. The procedure of negotiation and trip execution in the long-term carpooling consists of a number of steps namely; (i) decision to carpool, (ii) exploration and communication, (iii) negotiation, (iv) coordination and schedule adaptation, (v) long term trip execution (carpooling), (vi) negotiation during carpooling and (vii) carpool termination and exploration for new carpool. This paper presents a conceptual design of an agent-based model (ABM) of a set of candidate carpoolers. A proof of concept implementation is presented. The proposed model is used for simulating the interactions between autonomous agents. The model enables communication to trigger the negotiation process; it measures the effect of pick-drop and shopping activities on the carpooling trips. Carpooling for commuting is simulated: we consider a set of two intermediate trips (home-to-work and work-to-home) for the long-term carpooling. Schedule adaptation during negotiation depends on personal preferences. Trip timing and duration are crucial factors. We carried out a validation study of our results with real data (partial) collected in Flanders, Belgium. Simulation results show the effect of constraining activities on the carpooling trips. The future research will mainly focus on enhancing the mechanisms for communication and negotiation between agents

Multi-Agent Systems

This Special Issue ""Multi-Agent Systems"" gathers original research articles reporting results on the steadily growing area of agent-oriented computing and multi-agent systems technologies. After more than 20 years of academic research on multi-agent systems (MASs), in fact, agent-oriented models and technologies have been promoted as the most suitable candidates for the design and development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. With respect to both their quality and range, the papers in this Special Issue already represent a meaningful sample of the most recent advancements in the field of agent-oriented models and technologies. In particular, the 17 contributions cover agent-based modeling and simulation, situated multi-agent systems, socio-technical multi-agent systems, and semantic technologies applied to multi-agent systems. In fact, it is surprising to witness how such a limited portion of MAS research already highlights the most relevant usage of agent-based models and technologies, as well as their most appreciated characteristics. We are thus confident that the readers of Applied Sciences will be able to appreciate the growing role that MASs will play in the design and development of the next generation of complex intelligent systems. This Special Issue has been converted into a yearly series, for which a new call for papers is already available at the Applied Sciences journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/Multi-Agent_Systems_2019

Enabling the V2X Economy Revolution Using a Blockchain-based Value Transaction Layer for Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks

The next generation of tightly interconnected vehicles offers a variety of new technological as well as business opportunities. Those vehicles form so called vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) in order to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-human (V2H), or in general vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and interaction. A variety of manufacturers started implementing specific use cases, but limited to their own brands and products. However, a platform- and manufacturer-agnostic default standard for interactions and transaction within this new economy is still missing. This paper fills the gap in the state of the art by introducing a novel blockchain-based V2X platform that enables a transaction and interaction layer for goods and services required to kick-start the upcoming V2X economy. We present the general functions and features of the system, outline the requirements and goals as well as the architecture of the V2X platform. Moreover, we detail the system engagement processes of the identified stakeholders inside the V2X ecosystem and the theoretical foundations of those interactions and transactions

Public Procurement:Theory, Practices and Tools

This upper-level open access textbook uses an interdisciplinary perspective to discuss the ‘what and why’ of public procurement, providing insight into the ‘how’ of contemporary procurement in the public sector. The authors use theories and exemplary practices to show the next generation of public procurement professionals how public value can be created via the acquisition of works, supplies, or services by organizations operating in the public domain. Perfectly tailored to university students in public administration, law, economics, or management and those in executive education, the book first describes and explains the public procurement process, the concept of public value, the legal context of procurement and how the procurement function is organized in public organizations. The book subsequently explains how a procurement policy can be developed and translated into a procurement strategy, how tenders can be organized, suppliers selected, and contracts designed and evaluated. A final discussion chapter addresses the changes and developments in public procurement and how public procurement is moving forward. The reader of this innovative and accessible book will therefore not only learn what public procurement entails, but also how they can become a professional change agent in the field of public procurement. Forward-thinking and comprehensive, this book offers ideal reading for anyone interested in public procurement

Networking Transportation

Networking Transportation looks at how the digital revolution is changing Greater Philadelphia's transportation system. It recognizes several key digital transportation technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, connected and automated vehicles, digital mapping, Intelligent Transportation Systems, the Internet of Things, smart cities, real-time information, transportation network companies (TNCs), unmanned aerial systems, and virtual communications. It focuses particularly on key issues surrounding TNCs. It identifies TNCs currently operating in Greater Philadelphia and reviews some of the more innovative services around the world. It presents four alternative future scenarios for their growth: Filling a Niche, A Tale of Two Regions, TNCs Take Off, and Moore Growth. It then creates a future vision for an integrated, multimodal transportation network and identifies infrastructure needs, institutional reforms, and regulatory recommendations intended to help bring about this vision

TMA Handbook: A Guide to Successful Transportation Management Associations

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