A Kernel-Based Approach for Simulating Synthetic Travel Patterns
2026 (English)In: Procedia Computer Science: The 17th International Conference on Ambient Systems, Networks and Technologies Networks (ANT) / the 9th International Conference on Emerging Data and Industry 4.0 (EDI40) / [ed] Elhadi Shakshuki, Elsevier, 2026, Vol. 280, p. 959-964Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Modeling dynamic traffic processes requires detailed traveler-level demand unavailable in aggregated national forecasting models. We present a kernel-based approach for generating synthetic disaggregate travel demand using travel survey data. The method links survey respondents to agents in a synthetic population through similarity kernels over socio-demographics, schedule characteristics, and activity–location feasibility, and embeds these in a Metropolis–Hastings sampling framework to generate complete daily plans. The approach provides a modular way to combine heterogeneous information sources and to transfer observed behaviour to new populations without requiring exact matches between individuals. We demonstrate the approach on a stylized grid-world and on real data, where survey records are mapped to a national synthetic population. Results show that the method reproduces key marginal travel patterns, preserves individual variability, and avoids collapse toward modal behaviour, illustrating its potential as a demand synthesis and data-fusion tool in dynamic traffic modelling.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2026. Vol. 280, p. 959-964
Series
Procedia Computer Science, E-ISSN 1877-0509
Keywords [en]
Kernel-methods, Synthetic travel demand, Metropolis-Hastings, Travel-Survey, Data-fusion
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-22823DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2026.04.121Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105042437597OAI: oai:DiVA.org:vti-22823DiVA, id: diva2:2089163
Conference
The 17th International Conference on Ambient Systems, Networks and Technologies Networks (ANT)/ the 9th International Conference on Emerging Data and Industry 4.0 (EDI40), Istanbul, Türkiye, April 14-16, 2026.
Projects
Restidsval och efterfrågekalibrering i dynamisk storstadsmodell/Travel time choice and demand calibration in a dynamic model
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration, TRV 2023/33572
Note
Presentation during The 15th International Workshop on Agent-based Mobility, Traffic and Transportation Models, Methodologies and Applications (ABMTrans 2026).
2026-07-312026-07-312026-07-31Bibliographically approved