OVERVIEW

Transport systems are the set of components and their interactions that determine the demand for mobility of people and goods between different points in the territory and the supply of transport services to satisfy it. 

In this framework, Transport Systems Planning (in short TSP) is the engineering discipline that provides the methodologies to model, analyze, and design transport systems with a holistic approach and by means of appropriate mathematical and modelling tools.

The problems faced by TSP range from the mathematical formalization and implementation of models for understanding users' mobility choices to the design of performing solutions.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the tools and capabilities for analysing and designing transport systems across different geographic and temporal scales. Specifically, the first part of the course focuses on the analysis phase and provides the student with the skills to define models of transport infrastructures and services, articulate models of mobility demand, and state and solve assignment problems. The second part of the course focuses on the design phase and provides the student with the skills to collect and use field data for customizing, calibrating, and enhancing supply and demand models. Therefore, in the second part, the aim is to provide the students with the capability to state and solve transport systems design problems and define and compare different alternatives both in terms of performance and costs.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course, the student shall know and shall be able to apply the basic techniques for representing and analyzing transport systems, as well as providing their functional design and the evalaution of the costs and benefits.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements, in addition to the normal bases of mathematics and physics that the students are supposed to have from their B.Sc. backgrounds in engineering.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is delivered in a hybrid format, with face-to-face lectures (held at the Polytechnic School) that can also be attended remotely.

Lectures consist of class activities, with theory and exercises.

Students with a certified learning disability (DSA), a disability, or other special educational needs are invited to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to discuss teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account and provide appropriate accommodations. Please also note that requests for exam accommodations or exemptions must be submitted – using the form available at this link: https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back– to the course professor, the DIME contact person (federico.scarpa@unige.it), and the relevant office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it) at least seven working days before the examination, in accordance with the guidelines available at this link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is divided into the following chapters:

1. Introduction to transportation systems and their relation with the surrounding environment
2. Transportation systems supply modelling:
   • link models, costs and congestion
   • network and services models, shortest path problem
3. Basics on probability theory
4. Transportation systems demand modelling:
   • Origin/Destination (O/D) structure and model-based calculation
   • Parametric (non-behavioural) models
   • Behavioral models: users’ characteristics, random utility, and random choice models for the destination, mode, and path dimensions
5. Transportation systems supply and demand interactions:
   • Wardrop's principles and equilibrium assignment
   • Model and algorithms for deterministic and stochastic assignment 
6. Data-based demand estimation
   • Demand direct estimation (survey) and reliability assessment
   • Identification demand model parameters and basic user's behaviour ecomoetric analysis
   • Origin/Destination (O/D) matrix update and calibration 
7. Functional transport systems design
   • Design of networks and services​
   • Cost/Benefit analysis and design alternatives comparison

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The course materials will be provided by the teacher and will be made available on the course's AulaWeb page. All the material is prepared according to the main reference book.

Further guidance regarding the reference bibliography and any materials available to specific categories of students (working students, non-attending students, and students with certified learning disorders, disabilities, or other special educational needs) will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the course.

Main reference book:

• E. Cascetta, 2009, Transportation Systems Analysis 2nd ed., Springer (English)
• E. Cascetta, 2002, Modelli per i Sistemi di Trasporto: Teoria ed Applicazioni, UTET, 2006 (Italian)

Insights:

• Probability  
  • S. M. Ross, Introduction to Probability and statistics for engineers and scientists, Elsevier, 2004 (English)
  • S. M. Ross, Probabilità e Statistica per Ingegneria e le Scienze, APOGEO, 2008 (Italian)
• Graph Theory and Optimization
  • F. S. Hillier, Introduction to Operation Research, McGraw-Hill Education, 2016 (English)
  • S. Martello, Ricerca Operativa, ESCULAPIO, 2015 (Italian)
• Manuals
  • Highway Capacity Manual, Transportation Research Board (TRB), 6th ed., 2016

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11920/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written part and an oral part.

During the lecture period, some exercises will be assigned and must be completed within two weeks. These exercises will contribute to the final grade and may be discussed during the oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Within the examination, the student's knowledge of the course topics and his/her capability to discuss how to formalize and solve simple transport problems are assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.