Agent-Based Simulation of urban goods distribution: a literature review

Abstract Agent-based simulation (ABS) appears to be a suitable tool for research and application in the field of city logistics. In this paper, an attempt was made to classify the current literature on ABS in urban freight distribution following some homogeneity criteria. A set of six criteria was adopted and relevant papers were classified accordingly. It emerges that agent-based simulation models are suitable for use in simulating urban freight distribution, identifying a set of agents (at most, one agent per stakeholder) that operate to achieve their objectives, following rules, interacting, and learning from experience. However, this approach is still to be fully developed: the applications provided in the literature are only for test cases, refer to small study areas and a limited number of agents.

[1]  Stefan Schröder,et al.  Towards an integrated multi-agent urban transport model of passenger and freight , 2017 .

[2]  Pascal Estraillier,et al.  Goods distribution with electric vans in cities: towards an agent-based simulation , 2009 .

[3]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  An Analysis of Agent-Based Approaches to Transport Logistics , 2005 .

[4]  A. Pluchino,et al.  Integrating discrete choice models and agent-based models for ex-ante evaluation of stakeholder policy acceptability in urban freight transport , 2017 .

[5]  Eiichi Taniguchi,et al.  Evaluation of Load Factor Control and Urban Freight Road Pricing Joint Schemes with Multi-agent Systems Learning Models☆ , 2014 .

[6]  Ming Chen,et al.  Challenges and future research needs towards international freight transport modelling , 2016 .

[7]  Steven C Bankes,et al.  Agent-based modeling: A revolution? , 2002, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[8]  Martijn Mes,et al.  An Agent-Based Simulation Framework to Evaluate Urban Logistics Schemes , 2016, ICCL.

[9]  Adil Baykasoglu,et al.  A multi-agent approach to load consolidation in transportation , 2011, Adv. Eng. Softw..

[10]  Angela Di Febbraro,et al.  An agent-based framework for cooperative planning of intermodal freight transport chains , 2016 .

[11]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Agent-based Simulation of Freight Transport between Geographical Zones , 2013, ANT/SEIT.

[12]  Joel S. E. Teo,et al.  Evaluation of Distance-Based and Cordon-Based Urban Freight Road Pricing in E-Commerce Environment with Multiagent Model , 2012 .

[13]  Joel S. E. Teo,et al.  Multi-agent Systems Modelling for Evaluating Joint Delivery Systems , 2014 .

[14]  Agostino Nuzzolo,et al.  Urban freight demand forecasting: A mixed quantity/delivery/vehicle-based model , 2014 .

[15]  Kai Nagel,et al.  Towards a multi-agent logistics and commercial transport model: The transport service provider's view , 2012 .

[16]  L. Oliveira,et al.  Multi-agent modelling approach for evaluating the city logistics dynamic in a vulnerability situation: An exploratory study in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) , 2017 .

[17]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  TAPAS: A multi-agent-based model for simulation of transport chains , 2012, Simul. Model. Pract. Theory.

[18]  Eiichi Taniguchi,et al.  Evaluating City Logistics Measure in E-Commerce with Multiagent Systems , 2012 .

[19]  E. Taniguchi,et al.  Evaluation of Urban Distribution Centers Using Multiagent Modeling with Geographic Information Systems , 2015 .

[20]  Julian Allen,et al.  Reducing Social and Environmental Impacts of Urban Freight Transport: A Review of Some Major Cities , 2012 .

[21]  Agostino Nuzzolo,et al.  Direct Effects of City Logistics Measures and Urban Freight Demand Models , 2014 .

[22]  J.H.R. van Duin,et al.  The Seventh International Conference on City Logistics Towards an agent-based modelling approach for the evaluation of dynamic usage of urban distribution centres , 2012 .

[23]  Eiichi Taniguchi,et al.  Evaluating city logistics measures using a multi-agent model , 2010 .

[24]  R. van Duin,et al.  Ontology-based multi-agent system for urban freight transportation , 2014 .

[25]  Antonino Vitetta,et al.  Vehicle routing in urban areas: an optimal approach with cost function calibration , 2014 .

[26]  Elena Maggi,et al.  Understanding urban mobility and the impact of public policies: The role of the agent-based models , 2016 .