Transport and Mobility Laboratory: Research projects

TRANSP-OR

Discrete Choice Models

We identify new solutions to transportation problems, on the ground, in the air, or on the sea, transport of people or goods, whatever the mode. We focus on technical solutions, but also on their impact on the system as a whole. We are also interested in the interactions of the transportation systems with the land use, the economy, the environment, etc.

Migration and Discrete Choice Models (MIGDCM)Top

Migration and Discrete Choice Models (MIGDCM)Swiss National Science Foundation

International migration is at the forefront of policy debates in most countries around the world. In industrialized nations, the proportion of foreigners in total population increased from 4.5 to 12 percent between 1960 and 2019, stirring up fears about economic costs for natives, loss of national identity, and integration issues. In poor countries, international migration raises concerns about the brain drain of highly-skilled workers, as college and university graduates have a much greater propensity to emigrate internationally than the less educated. Hence, the questions of how many people migrate (i.e., migration intensity}, which people migrate first or are more likely to migrate (i.e., migrants' selection), and where migrants choose to settle (i.e., migrants' sorting) have been analyzed from all possible angles in recent literature. Specifically, understanding how people revise their decisions about whether to emigrate, and where to, when facing changes in the global environment is of crucial importance for decision-makers.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project managers
Silvia Varotto, Evangelos Paschalidis
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
March 01, 2022-March 31, 2025
External collaboration
Prof. Michel Beine (University of Luxemburg)
LaTeX description

Optimization of individual mobility plans to simulate future travel in SwitzerlandTop

Optimization of individual mobility plans to simulate future travel in Switzerland

This project, joint with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will develop a new activity-based modelling approach based on optimization of individual daily mobility plans. This approach will be implemented within SBB's existing nationwide model for Switzerland for investment and service planning decisions for future transportation.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Tim Hillel
Sponsor
Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency)
Period
September 01, 2020-March 01, 2022
Collaborators
Janody Pougala, Rico Krueger
External collaboration
Patrick Manser
External collaboration
Wolfgang Scherr
LaTeX description

Activity scheduling an rhythmic style: multi-day modeling of mobility habitsTop

Activity scheduling an rhythmic style: multi-day modeling of mobility habits

A growing body of research shows that the traditional approaches employed to plan and forecast travel behaviors are not equipped to deal with the heterogeneity of behaviors over time, space, and social spheres. Therefore, travel policies struggle to reconcile social inclusivity, sustainability and network efficiency. Two ENAC laboratories propose to join forces, in mathematical modeling and quantitative sociology, to develop a novel multi-day activity-scheduling framework to forecast travel demand. Integrating day-to-day correlations in travel behaviors will lead to a better understanding of the motives behind travel decisions, and will unveil more facets of individual decision making for better predictions of their daily mobility choices. This research uses the MOBIS dataset, a 8-week / 3700-respondent travel survey conducted in Switzerland in 2019. The forecasting model will be applied to the Swiss synthetic population and several scenarios will be considered.

Principal investigator
Janody Pougala
Project manager
Janody Pougala
Sponsor
School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
Period
October 01, 2020-October 01, 2021
Collaborator
Marija Kukic
External collaboration
Marc-Edouard Schultheiss
LaTeX description

Incorporating competitors' behavior in demand based optimization modelsTop

Incorporating competitors' behavior in demand based optimization modelsSwiss National Science Foundation

The starting point of this research project is the general framework developed in the SNF research project 200021_165636 entitled “Incorporating advanced behavioral models in mixed integer linear optimization”. The project aims at formulating explicitly the complex interaction between the supply and demand actors. We hypothesize that the decisions of supply actors (such as capacity, assortment, and price) are highly influenced by the decisions of other actors, through competition within the market. In this project, we will therefore explicitly consider multiple operators that compete for the same pool of customers. Each operator will take the supply-side decisions that optimize its performance function (e.g., maximization of revenue). Non-cooperative game theory is commonly used to model such oligopolistic competition. We plan to investigate how to integrate these games in the already developed framework. In this context, the objective will be to analyze the concept of equilibrium, that is, stationary states of the system where no actor has an incentive to change his/her decisions.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Virginie Lurkin
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
November 01, 2017-October 31, 2020
Collaborator
Stefano Bortolomiol
LaTeX description

Activity based travel demand forecastingTop

Activity based travel demand forecastingSwiss Federal Railways (SBB)

This research project aims to update and improve the microscopic activity-based demand model developed and maintained by SBB. Specifically the research intends to address the following questions: 1. Ownership of mobility instruments: Which metrics and specifications can be added to the current model, in order to improve its ability to forecast mid-and long-term ownership of mobility instruments? More specifically, how can the notion of accessibility be integrated to the current model to capture more complex mode interactions? 2. Mode choice model: Can a tour-based approach be used to model mode choice? In addition, how can the processes to estimate destination and mode choice (currently nested) be combined to generate results that are consistent with observed mobility behaviors at different time horizons (short, mid, and long-term)? 3. Tour and activity generation: How can the generation of tours and activity patterns be combined to allow modelling of joint decisions?

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Tim Hillel
Sponsor
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
Period
March 01, 2019-March 01, 2020
Collaborator
Janody Pougala
LaTeX description

Incorporating advanced behavioral models in mixed integer linear optimizationTop

Incorporating advanced behavioral models in mixed integer linear optimizationSwiss National Science Foundation

Discrete choice models are used for detailed representation of the "demand". However, their complexity makes mathematical formulations highly non convex in the explanatory variables. On the other hand, Mixed Integer Linear Programs (MILP) are optimization problems with discrete variables that are used in many applications to design and configure the "supply". In this project, we propose a new modeling framework that allows to include any random utility model in a mixed integer optimization formulation. The heterogeneity of demand is captured within the general choice model framework and the offers are tailored in a way that is beneficial for users as wells as providers. The main objective of the project is to obtain a framework that is both general, so that it can be applied in many applications, and operational, so that it can be used in practice.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Shadi Sharif Azadeh
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
April 01, 2016-March 31, 2019
Collaborator
Meritxell Pacheco
LaTeX description

TRANS-FORM: Smart transfers through unravelling urban form and travel flow dynamicsTop

TRANS-FORM: Smart transfers through unravelling urban form and travel flow dynamicsThe Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)

TRANS-FORM, a cooperation between universities, industrial partners, public authorities and private operators, will develop, implement and test a data driven decision making tool that will support smart planning, and proactive and adaptive operations. The objective of the project is to better understand transferring dynamics in multi-modal public transport systems and develop insights, strategies and methods to support decision makers in transforming public transport usage to a seamless travel experience by using smart data. The tool will integrate new concepts and methods of behavioral modelling, passenger flow forecasting and network state predictions into real-time operations. TRANS-FORM is funded under the European Commission Horizon 2020 ERA-NET program.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project managers
Shadi Sharif Azadeh, Riccardo Scarinci, Yuki Oyama
Sponsor
The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)
Period
March 03, 2016-March 03, 2019
Collaborators
Nicholas Molyneaux, Nikola Obrenovic
LaTeX description

Drive For You: a driving assistant tool to detecting pedestriansTop

Drive For You: a driving assistant tool to detecting pedestriansMINES ParisTech

This project aims to develop an onboard pedestrian tracking system to assist the driver detect them and, ultimately, to increase security. The project, with a duration of four years, will focus on pedestrians detection, tracking and trajectory prediction, and will be will be closely related to vehicle command strategies. The project is part of the automated driving research Chair "Drive for you" led by MINES ParisTech in partnership with French industrialists and three prestigious academic institutions the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL (Switzerland), the University of Shanghai Jiao Tong (China) and the University of Berkeley (USA). Supported by the Foundation MINES ParisTech, with Valeo industrial, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Safran contributing 3.7 million euros in funds, the Chair will work for five years on the subject of automated driving. The three main objectives are expand knowledge of self-driving vehicles, develop intelligent onboard systems, get self-driving vehicles on the road in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Riccardo Scarinci
Sponsor
MINES ParisTech
Period
December 01, 2014-November 30, 2018
External collaboration
Damien Matti (EPFL Signal Processing Laboratory 5 LTS5)
LaTeX description

Electric vehicle adoption dynamics: exploring market potentialsTop

Electric vehicle adoption dynamics: exploring market potentialsNissan

This project proposes innovative methods to identify the determinants of acceptance of alternative vehicles and their impact on everyday mobility. The greatest challenge faced by the promoters of the transition towards this low carbon engine technology lies in understanding how consumers accept the financial and lifestyle investments associated with the leap from traditional to electric powertrains. This project proposes innovative methods to identify the determinants of acceptance of alternative vehicles and their impact on everyday mobility. A deeper understanding of adoption dynamics is critical to predict who will opt for EVs when and under which conditions. This project will focus on innovative data-collection and modelling methodologies to uncover the acceptance of EVs at different stages of market-penetration (considering inexperienced/experienced users, early pioneers/late-adopters). A thorough analysis of the consumer decision-making process will lead to uncovering the barriers and success factors related to EV uptake and to forecast buying and usage behaviours related to new vehicle classes.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Matthieu de Lapparent
Sponsor
Nissan
Period
April 01, 2014-March 31, 2017
Collaborator
Anna Fernandez Antolin
External collaboration
Dr. Amanda Stathopoulos, Northwestern University
LaTeX description

Revisiting the Route Choice Problem: A Multi-Level Modeling Framework for Route Choice Analysis Based On Latent ConstructsTop

Revisiting the Route Choice Problem: A Multi-Level Modeling Framework for Route Choice Analysis Based On Latent ConstructsSwiss National Science Foundation

This project aims at developing behavioral models integrating the latent constructs that drive travel behavior. The objective of the project is to set the foundations of an innovative framework that facilitates the analysis and prediction of route choice behavior. Motivated by the complexity of the route choice models, we build on solid ground of the current state of the art and add on it by proposing a new approach that reduces model complexity and brings great flexibility to the analysis. The approach is inspired by the fact that people break down the complexity of the environment by forming representations of their surrounding space. Following this reasoning, we replace the conventional representation of routes which is based on paths, i.e. link-by-link sequences on the network model, with more aggregate elements that we denote as mental representation items. This key feature of the framework allows us to reduce the complexity of the model and at the same time is more behaviorally realistic.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Matthieu de Lapparent
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
October 01, 2013-September 30, 2016
Collaborator
Evanthia Kazagli
External collaboration
Dr. Amanda Stathopoulos, Northwestern University
LaTeX description

ACTUMTop

ACTUM

The ACTUM research collaboration project involves development of an activity-based modelling framework for Copenhagen that is aimed at handling the future requirements for transport policy evaluations in Denmark.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Matthieu de Lapparent
Sponsor
The Danish Council for Strategic Research
Period
March 01, 2011-March 01, 2016
More information:
http://www.dtu.dk/subsites/ACTUM/English.aspx
LaTeX description

Route choice models and smart phone dataTop

Route choice models and smart phone dataSwiss National Science Foundation

Smart phones are able to collect a great wealth of information about the mobility patterns of individuals, including their itinerary. In addition to GPS tracks, smart phones contain several sensors and software revealing various aspects of the user's behavior (nearby Bluetooth devices, WiFi antenna, media players, etc.) Route choice models rely on the knowledge of the origin and the destination of the trip, and the transportation mode. They may also benefit from other contextual data, such as the trip purpose or the chain of subsequent activities. We plan to investigate how to infer this information from the smart phone data.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Jingmin Chen
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
October 01, 2010-September 30, 2013
Collaborator
Jingmin Chen
LaTeX description

A DYNAMIC VEHICLE CHOICE FORECASTING FRAMEWORKTop

A DYNAMIC VEHICLE CHOICE FORECASTING FRAMEWORKPSA Peugeot-Citroën

The aim of this research project is to develop a dynamic model framework to forecast car demand. The model-system jointly accounts for behavioural variables (e.g. household evolution, individual motivations), institutional factors (e.g. incentives and taxation) and market features (e.g. new fuel or vehicle technology launches) to forecast vehicle acquisition. The project benefits from a large-scale, longitudinal dataset on vehicle transactions from major European markets. Methodologically the framework consists of a system of aggregate, disaggregate and duration-based choice models, accounting for dynamic features of the decision at each stage. Importantly, the proposed dynamic framework enhances realism by representing the durability of possession, rapid changes in value across product and ownership cycles and uncertainty about future market developments and institutional factors. The proposed framework sheds light on the timing and type of vehicle ownership, illustrating the benefits of taking the first steps away from a static approach. The findings will aid the prediction of consumer behaviour in response to critical policy variables, such as incentives, alongside market dynamics, such as the appearance and diffusion of novel technologies. A deeper understanding of future vehicle choice behaviour is critical given sizable institutional and industrial investments to promote alternative vehicle technologies with a final aim to improve energy efficiency in the transportation sector. More information http://transport.epfl.ch/car-market-structure

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Amanda Stathopoulos
Sponsor
PSA Peugeot-Citroën
Period
April 01, 2012-April 30, 2013
Collaborator
Aurélie Glerum
More information:
http://transport.epfl.ch/car-market-structure
LaTeX description

OPTIMA: Inferring transport mode preferences from attitudesTop

OPTIMA: Inferring transport mode preferences from attitudesLaPoste

Swiss Post and PostBus have launched a research project to optimize mobility in cooperation with the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), represented by EPFL Transportation Center, under Professor Michel Bierlaire. This will show the market potential for combined mobility. Among other things it will look at the factors that influence travellers in their choice of transport. At a later stage, target group-specific new transport offerings and services will be developed and tested, which will have a lasting influence on this choice. The three years research project is conducted by Professors Vincent Kaufmann (LASUR) and Michel Bierlaire (TRANSP-OR).

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Anne Curchod
Sponsor
LaPoste
Period
February 01, 2009-June 30, 2012
Collaborators
Aurélie Glerum, Bilge Atasoy, Antonin Danalet
External collaboration
Vincent Kaufman (LASUR)
External collaboration
Prisca Faure (CEAT)
External collaboration
Martin Schuler (CEAT)
LaTeX description

Demande de consommateurs pour des véhicules électriquesTop

Demande de consommateurs pour des véhicules électriquesRenault Suisse SA

Evaluation de la demande des consommateurs pour des véhicules électriques en vue du lancement d'une telle gamme par Renault

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Michaël Thémans
Sponsor
Renault Suisse SA
Period
August 01, 2010-April 30, 2011
Collaborator
Aurélie Glerum
LaTeX description

Behavioural modelling of human experts for scene analysisTop

Behavioural modelling of human experts for scene analysisSwiss National Science Foundation

Modelling the global appraisal process of experts in the context of scene analysis.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project managers
Javier Cruz, Thomas Robin
Sponsor
Swiss National Science Foundation
Period
October 01, 2007-September 30, 2010
LaTeX description

Disaggregate behavioral models exploiting data from Nokia devicesTop

Disaggregate behavioral models exploiting data from Nokia devicesNokia Research Center

The projects aims at investigating how to perform an appropriate fusion of data from smartphones in order to predict the mobility behavior of a given individual.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Jeffrey Newman
Sponsor
Nokia Research Center
Period
December 01, 2008-June 30, 2010
Collaborator
Jingmin Chen
LaTeX description

Path to purchaseTop

Path to purchaseNestlé

To understand consumer behavior in his or her path to purchase.

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Kamran Houshang Pour
Sponsor
Nestlé
Period
July 01, 2006-June 30, 2008
Collaborators
Thomas Robin, Gianluca Antonini
External collaboration
Jean-Philippe Thiran, ITS, EPFL
LaTeX description

Einbezug von Reisekosten bei der Modelliering des MobilitätsverhaltenTop

Einbezug von Reisekosten bei der Modelliering des MobilitätsverhaltenSwiss Federal Road Office

Development of route choice models from RP and SP data

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Emma Frejinger
Sponsor
Swiss Federal Road Office
Period
November 01, 2005-February 28, 2007
Collaborator
Jelena Stojanovic
External collaboration
Prof. K. W. Axhausen (IVT, ETHZ)
External collaboration
Prof. R. Maggi (Instituto Ricerche Economiche, Univesità della Svizzera Italiana)
LaTeX description

Behavioral model-based scene analysisTop

Behavioral model-based scene analysisNCCR Interactive Multimodal Information Management

Development of disaggregate behavior model for scene analysis in the context of video surveillance

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Michel Bierlaire
Sponsor
NCCR Interactive Multimodal Information Management
Period
July 01, 2002-June 30, 2005
Collaborator
Gianluca Antonini
External collaboration
Jean-Philippe Thiran, LTS, EPFL
LaTeX description

Développement de modèles suisses de prédiction de la demande en transport pour des applications en temps réel (Development of Swiss models for transportation demand prediction in the context of traffic management systems)Top

Développement de modèles suisses de prédiction de la demande en transport pour des applications en temps réel (Development of Swiss models for transportation demand prediction in the context of traffic management systems)VSS - Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

Development of operational disaggregate demand models for efficient dynamic traffic managment systems

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Michel Bierlaire
Sponsor
VSS - Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers
Period
January 01, 2003-December 31, 2004
Collaborator
Michaël Thémans
External collaboration
Prof. K. W. Axhausen, IVT, ETHZ
External collaboration
A. Robert-Grandpierre, bureau d'ingénieurs RGR-SA
External collaboration
P. Widmer, Büro Widmer, Frauenfeld
LaTeX description

SIMBAD: Simulation-Based Automatic DetectionTop

SIMBAD: Simulation-Based Automatic DetectionCommission pour la technologie et de l'innovation, Office Fédéral de la formation professionnelle et de la technologie.

Develop a model-based detection system where the scene analysis is supported by a crowd simulator

Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Mats Weber
Sponsor
Commission pour la technologie et de l'innovation, Office Fédéral de la formation professionnelle et de la technologie.
Period
October 01, 2002-September 30, 2004
Collaborator
Gianluca Antonini
External collaboration
Mats Weber, ROSO, EPFL
External collaboration
Visiowavw S.A
External collaboration
Jean-Philippe Thiran, LTS, EPFL
LaTeX description

Large-scale discrete choice modelsTop

Large-scale discrete choice modelsTransport and Mobility Laboratory, EPFL

We investigate methodological developments designed to handle discrete choice models with a large number of alternatives

Report(s):
Bierlaire, M., Bolduc, D., and McFadden, D. The estimation of Generalized Extreme Value models from choice-based samples
Bierlaire, M., and Lucadamo, A. Sampling of alternatives using multidimensional analysis
Principal investigator
Michel Bierlaire
Project manager
Michel Bierlaire
Sponsor
Transport and Mobility Laboratory, EPFL
Period
March 25, 2003-March 25, 2004
LaTeX description

Expertise

  • Transportation Research
  • Operations Research
  • Discrete Choice Models

Methods

Modeling, optimization, simulation

List of projects