Title
On the use of common random numbers in activity-based travel demand modeling for scenario comparison
Author
Zhou, H.
Dorsman, J.L.
Mandjes, M.
Snelder, M.
Publication year
2023
Abstract
Activity-based travel demand models provide a high level of detail when modeling complex travel behavior. Since stochastic simulation is used, however, this high level may induce large random fluctuations in the output, necessitating many model reruns to produce reliable output. This may become prohibitive in terms of computation time when comparing travel behavior between multiple scenarios, in which case each scenario requires its own simulation. To alleviate this issue, we study the use of common random numbers, which is a technique that reuses the same random numbers for choices made by travelers between scenarios. This ensures that any observed difference in output across scenarios cannot be attributed to mutual differences in drawn random numbers, eliminating an important source of random fluctuation. We demonstrate by a numerical study that common random numbers can greatly reduce the number of runs needed, and thus also the required computation time, to obtain reliable output.
Subject
Scenario comparison
Common random numbers
Activity-based modeling
Travel demand
Mobility & Logistics
Urbanisation
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:93bc7189-733b-46df-9c3d-2af72000916a
TNO identifier
985310
Source
Transportation Planning and Technology, 1-17
Document type
article