Temporal-Spatial Microassignment and Sequencing of Travel Demand with Activity-Trip Chains

A stochastic temporal-spatial microassignment and activity sequencing model for activity-trip chains is presented. In this model, trip-chain patterns are defined by the respective locations of destinations in the chain, preferred arrival times at these destinations, and the activity durations at the intermediate destinations; they are given as input to the model. A stochastic dynamic user equilibrium problem is formulated and solved for this purpose. In this problem, drivers simultaneously seek to determine their departure time, route choice, and sequence of their intermediate activities at the origin to minimize their perceived travel cost. This perceived cost is typically a function of the travel time and the schedule delay at the intermediate and final destinations. The model is presented through a study of the relative efficiency of carpooling and trip-chaining travel behavior in a network context. In that example, the performance of travelers who have the option to carpool and chain trips is compared with that of households with single-occupant and individual trip-based travel. Several measures of travel performance, including travel distance, travel time, and schedule delay, are considered for that comparison.