Application of Multi-Agent Systems to Shared Transport Services: a Review

Application of Multi-Agent Systems to Shared Transport Services: a review Jadna Cruz, Elis Silva, Rosaldo J. F. Rossetti, Daniel Castro Silva, Eugénio C. Oliveira, João Neto Laboratório de Inteligência Artificial e Ciência de Computadores Departamento de Engenharia Informática Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal {up201701159, up201409733, rossetti, dcs, eco, jneto}@fe.up.pt Abstract — Several studies have extended the application of whether only prototypes or simulation studies were Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) to a wide range of different implemented when no evidence of real applications is found. domains, including shared services with various purposes. With regard to transport systems, shared services enabled through The review consists in evaluating and interpreting studies in technological solutions, especially in mobile space, have many the area of interest [5], so as to answer the following research benefits, such as mitigating traffic congestion and reducing questions: greenhouse gas emissions, among others. In addition, with the population of large cities rising more than ever, citizens are x How are MAS addressed in shared transport services? becoming more sensitive to societal issues and other performance x What are the limitations of implementing MAS in measures imposed by the new concept of smart cities. This work shared transport services? will study the literature with the objective of verifying the proposals and limitations of existing studies, prototypes and x What are the challenges for the deployment of these simulations, in order to provide a systematic evidence-based view systems in the real world? of how the scientific community is applying MAS to leverage shared services for the implementation and feasibility of x How is the performance of shared transport services intelligent mobility solutions. In the course of the studies, we assessed? conclude that although some authors came to propose conceptual models and systems prototypes, the simulation component has II. PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS been little explored and only synthetic data has been used. One of Before proceeding with the study of the literature, it is the reasons justified by the authors relates to the high costs of necessary to introduce the two main concepts involved, namely carrying out simulations. We did not find in the literature Multi-Agent Systems and Shared Transport Services. This proposals that were effectively implemented and tested in the real section briefly summarises both concepts. world, but only prototypes and proposals of future developments. According to Russell et al. [6] an agent is able to perceive Keywords - Multi-agent Systems; Shared Services; Mobility; its environment by means of sensors, and to act upon this same Systematic Review. environment through actuators. For Ivamoto et al. [7] multi- agent systems are systems in which several agents work I. INTRODUCTION together and have their own existence, independent of the Population growth and the continued use of cars in urban existence of other agents, have a set of behavioural capacities areas are bringing about severe problems for large cities, such that define their competence, objectives and autonomy. Each as congestion, air pollution or fuel waste, among others [1][2]. agent can have an individual purpose and, collectively, agents Cars account for approximately 70% of all greenhouse gas can cooperate and collaborate in improving the performance of emissions and are now the dominant form of transit with the system. private passenger cars, which are often occupied by one single For Leitão et al. [8], multi-agent systems suggest the passenger [3]. These problems have great impact on people’s definition of distributed control based on cooperative and lifestyle, the environment, and the economy of cities, and must autonomous agents that work co-ordinately to perform a task. be tackled appropriately by policy makers. The distributed nature of MAS allows a significant amount of Shared transportation services have been used as data to be processed, due to the scalability of these systems. alternatives to conventional means of transportation, so as to Multi-agent systems can be extended by adding new agents or minimize the problems described above [4]. Based on the new behaviours, thus being appropriate to the context of aforementioned context, this work proposes a systematic decentralized and heterogeneous environments, where large review of the literature to address relevant studies on changes can occur [9]. Due to their very characteristics, MAS applications of multi-agent systems to shared transport have been largely used to cope with the so-called DDD services. This paper contributes with a showcase of proposals systems, which are highly dynamic, mostly distributed, and in that already exist in the literature, emphasising on their which decisions a generally made on a decentralised basis, by objectives, main achievements, and limitations, as well as on multiple actors endowed with different capabilities and playing A. Protocol different roles. We defined the research theme based on the new trends of As for the concept of shared transport, Carpooling, solutions in the emerging fields of Smart Mobility, seeking to sometimes also referred to as Ridesharing, represents a solution bring contributions to the literature in the area of study. Thus, that allows private cars to become part of the public transport the main components of the methodology are the following: system, benefiting users and the environment [10]. For Correia 1) Definition of the theme: “Application of Multiagent et al. [11] carpooling is considered a Transport Demand Systems to Shared Transport Services”. This study topic Management (TDM) tool that produces a decrease in the number of single-occupant vehicle journeys, especially when investigates two major areas, namely Smart Mobility and people are from the same company, or share common places. Multi-Agent Systems. For Pukhovskiy et al. [3] carpooling is a dynamic system, 2) Reviewers: It was established that two reviewers would based on two sources of information, namely members and the participate in the review protocol, both in the search process system, and quickly and easily disseminates members’ of articles, and in the process of article inclusion / exclusion. itineraries, creating flexible and intelligent routes through the 3) Objective: Analysis of several approaches on system (server end). multiagent systems in shared transport. It attempted to Carpooling services have been around since the mid-1970s perceive the existing gaps in the literature, a process also and are now available on websites or online applications where known as gap analysis. members can post carpooling requests and obtain matching 4) Research questions: as identified in Section I. offers. Members are provided with the coordinates of other 5) Definition of bibliographic databases: The most well- users so that they can contact each other directly and share known digital databases and libraries, namely IEEE Xplore, travel details (i.e. meeting point, time, etc.) [12]. Other systems Springer, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, Science Direct, and allow members to connect online through chat rooms to Google Scholar are used. address points of interest in the trip. Models of online static 6) Definition of the search strings: Terms of reference systems are widely used and allow users to plan their travels in combining keywords, such as ((Carpooing OR Ridesharing advance. With the emergence of new technologies, many travel-sharing service proposals have been integrating the OR Smart Transport) AND Multi-agent systems) were concept of multi-agent systems [13][14] with the aim of considered. making them more dynamic and efficient. 7) Review and evaluation of the studies: The method for inclusion considered attributes such as title, abstract, In the literature, studies were carried out on solutions to keywords in the field of study, and full review of the article, find the best trajectories to be shared by passengers and drivers, with similar origins and destinations, using applications based whereas the method for exclusion considered articles that on multi-agent systems for the calculation of routes [15]. were not related to the search criteria or that did not meet the Proposals for service models have been studied in order to inclusion criteria. implement them in large urban areas, as suggested by Sirisena 8) Study Summary: The research carried out resulted in et al. [16], Sghaier et al. [17], and Bandara et al. [18], among the writing of this article, with a summary of the information others. that addresses the research questions defined in the systematic review. Replicability of the studies was also commented. III. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH 9) Presentation of the results: the final results are This work will initially focus on the first phase of a described from a comparative perspective, as presented in systematic review of the literature, namely the phase of Table I that highlights the main characteristics of the articles mapping or identification of related work addressing the analysed. subject under study, as well as its preliminary analysis. This process will provide an overview of the study area, the types of related studies, and their evolution over time [19]. A systematic review of the literature is a methodology for the production of a bibliographic review, through defined and structured steps that provide reliability

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