Optimising Mobility as a Service for Varying Types of Users

Generally, people choose their mode of transport based on the information that they are exposed to. However, this mostly leads to non-optimised travel choices or even inefficiency. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), is a concept that integrates travel modes and service in a single platform to create transit that is seamless and sustainable. MaaS supposedly helps people choose the best transit options for their needs by giving the options of different routes, modes, costs etc. To further optimize the MaaS, Kim et al. (2021) create a model with various scenarios for intermodal options to understand how different groups of people prefer their mode of transport and measure the underlying latent attitude toward the choices offered in the MaaS. The comparative analysis has provided a better understanding of the demand of MaaS.

In the case of Seoul Metropolitan, Kim et al (2021) found that the variety of preference depends more on the mode of transport they habitually use than any other socio-demographic determinant. For example, private car user, public transportation systems must minimize the hassle of intermodal transfers. While frequent public transport users it is more important that the travel time is shorter even with some transfer between modes. Private cars users also prefer shorter walking distance between transport modes, while habitual public transport users are more open to discovering new ways to travel. 

Reference:

Kim, Y., Kim, E. J., Jang, S., & Kim, D. K. (2021). A comparative analysis of the users of private cars and public transportation for intermodal options under Mobility-as-a-Service in Seoul. Travel Behaviour and Society, 24, 68-80.

‍