Path optimization of taxi carpooling

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 8; p. e0203221
• Main Authors: Ma, Changxi, He, Ruichun, Zhang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 30.08.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biology and Life Sciences; Economic aspects; Engineering and Technology; Physical Sciences; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Statistics; Taxicab drivers; Taxicabs
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203221

The problem that passengers are hard to take taxis while empty driving rate is high widely exists under the traditional taxi operation mode. The implementation of taxi carpooling mode can alleviate the problem in a certain extent. The objective of this study is to optimize the taxi carpooling path. Firstly, the taxi carpooling path optimization model with single objective and its extended model with multiple objectives are built respectively. Then, the single objective path optimization model of taxi carpooling is solved based on the improved single objective genetic algorithm, and the multiple-objective path optimization model of taxi carpooling is solved based on the improved multiple-objective genetic algorithm. Finally, a case study is carried out based on a road network with 24 nodes. The case study results show the path optimization models and algorithms of taxi carpooling proposed in the paper can quickly get the taxi carpooling path, and can increase the income of taxi driver while reduce the cost for passengers.