The research project IPTOP aimed at developing new methods for planning, designing, controlling and optimising Danish public transport systems. The benefits for the passengers are shorter travelling times and better services. Additionally, the transport operators will gain economically.
IPTOP used recent advances in the field of analytics (databases, analysis tools) and new traveller data sources (due to new fare collection technologies). These advances provided an opportunity for a completely fresh and new application of mathematical optimisation at a very large scale.
The project has achieved considerable scientific results at Danish and international level in the fields of public transport and operations research. Through the development of new methods and algorithms, the project has bridged the gap between the interests of passengers, operators, and public authorities allowing for better integration and optimization in public transport planning to the benefit of public transport suppliers and users, as well as bridged the gap between technical, behavioural and organisational science. The project has obtained methodological advances by combining optimisation techniques for public transport planning with demand modelling and route choice, which traditionally have been considered independently of each other. While optimisation algorithms exist for network design and scheduling, the project has advanced the state-of-the art in terms of research regarding the interrelationship between these elements.
The project was funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark for a period of 5 years from 2015-2019.
