HRSim: An agent-based simulation platform for high-capacity ride-sharing services

TL;DR

HRSim is an open-source agent-based simulation platform designed to model high-capacity ride-sharing services, integrating real-world data and advanced algorithms to support large-scale, sustainable urban transportation planning.

Contribution

It introduces HRSim, a flexible, scalable simulation tool that combines real-world data, optimization algorithms, and visualization for high-capacity ride-sharing system analysis.

Findings

Demonstrates HRSim's ability to simulate large-scale ride-sharing operations.

Shows HRSim's effectiveness in evaluating carbon emissions and operational strategies.

Validates HRSim as a versatile platform for policy and system optimization.

Abstract

The rapid growth of ride-sharing services presents a promising solution to urban transportation challenges, such as congestion and carbon emissions. However, developing efficient operational strategies, such as pricing, matching, and fleet management, requires robust simulation tools that can replicate real-world dynamics at scale. Existing platforms often lack the capacity, flexibility, or open-source accessibility needed to support large-scale, high-capacity ride-sharing services. To address these gaps, we introduce HRSim, an open-source, agent-based High-capacity Ride-sharing Simulator. HRSim integrates real-world road networks and demand data to simulate dynamic ride-sharing operations, including pricing, routing, matching, and repositioning. Its module design supports both ride-sharing and solo-hailing service modes. Also, it includes a visualization module for real-time performance analysis. In addition, HRSim incorporates integer linear programming and heuristic algorithms, which can achieve large-scale simulations of high-capacity ride-sharing services. Applications demonstrate HRSim's utility in various perspectives, including quantifying carbon emissions, scaling ride-sharing performance, evaluating new strategies, etc. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation, HRSim serves as a versatile testbed for policymakers and transportation network companies to optimize ride-sharing systems for efficiency and sustainability.