Evaluating city logistics solutions with agent-based microsimulation

This chapter introduces the class of agent-based freight microsimulation model, which replicates the interactions among agents with different roles in multiple inter-connected layers. Although a simulator is data hungry and imposes a high computational burden, this class has great advantages in sensitivity and flexibility for evaluating various types of city logistics policies and solutions. The chapter provides the overview of SimMobility as an example of simulators which are equipped with a comprehensive agent-based microsimulation model for urban freight, and, using it, demonstrates an evaluation of congestion pricing policies in an Auto-Innovative prototype city. The chapter also discusses the existing limitations in the simulators and future research directions.