A Decision Support System (FMOTS) for Location Decision of Taxicab Stands

Abstract

Taxi systems and their municipal organization are generally problem area in the metropolitan cities of developing countries. The locations of taxicab stands can be marketoriented and can cause chaos. A decision support system is needed for the related agencies to solve such kind of problems. In this chapter, a decision support system for taxicab stands that can be used in any metropolitan area or municipality is presented. The study attempts to create a scientific basis for decision makers to evaluate the location choices of taxicab stands in major cities with the help of GIS and fuzzy logic. Taxi, which has been worldwide used since the 19th century, is an indispensable component of urban transport. Compared to other modes of transport, taxi has a relative advantage with the comfort and convenience that it provides 24 hours a day to its users. However, it is criticized because of its low occupancy rates and traffic burden it loads on urban streets. Taxicab stands offer a viable service by providing an identifiable, orderly, efficient, and quick means to secure a taxi that benefits both drivers and passengers (Giuliani et.al, 2001). Stands are normally located at high-traffic locations such as airports, hotel driveways, railway stations, subway stations, bus depots, shopping centers and major street intersections, where large number of passengers are likely to be found. The choice of location for taxicab stands depends only on legal permissions. From the legal authorities’ side, there is no evidence of taking some scientific criteria into account while giving the permission. The entrepreneurs willing to manage a taxicab stand have limitless opportunities to select any point on urban land. These free market conditions cause debates on location choices of taxicab stands. In some cities, taxi companies operate independently and in some other cities, the activity of taxi fleets is monitored and controlled by a central office, which provides dispatching, accounting, and human resources services to one or more taxi companies. In both systems, the optimum organization of taxi companies on urban space is a problem. The taxi company in the system should provide the best service to the customer, which includes reliability and minimum waiting time. As private entrepreneurs, taxi companies tend to locate in some certain parts of the city, where they believe they can find more passengers. The decision makers, on the other hand, should find an optimum between taxi companies’ demands and the city’s real needs. They