A Systematic Approach for the Calibration of Route Choice Models Based on Stochastic User Equilibrium

Abstract

Different from the traditional deterministic user equilibrium (DUE) model based on fixed travel time, the stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) model is established by assuming the perceived route travel time as a random variable. It plays an important role in traffic assignment, wherein the setting of route choice parameters decides system performance. This article studies parameter calibration of widely used SUE models including the multinomial logit (MNL), length-based C-logit (LCL), and congestion-based C-logit (CCL) models. We establish a bilevel model in which the upper level is designed to minimize the error between the real and model-based traffic flow patterns, whereas the lower level copes with the SUE traffic assignment. A series of innovative methods are built to solve this bilevel model. Considering the nonlinear calibration problem in the upper level, a Bayesian optimization method is used. For the SUE traffic assignment in the lower level, dedicated algorithms are proposed, which combine a partial linearization algorithm and a feasible direction method. Furthermore, two revised solution methods are provided: a Barzilai–Borwein (BB) step-size method and a parallel framework. Finally, the proposed model and corresponding solution approach are validated based on a case study of Yuyao, China. Solutions show that the CCL SUE model has the highest precision while requiring the longest computation time. LCL takes only 11.7% of the computation time of CCL when reaching an acceptable precision.