Title: Simulation and analysis of the mass transit routes in Lagos, Nigeria

Authors: O. Ibidapo-Obe, F.O. Ogunwolu, Adedeji B. Badiru

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. ' Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. ' School of Industrial Engineering, University of Oklahoma, USA

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a simulation model of the Lagos Mass Transit Routes (LMTSR), using the GPSS/H language. Four basic and essential steps are presented: (i) formulation of the problem and collection of data, (ii) computerisation, (iii) design of experiments, and (iv) simulation runs and analysis. Three integral subsystems were modelled: (i) the Lagos Road Mass Transit routes, (ii) the Lagos Rail Mass Transit routes, and (iii) the Lagos Ferry Service routes. Within each of the aforementioned subsystems, there exist identifiable constraints and a wide variety of conditions of use of service vehicles, state and uses of routes, as well as demand and schedules on the routes. The study shows that facility utilisation and queue lengths are direct functions of the rate of passenger arrival and in addition, in the case of the road mass transit, the queue lengths are also functions of arrival rates of vehicles. Time spent within the system on each route in transit or in queue by passengers and vehicles can be determined from the models.

Keywords: Nigeria; Lagos mass transit routes; road transport; rail transport; ferry transport; simulation; modelling; facility utilisation; queue lengths.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1997.062265

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1997 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.73 - 80

Published online: 02 Jun 2014 *

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