Title: An agent-based model to explore urban policies, pedestrian behaviour and walkability

Authors: Georgios Tsaples; Giovanna Fancello

Addresses: University of Macedonia, Egnatia Str. 156, 54636, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Université Paris Dauphine, Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 75016 Paris, France

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to use the agent-based methodology both as a research tool to study pedestrian behaviour and as a decision support system for urban authorities aimed to improve walkability. The developed model represents an urban environment with its citizens/agents performing movements under different means of transport and towards different destinations. Different scenarios, demonstrated that by improving the conditions of the urban environment people walk more and a bigger part of the environment is considered as 'favourite for walking'. Moreover, the conduciveness to walk affects the daily peoples' behaviour, and acts also as a positive influence to economic activity.

Keywords: agent-based model; pedestrian behaviour; walkability; urban environment; decision support system; DSS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSS.2018.094261

International Journal of Decision Support Systems, 2018 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.4 - 18

Received: 02 Nov 2017
Accepted: 10 Mar 2018
Published online: 24 Aug 2018 *

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