Framework for the development of the Agent-based Dynamic Activity Planning and Travel Scheduling (ADAPTS) model

This paper describes a new framework for dynamically simulating activity planning and scheduling within an activity-based microsimulation model. The dynamic activity planning framework is a process model which attempts to replicate time-dependent activity scheduling. By modeling the actual underlying activity and travel planning and scheduling processes rather than revealed activity-travel patterns, the model can represent a much wider range of travel demand management policies, especially policies which are expected to impact the planning process of individuals. In contrast with previous activity scheduling models, the proposed model considers activity scheduling steps as discrete events within the overall activity-travel simulation, and furthermore considers each attribute decision as a separate event. The paper develops a framework for modeling each activity and its attributes, and allows for a non-fixed attribute planning order, so that there is no pre-determined planning order assumed in the model. Various stages of the model that are implemented in an overall simulation framework are discussed. In addition, some initial data results from a pilot test of a new GPS-based prompted recall survey used to capture the underlying activity attribute planning process are presented and discussed in the context of the overall model framework. The initial data tend to support the hypothesis that significant variation exists in the manner in which activities are actually planned.