Simulation-Based Framework for Assessing Synchromodal Transportation Solutions in Low-Density Ecosystems

Transport and mobility play a crucial role in collaborative networks, facilitating access to resources. While this strengthens economic and social integration, the expansion of collaborative networks poses major challenges in terms of effectiveness, sustainability and equity. Improving transport services is consequently crucial, particularly in sparsely populated areas, to reduce economic and social disparities. If urban areas benefit from Smart City principles to optimize the flow of people and goods, rural areas are often marginalized. Some authors have demonstrated qualitatively the potentiality of using Physical Internet and synchromodality paradigms to change this situation. But no quantitative demonstration has been done yet. The purpose of this research work is to design and present our multi-agent vision of a simulation framework for evaluating synchromodal transport solutions in low-density ecosystems. Composed of four components (demand estimator, transportation planner, simulator engine and performance assessor), this framework is intended to be tested on ECOTRAIN case study.