Driver Route Selection and Response to Traveler Information

Within the context of transportation modeling, driver route selection behavior is typically captured using mathematical programming. These approaches assume that drivers have full knowledge of the transportation network state in attempting to minimize some objective function. Typically, drivers are assumed to either minimize their travel time (user equilibrium) or minimize the total system travel time (system optimum). Given the dynamic and stochastic nature of the transportation system, the assumption of a driver's perfect knowledge is at best questionable.

Consequently, there is a need to develop novice approaches for the modeling of driver route choice. Unlike most route choice research that is primarily focused on the conscious part of the route selection task, this research effort explores the subconscious nature of route selection. Conscious route selection assumes that drivers are constantly conscious to their route selection behavior in selecting the travel route that provides them with the maximum utility. However, it is well documented in human psychological behavior that humans tend to minimize their cognitive efforts, and follow simple heuristics to reach their decisions, especially under uncertainty and time constraints. In addition, with repetition, cognitive activities descend to the subconscious level. The project tasks include: 1. Conduct a simulation study of driver route choice behavior. 2. Conduct an in-field study of driver route choice behavior. 3. Develop a behavioral route choice model. 4. Analyze typical driver route choice behavior using naturalistic data.