Public defence in transportation engineering, M.Sc. Ze Zhou

Title of the thesis: On-demand ridesharing operation: matching, pricing, and routing

Doctoral student: Ze Zhou

Opponents: 
Professor, PhD Kara M. Kockelman, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
Associate Professor, PhD Goncalo Honem de Almeida Correia, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Custos: Associate Professor Claudio Roncoli, Aalto University, School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment

How to exploit mobility on-demand services, such as ridesharing, to steer the transport system in a more sustainable way?

Excessive private vehicles in densely populated cities, together with the increasing need for mobility, have been constantly challenging the existing transportation systems. Fortunately, mobility on-demand services, such as ride-hailing and ridesharing, are becoming a growing trend in megacities due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness. These services are envisioned as enablers of a shift from car ownership to vehicle usage. Nonetheless, the impact of mobility on-demand service on transport systems is complicated and largely depends on governance and operation strategies. 

Accordingly, this dissertation aims at developing novel management strategies, involving matching, pricing, and routing, to improve ridesharing system efficiency. Meanwhile, the impact of such methods on urban transportation systems is evaluated. In summary, this dissertation reveals that dynamic ridesharing offers a promising pathway toward achieving more sustainable mobility, provided it is properly managed.

Keywords: Dynamic ridesharing, carpooling, traffic congestion, pricing, traffic simulation

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/doc_public/eonly/riiputus/

Contact information:

Doctoral theses in the School of Engineering: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/49

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