AToM

Activity-based and agent-based Transport model of Melbourne

AToM is a city-scale multi-modal transport simulation, modelling a full day in the transportation system of Melbourne for understanding intended and unintended consequences of a change in the environment on individuals’ travel behaviour. AToM is an open-source simulation model that to represent mobility on a typical mid-weekday in Melbourne.

AToM includes transportation by car, public transport, cycling, and walking and models travel behaviours at an individual traveller and road segment level. Using the baseline mobility of Melbourne captured in AToM, it is possible to examine impacts of “what-if” built environment interventions on travel behaviour.

You can find our code and working model here:


The daily activity distribution of a 10% sample of Melbourne’s population from AToM


A traveller in Greater Melbourne in AToM moving to their destination using the road network

Why use AToM

  • AToM creates a realistic representation of the transportation sytem by creating the traffic demand based on individuals’ activities throughout the day;
  • AToM is multi-modal and captures the impact of changes in one mode on mode choice and route choice of all four main modes of travel;
  • AToM is open-source to maximise the clarify of model assumptions and processes and to make future collaborations more effective;
  • Using AToM it is possible to includes individual’s heterogenous behaviours in their mode and route choice;
  • AToM is developed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts in transport modelling, AI, GIS, and public health and built-environment.

Publications

Afshin Jafari, Alan Both, Dhirendra Singh, Lucy Gunn, Billie Giles-Corti (2022). Building the road network for city-scale active transport simulation models. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory.

PDF Cite Code DOI

Afshin Jafari, Dhirendra Singh, Alan Both, Lucy Gunn, Steve Pemberton, Billie Giles-Corti (2021). Activity-based and agent-based Transport model of Melbourne (AToM): an open multi-modal transport simulation model for Greater Melbourne. arXiv.

PDF Cite Code DOI

Alan Both, Dhirendra Singh, Afshin Jafari, Billie Giles-Corti, Lucy Gunn (2021). An Activity-Based Model of Transport Demand for Greater Melbourne. arXiv.

PDF Cite Code DOI

Partner with us​

We are now open to partnership with government and nongovernmental agencies to undertake collaborative and applied research for further developing the model and for using it to inform policy and practice. If would like to discuss a research partnership please email Dr Afshin Jafari at afshin.jafari@rmit.edu.au​

Acknowledgements

AToM has greatley benefited from contributions of experts and organisations from different fields, including (but not limited to):

  • Prof Billie Giles-Corti, RMIT University;
  • Dr Lucy Gunn, RMIT University;
  • Mr Steve Pemberton, RMIT University;
  • Dr Jonathan Arundel, RMIT Univesrity;
  • Infrastructure Victoria;
  • Department of Transport;
  • Institute for Sensible Transport;