User-Friendly Game-Theoretic Modeling and Analysis of Multi-Modal Transportation Systems

Abstract: The evolution of existing transportation systems, mainly driven by urbanization and increased availability of mobility options, such as private, profit-maximizing ride-hailing companies, calls for tools to reason about their design and regulation. To study this complex socio-technical problem, one needs to account for the strategic interactions of the stakeholders involved in the mobility ecosystem. In this paper, we present a game-theoretic framework to model multi-modal mobility systems, focusing on municipalities, service providers, and travelers. Through a user-friendly, Graphical User Interface, one can visualize system dynamics and compute equilibria for various scenarios. The framework enables stakeholders to assess the impact of local decisions (e.g., fleet size for services or taxes for private companies) on the full mobility system. Furthermore, this project aims to foster STEM interest among high school students (e.g., in the context of prior activities in Switzerland, and planned activities with the MIT museum). This initiative combines theoretical advancements, practical applications, and educational outreach to improve mobility system design.