Metaheuristic algorithms and multi-criteria decision-making for urban public transportation systems in developing tourism environment

Abstract

A number of structures, including public transportation (PT) structures and facilities, have been built in the large cities in order to protect and develop tourism. The importance of them is recognized day-to-day and the value they add to the economy of the city increases. In particular, efforts to protect historical PT system structures stand out. While there are many studies in many urban areas in order to preserve the historical structure in transportation, the assessment procedures are crucial in these cases. Although many alternatives are compared by applying multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods in the field of transportation, other techniques such as metaheuristic techniques in transportation optimization can also be utilized. Not only these advanced methodologies can be used together, also decision-makers in urban transportation can put these methods into practice. Therefore, in this study, a set of transportation measures are evaluated by three up-to-date metaheuristic algorithms and an MCDM technique. They are applied for maintaining a PT line which has been used for years to develop tourism. The line remains robust in today's conditions, however it should be carried into the future. In other words, this study is a comparison of alternatives with metaheuristic algorithmic applications and MCDM methods.