Automation of Rural Collective Transport: Conceptualising three Alternative Use Cases based on Underexplored Rural Transport Specificities

Abstract

Whereas the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is widely explored in urban contexts, their usage in rural transport services is still understudied. The few works in this field focus on four main use-case typologies, which are only selectively tested. These typologies are mostly concentred on: (a) the type of route and schedules collective AVs could supply (fixed or demand-responsive); and (b) the type of connection AVs are supposed to provide (chain-with-transfers or door-to-door). However, they often neglect a series of rural specificities that the design of AV use cases should comprise, such as the substantial temporal variability of rural collective transport demand or the tendency towards activity chaining of commuters living in rural areas. Based on these underexplored specificities, this study conceptualises three alternative use cases that combine the four reference typologies to complement them. Additionally, the study defines the main characteristics of each use case by referring to a set of shared assets relevant for any application of AVs, such as the schedule, vehicle type, service period, or pricing scheme. Future works may take these conceptual use cases as a starting point to design concrete solutions in specific study areas, quantify their costs for the transport provider and benefits for rural dwellers, and thus enlarge the knowledge on the interplay between AVs and rural collective transport.