Towards a Reference Model for Multimodal Transport Networks

Abstract

A multimodal transport network is a widely used form of transport infrastructure. The ability to describe different modes of transport, taking into account many different attributes, requires a structured model. This paper outlines the requirements for the description of a multimodal transport network in the form of a reference model. To this end, expert interviews were conducted with various expert groups from companies, researchers from the field of transport planning, traffic management system providers and internationally active logistics service providers to ensure that the reference model is suitable for practical applications. Furthermore, an approach to transform the attributes into a relational data model including entities and cardinalities is described and the challenges encountered are highlighted: different data formats, different stakeholders and insufficient data availability. Finally, the application of the reference model as data base in a practical real-world scenar io is presented