1. Modeling A More Efficient Transportation System Zachary Buzaid | Samuel Irwin WIT Department of Applied Mathematics
Results
After processing all the data, we have found multiple stimulating values for different aspects of each form of transportation. Below we have ranked different modes of transportation according to the factors they are composed of:
Cost
Walking – A total cost of $0.
Biking – Initial costs may vary, yearly costs are guaranteed.
Train – Expect daily fares of atleast $2 each way.
Speed
Train – Most of the time, this will be the fastest.
Biking – A close second w/ an average of 12.9mph
Walking –Prepare for slow w/ an average of 4.4mph
Consistency
Walking – Std Dev of 0, expect the occasional rainstorm.
Biking – Std Dev of miles/min
Train – Std Dev of .131 miles/min, which is substantial
Bicycle
Cycling, one of America’s favorite past times; the open air, good exercise, and taking one step closer to a greener environment. Your morning commute just became exciting instead of exasperating! Just watch out for the occasional car “clip”, flat tires, rainy days, and the endless car horns of agitated drivers.
Introduction
Boston, along with most urban areas, has a terrible transportation problem. Imagine that it is 5pm on a weekday, or maybe you are preparing for your morning commute, and you need to make it across town. What is going to be your choice of transportation? Do you take a train, walk, or bicycle? We aimed to account for common factors and setbacks in modern Boston’s rush hour traffic, and provide the average commuter with the most efficient way to get to where they need to be in the shortest period of time. Using statistical and probabilistic methods, we will make personal recommendations that meet the needs of each individual.
Analysis of Options
Train
The MBTA is Massachusetts’ network of public transportation. World renowned for it’s efficiency and timeliness, the T is grandfathered as one of Boston’s go-to forms of commuting. Aspects to think about before you declare this as your beloved form of commuting are the steep fares, unknown waiting times, and being too close for comfort with your fellow commuters at peak hours.
Walking
Another environmentally efficient form of transportation. The preferred option for people wishing to spend absolutely no money on their commutes. Be advised, this almost always turns into running, because this form of transportation is so slow. According to the “Geography of Time”, the average Boston walking pace is 4.4mph, which is about a third of the pace of a cyclist. However, if your distance is fairly short, this could be a much smarter idea.
Here is a GPS tracking of one of the many trials we conducted. The trials were run during many different scenarios in order to gain an accurate representation of what the length of a commute could look like with any given parameter.
Notice that although the R2 value is a good fit, the time value will continue to grow smaller with length, which is not true for all future values. This is not the best regression model for this time period.
Conclusion
After comparing all of the resulting data, the model has successfully managed to distinguish between individual preferences and provide the user with their most efficient form of transportation. Now that these models have been created, flaws are accounted for, and the probabilities are calculated, we feel that we have successfully managed to reduce the daily frustration accompanied by uneducated commuting techniques.

2. Description of Operations
We were able to access a large pool of travel data that enabled us to use regression models to make justified estimations on how long it would take someone to travel using a specific method of transportation. Having these comparable lengths, we use an interactive program that allows the user to enter the time and location of their commute so that we can suggest the form of transportation that would be most efficient. Our model aims to conveniently weigh factors such as cost, stress, and consistency. By doing this, there is no “one” main form of transportation that is suggested each time. It is truly and individual experience.