An Overview of Multimodal Transport Design and Challenges Underlined by a Carsharing Case Study

This paper covers some of the main aspects of multimodal transportation design (fundamental elements, topology and some existing approaches) before introducing the numerous and various challenges it poses, as a system of systems: legal and business aspects, demand prediction and multimodal planning and supervision. As an illustration, it then highlights some challenges specific to carsharing such as coping with supply, performance and patterns of the existing multimodal transportation system. Finally, using graph theory and mathematical programming, the paper studies a theoretical model to design and to optimize such a carsharing system.