A fuzzy based genetic algorithm for optimizing the pedestrian walking network; case study historic district of Tehran

Fast growth of motorized transportation infrastructures in the cities is a consequence of the urbanization process. Despite the undeniable benefits of the developments, some unwelcome social-environmental damages have been occurred. On top of the list, the movements of the pedestrians and their participation in social activities have dramatically reduced as a result of the vehicles dominancy. Pedestrianization and walking-friendly schemes are the key answer to preserve the valuable element of the urban lifestyle. This need motivated the researchers to study and propose mathematical methods to model the dynamics and behavior of the pedestrians in response to their surroundings. However, most of the models in the literature are suitable for limited small-size area and cannot be applied for a large scale urban zone. In this paper, a fuzzy macroscopic pedestrian assignment model is proposed which is applicable for a large scale network and useful for urban master plans as a decision making framework. In addition, a bi-level mixed integer programming model is presented to optimize the pedestrian walking network via selecting some projects on the network, considering the behavior of the pedestrians. Finally, the problem is solved for a large scale pedestrian network in the city of Tehran. The results show the efficiency of the algorithm where spending half of the maximum possible cost has led to a welfare gain of 82.6 percent. The problem was efficiently solved within 12.5 days which is fairly acceptable for the strategic planning of such a large scale network. The numerical results verify the necessity of the model for urban master plan horizon.