In a study titled "Advanced Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Optimizing Urban Rail Network Design using Nature-Inspired Algorithms", researchers from Amity University explored an innovative methodology for the planning of metro network routes within the urban environment of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The research did a detailed study to explore different applications of AI with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a variety of nature-inspired algorithms.

They compared this algorithm with other latest nature-inspired algorithms and showed its superiority. The urban rail network is to be created for Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. The origin and destination of the rail network are Tambaram and Shollingnallur, respectively. Additionally, the model generates results for the existing urban rail network in Chennai to show the variation between acquired results and the network.

The researchers conducted a detailed review of the latest nature-inspired algorithms and a comparative analysis of the same with the modified ACO algorithm to show the superiority of the modified ACO algorithm. They validated the model by comparing its result with the existing urban rail route in the city. They conducted optimal route identification for urban rail planning between the chosen origin and destination in a city. It attempts to determine rail stops along the chosen route by considering land usage patterns, geographical data, census data, and point-of-interest places of the city with proposed rules & conditions and create a final route with these stops as intermediate points along the urban rail route.

A comparison

The researchers compared the recently developed nature-inspired algorithm with the previously developed modified ACO algorithm. The modified ACO algorithm is considered over other algorithms for choosing the optimal route from multiple choices. The algorithm chooses the optimal solution based on the total distance and time taken to travel from a given origin to the destination. The model developed in the current research is used to create a metro rail route in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The algorithm determined the route with stops for the existing Chennai Metro Rail Network between Chennai Airport and Thiruvottriyur. The final route is predicted to be the same as the existing one, with a slight variation in the number of stops from 14 to 12.

The city's origin and destination of the new metro network are Tambaram and Sholingnallur. The final route between these locations consists of 7 stops at different locations. The actual benefits of the developed model will reduce the workforce, time taken, and cost involved in metro route planning in a city.

Studying the model

According to the research, the benefits of proposing this model in real-time are compared to that of factors involved during the traditional method, and the proposed model has shown a vast difference. There is potential for additional enhancement of the model in the future in the following ways:

1. The model can be developed for route planning of other public mode of transportation like highways, long- distance bridges, waterways.
2. It can be further applied to societies in different areas to provide a bigger impact on the Global Sustainable Development Goals.

Full Study