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Bus service quality prediction and attribute ranking: a neural network approach

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Abstract

Evaluation of service quality (SQ) based on user preferences has become a primary concern for the transportation authorities. The most significant attributes of public transportation systems are revealed through service quality analysis. This information serves as valuable input in constantly updating the quality of public transportation services. An appropriate tool is therefore mandatory in this regard. This paper represents a comparative study on the bus SQ prediction capabilities of three effective Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approaches, namely: Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN), Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) and Pattern Recognition Neural Network (PRNN). To calibrate the parameters of the developed ANN models, data on users’ perception toward bus services of Dhaka city, Bangladesh, have been used. Taking the public opinion as baseline, GRNN and PNN have proven to be better prediction models since both have achieved higher accuracy compared to PRNN. Among 22 selected SQ attributes, the most significant attributes have been ranked according to their influence on the users’ decision making process. According to the GRNN and PNN models, punctuality and reliability, service frequency, seat availability and commuting experience are found to be the most significant attributes, which support the user-stated preferences.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express thanks to the Committee for Advanced Studies and Research (CASR) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for the financial support. Thanks also go to the faculty and graduate students of department of Civil Engineering, BUET for their assistance with data collection to perform this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Md Rokibul Islam, Md Hadiuzzaman & Sanjana Hossain

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, European University of Bangladesh (EUB), Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh

    Rajib Banik

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), Dhaka, 1208, Bangladesh

    Md Mehedi Hasnat

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Sarder Rafee Musabbir

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  1. Md Rokibul Islam
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  2. Md Hadiuzzaman
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  4. Md Mehedi Hasnat
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  5. Sarder Rafee Musabbir
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  6. Sanjana Hossain
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Correspondence to Md Mehedi Hasnat.

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Islam, M.R., Hadiuzzaman, M., Banik, R. et al. Bus service quality prediction and attribute ranking: a neural network approach. Public Transp 8, 295–313 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12469-016-0124-0

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