Flexible Model Exchange in Modelling Smart Mobility by Using Domain Ontologies

The development of smart mobility calls for the simultaneous consideration of multiple stakeholders’ perspectives while considering local circumstances. The analysis in simulation allows the efficient comparison of different scenarios and options to support the decision-making process. As diverse aspects call for different simulative implementations, the use of numerous modelling approaches reveals unsolved challenges in the integration process towards a comprehensive and consistent simulation. Taking the example of planning public charging infrastructure, three stakeholder groups as different component models with their interdependencies form the co-simulation framework. Facing the high adaptability required, the exchange of models and their integration come in focus, aiming for a mostly automated procedure to integrate a new model within an existing simulation framework. Domain ontologies enable the comparison of incorporated parameters and their transformation. Meta data allows to highly automate this process. The challenges to overcome are elaborated and the process of exchanging a component model is introduced. Thereby, this paper contributes to fill the gap between the standardization of model interfaces and the functionalities of existing master algorithm for simulation execution in the mobility domain. The application of the here-presented methodology facilitates and supports the decision-making for future mobility in general. It enables an existing simulation framework’s adoption to spatial particularities and adjustments over time.