Simulation-based Evaluation of Smart City Urban Transport Investments via Experimental Design

In recent years, the increasingly prominent concept of the smart city has come to the forefront in the world, particularly through efforts aimed at making urban life more inclusive and accessible. In this context, municipalities and public institutions have been planning various investments to ensure equitable access to urban services for individuals with disabilities. However, due to limited public resources, it is crucial that investment decisions be supported by scientific methods. This study addresses investment alternatives aimed at improving public transportation services, specifically municipal bus services, for individuals with disabilities in İzmir, a metropolitan city in Turkey. Based on a selected pilot area within İzmir, the existing transportation system was modeled using simulation software, and multiple investment scenarios were developed on this model. These scenarios were systematically tested using a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, and the benefits of each scenario were evaluated through the simulation outputs. The results were then statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test. Based on the findings, the most appropriate investment strategy to enhance the transportation experience of individuals with disabilities was proposed.