Modelling autonomous vehicle parking: An agent‐based simulation approach

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) present a paradigm shift in addressing conventional parking challenges. Unlike human‐driven vehicles, AVs can strategically park or cruise until summoned by users. Utilizing utility theory, the parking decision‐making processes of AVs users are explored, taking into account constraints related to both cost and time. An agent‐based simulation approach is adopted to construct an AV parking model, reflecting the complex dynamics of the parking decision process in the real world, where each user's choice has a ripple effect on traffic conditions, consequently affecting the feasible options for other users. The simulation experiments indicate that 11.50% of AVs gravitate towards parking lots near their destinations, while over 50% of AVs avoid public parking amenities altogether. This trend towards minimizing individual parking costs prompts AVs to undertake extended empty cruising, resulting in a significant increase of 48.18% in total vehicle mileage. Moreover, the pricing structure across various parking facilities and management dictates the parking preferences of AVs, establishing a nuanced trade‐off between parking expenses and proximity for these vehicles. This study examines autonomous vehicle (AV) parking using utility theory to design user decision‐making, considering cost and time. An agent‐based model simulates real‐world AV parking dynamics, highlighting individual choices' impact on traffic and others' options.