Discovering relationships between factors of round-trip car sharing by using association rules approach

To maximize private vehicle usage efficiency and alleviate urban congestion, many studies and actual field operations on vehicle sharing have been done since the mid '90s. The classic carsharing system, which is known as a round-trip, is operated out of fixed stations so that customers can pick up and drop off the vehicle at the same station. Although many private carsharing companies offer one-way or free-floating trips currently for customers' convenience, studying characteristics of round-trip carsharing is still significant in making cost-beneficial, fuel-efficient, and less-congested driving environments in urban areas. The main objective of this research is a comprehensive analysis for discovering relationships between critical factors of round-trip carsharing operations based on the city of Cagliari, Italy, by analysing data retrieved from the local carsharing providing company, PlayCar, with the association rules approach. This paper investigates round-trip carsharing behaviour characteristics from various angles, including demand analysis of reservation by hourly and daily manner, geographic analysis, and connectivity to public transportations. The association rules technique was used to discover the relationships between the characteristics and understand their attributes.