Procedure for Bridge Construction Cost Allocation Based on Game Theory

Traditional procedures for bridge construction cost allocation divide costs between vehicle classes on the basis of gross vehicle weight (traffic load) and ignore the effect of traffic capacity (traffic lane) requirements. This paper presents a new cost allocation method for bridge construction that integrates both traffic capacity and traffic load requirements. The proposed method is based on three allocation criteria known as Aumann-Shapley value, Shapley value, and incremental allocation. The first two criteria are game theory calculations defined as average marginal values associated with all possible ordered arrangements of a set of players. Depending on the criteria, players are defined as vehicle classes, 18-kip single-axle load applications, or traffic lanes. The incremental allocation method considers the vehicle classes in a specific order, usually on the basis of vehicle weight, and determines allocation costs as marginal costs after sequentially including individual vehicle classes and assessing total costs for bridges accommodating all vehicle classes included. An example is provided to illustrate the proposed procedure. For comparison purposes, cost allocations by other available methods are also provided for the example. This paper also provides an insight into the relationship between traffic capacity and bridge construction cost allocation.