Quantum optimisation of transport and logistics for Brisbane 2032

The challenge: Managing crowds and accessibility

Brisbane 2032 will bring unprecedented demands on the city’s transport networks, with thousands of spectators, athletes, and officials navigating the city. Two critical challenges stand out:

1. Crowd safety: High-density areas such as Southbank, the CBD, and Milton risk dangerous crowd crushes. Lessons from past tragedies like the 2022 Seoul Halloween and  2010 German Love Parade disasters highlight the importance of prevention.
2. Accessible transport: Servicing over 1,000 wheelchair users daily requires optimising fleets of maxi-taxis and community transport vehicles. Traditional planning methods struggle with unpredictable demands and limited fleet sizes.

Our solution: Harnessing quantum power

Our project applies state-of-the-art quantum computing to tackle these challenges, offering unparalleled computational performance. By developing algorithms based on Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm (QAOA) and Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), we can optimise:

1. Pedestrian movements - Predict crowd pinch-points and prevent crush events.
2. Fleet scheduling - Maximise trips for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, ensuring seamless travel for athletes and visitors.

This quantum framework will test proof-of-concept solutions using emulators and cloud-based quantum processors, paving the way for future scalability.

Why quantum?

Traditional approaches to logistics modelling require immense computational resources and struggle with dynamic variables like traveller diversity or real-time schedule updates. Quantum computing extends the boundaries of what’s possible by:

1. Handling complex, large-scale optimisation problems efficiently.
2. Reducing excessive run times while increasing model accuracy.
3. Offering resilience to unexpected disruptions.