Analytic hierarchy process application in selecting the mode of transport for a logistics company

As a multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) method, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been used considerably to solve hierarchical or network‐based decision problems in socio‐economic fields. Following an in‐depth explanation of the transport function in logistics and an overview of the MCDM methods, the AHP model is employed in the paper for a logistics company in selecting the most suitable way of transportation between two given locations in Turkey. The criteria used in the selection of transportation modes are identified as the cost, speed, safety, accessibility, reliability, environmental friendliness, and flexibility. Several cost parameters (transportation, storage, handling, bosphorus crossover) are incorporated into the decision‐making process. The application is carried out in instructional character. The results of the study indicate that the railway transportation, which is not widely used in Turkey, is also an alternative and suitable means of transportation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

山地旅游轨道交通线路规划的适应性评价

山地景区地势复杂,其发展普遍受交通所限,为了提高山地景区的运营效益、带动经济发展,国内部分景区规划和修建了山地旅游轨道交通。本文列举了山地旅游轨道交通特征及线路规划模式,从地理环境、自然环境、供需环境及与常规公交的关系四个角度分析,对应建立四个子系统,并选取具有山地旅游轨道交通特性的评价指标体系,利用层次分析法和变异系数法组合赋权重,运用灰色关联分析法的评价模型,据此判断线路规划方案适应性的优劣。     

基于交通渗流理论的城市轨道交通网络动态服务瓶颈识别

为准确把握轨道交通网络化运营的新态势和新要求,力求轨道交通系统在大客流下做到运输能力和服务水平的供需匹配,需对轨道交通网络的关键瓶颈进行有效识别和疏解。本文借鉴交通渗流理论,提出了限制网络整体服务水平和连通效能的动态服务瓶颈的识别方法,该方法综合考虑了城市轨道交通系统的网络特性、客流特性和服务特性。其中针对区间服务水平状态,该方法提出了定量评定的复合指标模型。以成都地铁线网为案例,基于实际客流运营数据,构建动态网络,识别服务瓶颈,验证了方法的适用性和准确性,对城市轨道交通系统运营管理有实际指导意义。     

Evaluating security of rail transit systems: A metric system approach

Crime and fear of crime is a major problem plaguing U.S. transit systems, particularly those serving large urban areas. This paper presents a normative framework for assessing rail transit security following a system-wide metric approach. The security metric can also be used to assess the marginal improvement in security as a result of improving or adopting alternative policing and monitoring strategies. The model consists of five tasks: surveying rail transit security systems, developing a rail transit security metric, assigning efficiency ratings to rail security functions, developing a composite index for the efficiency of the overall security system, and applying a probability matrix to temper the results. Efficiency ratings can be translated into probability of occurrence figures that can be used in a decision tree context to improve rail transit security.     

The methodology of multiple criteria decision making/aiding in public transportation

The paper presents methodological overview of the application of Multiple Criteria Decision Making/Aiding (MCDM/A) in public transportation. It explains why MCDM/A methodology is so important while dealing with different categories of decision problems that arise in mass transit systems. Major features and basic notions of MCDM/A methodology are presented. Different categories of MCDM/A methods are characterized and classified. Two case studies demonstrate possible applications of MCDM/A methodology in public transportation. In the first case study multiple objective evaluation of the mass transit system developments' scenarios is carried out. Four variants of the mass transit system are evaluated by a consistent family of criteria with an application of ELECTRE III method. The second case study refers to optimization of the crew size in the mass transit system operated by a public transportation company (PTC). Multiple objective mathematical programing problem is formulated and solved by a combination of an original, customized heuristic procedure implemented in a computer software PEOPLE and the Light Beam Search (LBS) method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple criteria and fuzzy based evaluation of logistics performance for intermodal transportation

This paper presents a framework to evaluate the logistics performance of intermodal freight transportation. Fuzzy set techniques are applied to assess the logistics performance within the decision process of freight operators. Using a fuzzy‐based approach, fuzzy‐AHP is applied to assess the criteria by different judgment procedures. Consequently, fuzzy‐MCDM is used to assess operators' perception of the logistics performance via proper assignment of numerical scores. The subjective judgments for hierarchical criteria are transformed into fuzzy degrees of score. The methodology provides an alternative approach to facilitate the importance of a set of performance criteria. It can also entail use of improved corresponding parameters to develop a better freight transport system.     

伦敦的新建轨道交通系统——Tramlink

新建轨道交通系统作为一种重要的公共交通工具,正在得到越来越广泛的应用。介绍了伦敦新建轨道交通系统——Tramlink的线路、车辆、运营管理、客流及特点等内容。作为地铁系统的补充,Tramlink在伦敦公共交通领域发挥着重要的作用。     

An integrated measure of accessibility and reliability of mass transit systems

The growth of a city or a metropolis requires well-functioning transit systems to accommodate the ensuing increase in travel demand. As a result, mass transit networks have to develop and expand from simple to complex topological systems over time to meet this demand. Such an evolution in the networks’ structure entails not only a change in network accessibility, but also a change in the level of network reliability on the part of stations and the entire system as well. Network accessibility and reliability are popular measures that have been widely applied to evaluate the resilience and vulnerability of a spatially networked system. However, the use of a single measure, either accessibility or reliability, provides different results, which demand an integrated measure to evaluate the network’s performance comprehensively. In this paper, we propose a set of integrated measures, named ACCREL (Integrated Accessibility and Reliability indicators) that considers both metrics in combination to evaluate a network’s performance and vulnerability. We apply the new measures for hypothetical mass transit system topologies, and a case study of the metro transit system in Seoul follows, highlighting the dynamics of network performance with four evolutionary stages. The main contribution of this study lies in the results from the experiments, which can be used to inform how transport network planning can be prepared to enhance the network functionality, thereby achieving a well-balanced, accessible, and reliable system. Insights on network vulnerability are also drawn for public transportation planners and spatial decision makers.     

What determines rail transit passenger volume? Implications for transit oriented development planning

Transit oriented development (TOD) has been an important topic for urban transportation planning research and practice. This paper is aimed at empirically examining the effect of rail transit station-based TOD on daily station passenger volume. Using integrated circuit (IC) card data on metro passenger volumes and cellular signaling data on the spatial distribution of human activities in Shanghai, the research identifies variations in ridership among rail transit stations. Then, regression analysis is performed using passenger volume in each station as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables include station area employment and population, residents’ commuting distances, metro network accessibility, status as interchange station, and coupling with commercial activity centers. The main findings are: (1) Passenger volume is positively associated with employment density and residents’ commuting distance around station; (2) stations with earlier opening dates and serving as transfer nodes tend to have positive association with passenger volumes; (3) metro stations better integrated with nearby commercial development tend to have larger passenger volumes. Several implications are drawn for TOD planning: (1) TOD planning should be integrated with rail transit network planning; (2) location of metro stations should be coupled with commercial development; (3) high employment densities should be especially encouraged as a key TOD feature; and (4) interchange stations should be more strategically positioned in the planning for rail transit network.     

Multimodal traveling and its impact on urban transit network design

Multimodal trip making, that is trips using a combination of several modes between origin and destination, is expected to be beneficial to society and might offer advantages to the traveler as well. This article looks at some of the implications of multi‐modality in trip making for the design of urban transit systems since these play an important role in multi‐modal transportation systems. In this respect, the article looks at the strategic design characteristics of urban transit networks, that is line density, stop density and service frequencies for the case of multimodal access to urban transit networks and for hierarchical network structures in urban transit systems. The analyses show that multimodal access does not require alternative network structures. For hierarchical network structures it is concluded that these are primarily determined by the hierarchy in demand densities and thus by hierarchy in urban structures.     

利用城市轨道交通发展现代物流的设想及探讨

针对现代物流发展的特点,提出了利用城市轨道交通网络发展物流业的设想,对其局限性进行了分析和探讨,并提出了应对措施。     

Transit system evaluation: Guideway bus vs. light rail transit

This paper describes a set of specialized spreadsheets that model the cost and performance of transit system options including light rail transit, guideway bus, express bus, and ride sharing. These spreadsheets are demonstrated by comparing a guideway bus (GWB) transit system and a light rail transit (LRT) system proposed for construction in an active rail corridor. The comparisons for assumed levels of transit ridership include guideway geometry, travel time, headways, vehicle requirements, grade crossing protection, and capital and operating costs. The planned GWB system runs on an exclusive dual guideway in the rail right-of-way, and the alternative LRT system operates on the existing rails with new bridges and track as needed for a dual guideway system. The analysis compares the two options for mode splits between 0.5% and 50%. Results show that while both options have approximately the same travel time, the GWB system costs approximately 30% less than the LRT system. The cost difference results primarily from lower GWB vehicle purchase and operating costs. The spreadsheets are available through the McTrans Center at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.     

Testing the decentralization effects of rail systems: Empirical findings from Israel

Many sustainable urban development approaches are based on mass public transportation ventures, especially railway development, which has been considered a panacea for the unfavorable effects of suburban development. But rail transit also improves accessibility to the fringes, thus encouraging an exodus to the suburbs. This paper explores suburbanization and sprawling effect of commuter rail transit on the rural exurbia of the Tel Aviv metropolis by analyzing its effect on residential location decisions. The findings indicate that the suburban rail system was a determinant factor in the location choice of households which migrated from the inner parts of the Tel Aviv metropolis, since it allowed them to maintain strong commuting connections to their residential origin. This suggests that rail transit, along with its potential to strengthen the inner cities, also accelerates suburbanization and counter urbanization.     

Incorporating Uncertain and Incomplete Subjective Judgments into the Evaluation Procedure of Transportation Demand Management Alternatives

This paper proposes a methodology for evaluating transportation demand management (TDM) alternatives in the context of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). The proposed approach takes into account not only quantitative criteria (i.e. transportation and environmental impacts) but also qualitative criteria (i.e. social impacts) which are intrinsically uncertain and subjective. The transportation impacts of the TDM alternatives are estimated by TRIPS¹ program, while the MOBILE5a² is employed in order to estimate environmental impacts in terms of NO_X, CO and Hydrocarbon. The social impacts of the TDM alternatives are estimated by interviewing relevant experts. Consequently, the uncertain subjective judgements were quantified by the evidential reasoning (ER) approach based on decision theory and Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence. In order to measure the weights of criteria, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is adopted. As a last step, the CODASID³ method based on a complete concordance and discordance analysis is used to rank alternative TDM schemes. The proposed approach is demonstrated by ranking 14 TDM alternatives, which are chosen for the central business area in Bangkok, Thailand of 22-square-kilometers.     

Japan's urban transportation system in the major transport spheres

The urban areas in Japan have undergone rapid changes in the last two and one-half decades. At the same time, the urban transportation system has been faced with numerous problems which need to be solved urgently. This paper presents the development stage and problems in the three largest metropolitan areas, designated as transport spheres, in Japan. Japan's problems in urban transportation are similar to those of most Western nations with regard to such issues as rapid urbanization, growth in travel, increasing auto ownership, growing transit operating deficits, rising wages and air pollution. The differences are the large modal split of transit from automobile trips, major expansion of the rail transit network, and the large number of transit operators in each urban area in Japan. In addition, governmental policies to help solve the urban transport problems are briefly described. In order to make the policies effective, coordination among government agencies is required. The establishment of a unified government agency is regarded as the first priority in dealing with the urban transport problem. It is expected that the government will offer bold new countermeasures to cope with urban transportation problems.This report was accomplished with the kind assistance of Professor Jerry B. Schneider, Departments of Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, University of Washington, and Mr. Satoshi Inoue, an official of the Ministry of Transport in Japan, who is currently studying at the University of Washington.     

Impact of ITS measures on public transport: A Case study

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have a wide range of applications. They range from the more traditional signal coordination system to concepts such as smart cars and smart roads. This paper describes transit‐based ITS measures in Singapore. The island‐state has plans to double the current 90 km rail network over the next ten years and has also implemented or committed to implement many ITS initiatives that impact upon the public transport systems. The aim of these investments is to achieve a high transit modal share using a comprehensive transit network. ITS measures that can promote this aim include: automatic vehicle location systems for buses and taxis, integrated transit fare systems using contactless smart cards, rail information systems, multi‐modal travel guides on Internet and electronic road pricing. The potential impacts of these measures are delay reduction, more comfort, productivity gain and better network accessibility. ITS measures do not necessarily add physical capacity to a public transport system but are excellent supporting measures to encourage the modal shift to transit, particularly if a quality transit system is already in place.     

Choosing the wrong technology: Or how to spend billions and reduce transit use

In spite of a broad consensus among transportation analysts that bus rapid transit, whether operating on exclusive rights-of-way or on uncongested high occupancy vehicle lanes or general purpose limited access facilities, provides higher performance and has significantly lower costs per passenger trip than rail transit in medium and low density cities, nearly all Sunbelt cities are building or planning heavy or light rail systems. This paper reviews previous studies of the cost-effectiveness of heavy and light rail transit with bus-rapid transit and the growing experience with busways and transitways and concludes, once again, that some form of bus rapid transit would be a far more effective way of providing improved transit in these cities than heavy or light rail transit. Not only would bus rapid transit be substantially cheaper, but it would provide a higher quality of service than light or heavy rail transit for virtually all users. Finally, the paper speculates on the reasons for the continued, “blind” commitment to rail transit by policymakers in Sunbelt cities and on the refusal of policymakers in all but a few of these cities to even consider bus rapid transit.     

Transport planning with multiple criteria: The analytic hierarchy process applications and progress review

Five examples of applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are made to illustrate the different uses of this ratio scale multicriteria decision method in transportation. They include a commuter route selection hierarchy, a best mix of routes to Pittsburgh's new International Airport, a benefits/costs hierarchy to choose the best mode to cross a river, a planning hierarchy for a transport system and a simple dependence with feedback cycle to choose a car when criteria depend on the alternatives. For a better appreciation of the use and power of the method, the examples are followed by a resume of developments in research on the (AHP) in the last few years.     

城市轨道交通运营突发事件应急处置体系的思考

结合上海轨道交通网络化运营生产组织工作实际,针对轨道交通生产经营过程中的风险源,对其运营突发事件的应急处置工作进行分析和研究,从风险源分析、能力评估、组织架构及体系建设等方面着手,提出能够适应城市轨道交通网络化运营需求应急处置体系的一些设想。