ITS applications in public transport: Improving the service to the transport system

This paper examines all the disparate technologies and techniques capable of smoothing the integration of public transport modes and services at both the urban and interurban scale. The paper focuses on the application of information technology and telematics solutions which have been designed to create as seamless a journey as possible from the point of view of the transport system user. The scope of the paper is therefore deliberately wide‐ranging and includes an examination of measures as apparently unconnected as smartcard ticketing, bus priority systems, automatic vehicle locationing, trip planning and on‐board information systems as well as new public transport services offering demand responsive travel and integration with taxi services. The paper intends to show how such technological solutions can be used to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of fixed public transport networks in comparison to the door‐to‐door flexibility of the private car.     

Evaluation of a fleet safety management information system

Despite recent interest in work related road safety, relatively little research has been conducted to examine the effects of institutional factors on fleet safety. This paper conceptualized an evaluation framework and utilized it to assess fleet coordinators' attitudes toward and the usage of a fleet safety management system. First, focus group interviews revealed that monitoring fleet safety was not considered an important task within the government agencies participating in the research. Second, similar results were obtained in a survey of the fleet coordinators, which showed that most fleet coordinators were not utilising the full diagnostic capabilities of the management information system. In particular, fleet coordinators reported significantly higher competence, usage and importance on the coordination of fleet vehicle efficiency than on the coordination of fleet safety. These results were supported by the finding that fleet coordinators were required to report more on fleet efficiency than on fleet safety.     

Development of pictograms for dynamic traffic control systems in South Korea

This study developed a set of pictograms for lane control systems, to provide additional information to drivers on weather and traffic incidents. The results suggest that in the design of traffic signs, it is important to consider local context and not simply adopt standards and practices that are developed elsewhere. The differences in the social and cultural environments may affect the ease of reading and comprehension by local drivers. However, the study also showed that not all locally developed signs were rated higher for their ease of reading than others… Since some design characteristics are more salient, whereas others tend to be more dependent on the local context, it is important to conduct simple experiments and exploratory research to find the optimal designs to be used.     

Comment

A paper for the 'Management of Risks in Engineering' seminar on 'Risks, Vulnerabilities and Exposures in Transport (air, space, sea and land)' organised by the Association Internationale pour I 'Etude de I 'Economie de I' Assurance, Munich, October 21-22, 2002.     

St Ursula sails again

The commonest version of the legend of St Ursula tells how she was betrothed to a prince but obtained a 3-year moratorium because she wished to remain a virgin [1]. She spent this time cruising with 11 noble companions, each of whom occupied a ship with 1000 more. After visiting Cologne and Basle and making a pilgrimage to Rome they were all massacred by Huns for their Christianity, Ursula having refused to marry the chief. Variations on this legent include providing her with a Cornish origin and saying that she sailed to Brittany with 11 000 maidens. Whatever her origin and whatever happened to her, it is now thought that the remarkable number of her companions may have stemmed from a medieval copyist's error. This involved expanding the abbreviation 'XI MV' into '11 000 virgins' when it should have read '11 virgin-martyrs'. Whilst there is no real evidence for any of the story (her cult was suppressed by the Roman Catholic authorities in the reforms of 1969) it may be contended that morals may be drawn from it.     

台湾高速铁路项目GIS解决方案

论述了地理信息系统在台湾高速铁路项目的应用。提供了铁路地理信息系统（RGIS）建设的一些经验和建议。