Estimating road network accessibility during a hurricane evacuation: A case study of hurricane Irma in Florida

Understanding the spatio-temporal road network accessibility during a hurricane evacuation—the level of ease of residents in an area in reaching evacuation destination sites through the road network—is a critical component of emergency management. While many studies have attempted to measure road accessibility (either in the scope of evacuation or beyond), few have considered both dynamic evacuation demand and characteristics of a hurricane. This study proposes a methodological framework to achieve this goal. In an interval of every six hours, the method first estimates the evacuation demand in terms of number of vehicles per household in each county subdivision (sub-county) by considering the hurricane’s wind radius and track. The closest facility analysis is then employed to model evacuees’ route choices towards the predefined evacuation destinations. The potential crowdedness index (PCI), a metric capturing the level of crowdedness of each road segment, is then computed by coupling the estimated evacuation demand and route choices. Finally, the road accessibility of each sub-county is measured by calculating the reciprocal of the sum of PCI values of corresponding roads connecting evacuees from the sub-county to the designated destinations. The method is applied to the entire state of Florida during Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Results show that I-75 and I-95 northbound have a high level of congestion, and sub-counties along the northbound I-95 suffer from the worst road accessibility. In addition, this research performs a sensitivity analysis for examining the impacts of different choices of behavioral response curves on accessibility results.     

A comparative analysis of transportation-based accessibility to mental health services

The demand for mental health services has been growing stronger over the last couple of decades. This indicates the need to study and assess the access to these mental health services especially with a focus on the vulnerable populations having the greatest need. As such, this paper presents a Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-based analysis in order to study and evaluate the accessibility of mental health facilities using the information on the spatial distributions of population and facilities, and regional traffic characteristics. For this purpose, different age group segments are utilized including the total population as well as those aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 49, 50 and 64, and those aged over 65 and 85. Focusing on the State of Florida, spatially detailed accessibility metrics are calculated with regard to healthcare facilities using travel times between population block groups and these critical mental health facilities. These estimates are used to calculate the weighted county accessibility scores for each county. Findings clearly delineate those counties that lack access to mental facilities, especially those in Northwest Florida, a demographically diverse and substantially rural region. This type of analysis can help planners and policy makers develop better strategies in order to provide adequate mental health care options needed in targeted locations.     

基于停车行为调查的商业区停车空间组织研究

以广州市为例,对以北京路商业区为代表的传统商业区和以天河商业区为代表的现代商业区的4个停车场进行停车目的、停车步行距离、停车场类型、停车场安全、可接受停车费用5种停车特性的停车行为调查。调查结果显示：停车便利是停车者对商业停车空间组织最主要的要求,可以通过合理的诱导,提高停车空间的利用率,进而增强商场停车的便利性;应该利用合适的商场停车优惠政策,适时实施停车吸引或停车阻碍措施,更好地进行商场停车空间组织。最后借助模糊综合评价,对4个商业停车场的吸引能力进行排序,指出停车承受能力的高低将严重影响商场的竞争能力。     

Logistics connectivity considering import and export for Chinese inland regions in the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road by dry ports

This investigation studies the logistics connectivity of inland Chinese provinces along the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) from the perspective of the oriented cooperation relationship between seaports and dry ports in inland regions. The logistics connectivity is measured based on the import and export data. First, complex network theory is used to develop a system for evaluating logistics connectivity of inland regions, involving metrics of susceptible-infected-recovered, and improved closeness centrality proposed to drawing on the characteristics of the studied network based on closeness centrality. Second, based on collected data, 136 dry ports in China and 127 seaports along the MSR have been used to construct an empirical network that covers 15 inland provinces of China. Then, the accessibility and importance of inland provinces are analyzed, and key points that serve the improvement of the logistics connectivity of inland provinces are mined and summarized. An example of an improved scheme for the connectivity of inland provinces is presented to demonstrate the application of these key points. The conclusions drawn support decision-making for local governments to improve the logistics connectivity of inland regions in the international logistics network, and then strengthen the participation of inland provinces in the MSR.     

基于可达性指标的轨道交通外部性价值分析

城市轨道交通具有显著正外部效益,研究由此带来的价值,将有利于制定合理的城市轨道交通发展规划与融资模式。以大连市为例,基于可达性指标,建立特征价格模型,计算轨道交通外部性价值。模型结果得出城市轨道交通可达性指标提高,将使其正外部性效益增强,且合理的城市规划将极大提高城市轨道交通的外部性价值。     

Evaluating accessibility to Bangkok Metro Systems using multi-dimensional criteria across user groups

Metro systems act as fast and efficient transport systems for many modern metropolises; however, enhancing higher usage of such systems often conflicts with providing suitable accessibility options. The traditional approach of metro accessibility studies seems to be an ineffective measure to gage sustainable access in which the equal rights of all users are taken into account. Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) transportation has increasingly relied on the role of two mass rapid transport systems publicly called “BTS Skytrain” and “MRT Subway”, due to limited availability of land and massive road congestion; however, access to such transit arguably treats some vulnerable groups, especially women, the elderly and disabled people unfairly. This study constructs a multi-dimensional assessment of accessibility considerations to scrutinize how user groups access metro services based on BMR empirical case. 600 individual passengers at various stations were asked to rate the questionnaire that simultaneously considers accessibility aspects of spatial, feeder connectivity, temporal, comfort/safety, psychosocial and other dimensions. It was interestingly found by user disaggregated accessibility model that the lower the accessibility perceptions—related uncomfortable and unsafe environment conditions, the greater the equitable access to services, as illustrated by MRT — Hua Lumphong and MRT — Petchaburi stations. The study suggests that, to balance the access priorities of groups on services, policy actions should emphasize acceptably safe access for individuals, cost efficient feeder services connecting the metro lines, socioeconomic influences and time allocation. Insightful discussions on integrated approach balancing different dimensions of accessibility and recommendations would contribute to accessibility-based knowledge and potential propensity to use the public transits towards transport sustainability.     

边境城市跨境可达性对口岸经济的影响机理

为获取“一带一路”战略影响下我国边境城市交通可达性和口岸经济时空演化及两者的影响机理,构建跨境交通可达性评估模型及口岸经济发展水平分析模型,采用引力模型刻画可达性对口岸经济发展的影响机理.结果表明：我国边境城市的跨境交通可达性与口岸经济均表现出显著的“东强西弱”空间特征,在“一带一路”战略推动下,两者均呈现逐年上升的趋势,西部地区的提升效果较为显著,东北地区的优势地位逐年下降;边境城市可达性对口岸经济发展具有显著的正向影响作用,随着可达性水平的提高,其促进作用逐渐减弱;国际贸易便利指数也是影响口岸经济发展水平的重要因素,其影响作用呈逐年增强的趋势.     

Rural mobility and mode choice: Evidence from the 2001 National Household Travel Survey

This article uses data from the 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) to compare travel behavior in rural and urban areas of the U.S. As expected, the car is the overwhelmingly dominant mode of travel. Over 97% of rural households own at least one car vs. 92% of urban households; 91% of trips are made by car in rural areas vs. 86% in urban areas. Regardless of age, income, and race, almost everyone in rural areas relies on the private car for most travel needs. Mobility levels in rural areas are generally higher than in urban areas. That results from the more dispersed residences and activity sites in rural areas, which increase trip distances and force reliance on the car. Somewhat surprisingly, the rural elderly and poor are considerably more mobile than their urban counterparts, and their mobility deficit compared to the rural population average is strikingly less than for the urban elderly and poor compared to the urban average. Data limitations prevented a measurement of accessibility, however, and it seems likely that rural areas, by their very nature, are less accessible than urban areas, especially for the small percentage of car-less poor and elderly households.     

Travel time ratio: the key factor of spatial reach

An important aspect of reach and accessibility is the time people are willing to spend on reaching activity places. In this paper we see the issue of travel time in an alternative way. Instead of looking at travel time separated from time spent on activities, we examine the relation between travel time and stay time. We operationalize this relation with the concept “travel time ratio”. A hypothetical framework underlying these travel time ratios is displayed. We show that for similar types of activity places the value of travel time ratio are in accordance with each other. We find large differences between trips for mandatory activities and trips for discretionary activities. The results indicate the stability of the travel time ratios. Finally, some implications for future research and policy will be mentioned. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

高速铁路建设对沿线城市经济发展的促进作用

国内外诸多经典理论研究表明,城市的发展与地理环境、资源、人口、交通网络等诸多因素有关,其中城市交通和城市间的铁路交通网对城市的形成与经济发展影响最大。此文在阐述国内外高速铁路发展概况的基础上,依据城市经济学相关理论,建立城市通达性与城市经济总量的关系模型,通过选取样本空间,进行相关数据归纳和分析,论述高速铁路建设缩短了城市间的时空距离,提高了城市间的通达性,加快了区域间资源、技术及信息的交流,增加了城市的GDP总量,促进了城市经济的发展,对中部城市经济发展的促进作用更加明显。