Intermodal transport in freight distribution: a literature review

There has been significant growth in research on intermodal transport in freight distribution since the 1990s. Differentiating itself from previously published literature reviews, this paper evaluates the current state of this research using Systematic Literature Review methodology. The complementary aims are: (a) to identify the research lines developed and to propose a criterion for classifying the literature, and (b) to discuss the empirical evidence that identifies existing interrelationships. The analysis has enabled three main lines of research to be identified. The first research line, basic principles of intermodal transport, groups together works related to the definition of intermodal transport and the results obtained using this transportation system. The second, improvements to the way that intermodal transport systems work, frames elements and variables that impact intermodal transport systems’ logistics efficiency, such as quality of service, information and communication systems, and freight planning and linkages among system operators to provide an adequate service. Finally, the third line, intermodal transport system modelling, identifies the main variables used to optimise these transport systems, the different focuses and approaches used in modelling, and the advantages and disadvantages of each focus. These research lines take in more specific sublines that incorporate articles that develop related research questions. Lastly, the discussion of the content of each of these research sublines enables us to identify gaps in the literature and comment on directions for future research.     

Exploring active transportation investments and associated benefits for municipal budgets: a scoping review

Municipalities play an important role in the planning and development of communities that support active transportation (AT), which refers to human-powered modes of travel, such as walking and cycling. Municipal-level stakeholders involved in land-use and transportation infrastructure planning consider multiple social, environmental and economic considerations to inform decision-making and investments in AT. Evidence around the fiscal benefits of AT investment for local governments has not been systematically identified. This scoping review sought to explore the existing evidence regarding investments in AT and opportunities for savings on municipal expenditures and revenue generation. In total, 7060 records were located and screened; of which 162 full-text articles were reviewed. Ultimately, 23 articles met our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The available evidence focuses on potential economic benefits of AT in the areas of tax revenues, property values, consumer spending and employment, all of which are relevant sources of revenue generation in municipal operating budgets. An evidence gap was identified regarding AT infrastructure investments and benefits corresponding to municipal expenditures (e.g. maintenance cost savings). Notably, a large portion of literature was published after 2009, suggesting that municipal-level evidence on the fiscal benefits of AT investments may just be emerging.     

Augmented Reality Vehicle system: Left-turn maneuver study

Augmented Reality “AR” is a promising paradigm that can offer users with real-time, high-quality visualization of a wide variety of information. In AR, virtual objects are added to the real-world view in real time. The AR technology can offer a very realistic environment for enhancing drivers’ performance on the road and testing drivers’ ability to react to different road design and traffic operations scenarios. This can be achieved by adding virtual objects (people, vehicles, hazards, and other objects) to the normal view while driving an actual vehicle in a real environment. This paper explores a new Augmented Reality Vehicle “ARV” system and attempts to apply this new concept to a selected traffic engineering application namely the left-turn maneuver at two-way stop-controlled “TWSC” intersection. This TWSC intersection experiment, in addition to testing the feasibility of the application, tries to quantify the size of gaps accepted by different driver’s characteristics (age and gender). The ARV system can be installed in any vehicle where the driver can see the surrounding environment through a Head Mounted Display “HMD” and virtual objects are generated through a computer and added to the scene. These different environments are generated using a well defined set of scenarios. The results from this study supported the feasibility and validity of the proposed ARV system and they showed promise for this system to be used in the field-testing for the safety and operation aspects of transportation research. Results of the left-turn maneuver study revealed that participants accepted gaps in the range of 4.0-9.0 s. This finding implies that all gaps below 4 s are rejected and all gaps above 9 s are likely to be accepted. The mean value of the left-turn time was 4.67 s which is a little bit higher than reported values in the literature (4.0-4.3 s). Older drivers were found to select larger gaps to make left turns than younger drivers. The conservative driving attitude of older drivers indicates the potential presence of reduced driving ability of elderly. Drivers’ characteristics (age and gender) did not significantly affect the left-turn time. Based on the survey questions that were handed to participants, most participants indicated good level of comfort with none or small level of risk while driving the vehicle with the ARV system. None of the participants felt any kind of motion sickness and the participants’ answers indicated a good visibility and realism of the scene with overall good system fidelity.     

交通大数据视角看广佛同城

广佛同城发展由来已久,是中国城市群中同城化程度最高的区域。简要分析广佛同城的交通基础设施发展演变历程,并基于模糊大数据(手机信令数据)和准确大数据(运行监测数据)对广佛通勤交通特征进行分析。结合手机信令数据对广州南站的客流组成及空间分布进行研究,对广州南站选址偏远问题进行解析。结果表明:广佛同城具有双向对等性的联系;地铁在同城化推进过程中起到重要的促进作用,拓展同城化活动范围;广州市机动车交通需求管理政策不够系统,非广佛车牌在通勤小汽车中比例超过40%,需要引起足够的关注;广州南站服务的客流中广州客流与佛山客流比为7:3,与对应的常住人口规模比例相当,初步实现了交通战略规划提出的共享理念。     

VMT, energy consumption, and GHG emissions forecasting for passenger transportation

Globalization, greenhouse gas emissions and energy concerns, emerging vehicle technologies, and improved statistical modeling capabilities make the present moment an opportune time to revisit aggregate vehicle miles traveled (VMT), energy consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions forecasting for passenger transportation. Using panel data for the 48 continental states during the period 1998-2008, the authors develop simultaneous equation models for predicting VMT on different road functional classes and examine how different technological solutions and changes in fuel prices can affect passenger VMT. Moreover, a random coefficient panel data model is developed to estimate the influence of various factors (such as demographics, socioeconomic variables, fuel tax, and capacity) on the total amount of passenger VMT in the United States. To assess the influence of each significant factor on VMT, elasticities are estimated. Further, the authors investigate the effect of different policies governing fuel tax and population density on future energy consumption and GHG emissions. The presented methodology and estimation results can assist transportation planners and policy-makers in determining future energy and transportation infrastructure investment needs.     

交通模型的价值

在既有规划编制导则中,已经明确交通模型和交通需求分析是综合交通体系规划、轨道交通线网规划的重要工作内容。交通模型的价值并非仅仅体现在预测结果和精度上,更在于编制过程中对交通特征和供需关系的分析,对战略方案、系统方案的指导、解释、论证的作用上。但在现实规划编制中,模型的地位和价值在丧失,日益成为项目成果中的摆设品,难以支撑交通需求深入分析,并与战略构思、方案制定相脱节。与此同时,规划实践、大数据、交通模型的发展趋势,亟须重新审视模型的价值,提升模型精细化的定量分析水平。最后,从机制保障、应用推广、功能拓展、科研攻关等方面,提出促进模型价值提升的相关建议。     

Simulating ad-hoc demand-responsive transportation: a comparison of three approaches

Transport models are used to evaluate new infrastructure and public transport services, varied levels of demand, and new ideas for demand management. Exploring these proposals virtually is easier than implementation and testing in situ. However, existing models are based around traditional forms of transportation. As part of a feature analysis using a case study approach, three different simulation packages (a simple custom-developed package, traffic microsimulation, and agent-based simulation) are used to develop and demonstrate simulations of demand-responsive transportation (DRT) and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each simulation approach for evaluating DRT. While the simulations display some relational replication (meaning they produce similar relational patterns with respect to certain variables), they do not show distributional replication (that is, the value of the results is not statistically similar), meaning that under- or over-estimation of predicted travel could occur. Recommendations for the application of each modeling approach are made.     

杭州公共自行车交通系统发展优化建议与思考

文章通过大量的信息调研,综合分析了杭州市公共自行车交通系统(PBS)的运营现状及存在的问题,提出了拓宽非机动车道、服务点规模等级化、站点设施结构智能化、换乘系统综合化的公共自行车交通系统发展优化建议。     

基于客运联系特征的中国城镇空间演变态势

空间运输联系反映地理单元间的经济联系,与城镇化进程和区域发展格局息息相关。随着经济发展和城镇化水平的提高,省内客运联系增长速度显著快于省际,省域客运联系呈现内聚化态势;从各区域变化幅度看,内聚化态势围绕三大核心城市群由内而外逐步加强,并呈现较大的南北差异。省际客运联系呈现以京津冀、长三角、珠三角为核心的中心—外围结构,从发展态势看,沿海城市群的极化效应进一步凸显,中西部区域区内联系加强态势初步显现。研究显示:现状城镇空间不平衡特征仍较为突出,尤其南北分化问题凸显;未来城镇空间布局需突出沿海城镇空间的再平衡、促进中西部城镇空间的多中心集聚和加强南北区域协作。