An experimental analysis of intelligibility and efficiency of in-vehicle route guidance system displays

This study focuses on the user-interface of the route guidance system with an electronic map display. The ultimate goal of the study is to aid in designing electronic map displays that can deliver information to the user most efficiently and expeditiously with minimum confusion. To evaluate the efficiency and understandability of a map display, laboratory experiments were designed and conducted in this study. In the experiments the subjects were presented with electronic map displays of different attributes and performed a set of tasks. Their understanding of the information contents was measured based on the outcomes of the tasks, and subjective ratings of the ease of using the maps were obtained. Using the experimental data obtained, a structural equations model system is developed to explain the understandability of a map display in terms of the subject’s attributes and the characteristics of the map display. The experimental procedure and the modeling results are presented in this paper.     

The effects of critical peak pricing for electricity demand management on home-based trip generation

This paper examines electricity critical peak pricing (CPP) as a measure for controlling electricity demand at critical peak times. This pricing scheme is designed to facilitate energy conservation not only inside but also outside the home. For this study, we surveyed consumer propensity to leave the home under CPP schemes and analyzed the impact of CPP on consumer cost. The results indicated that higher prices induce a higher rate of going out, while residential conditions such as population density and access to public transportation have a relatively small impact on leaving the home and average energy conservation. However, this is not always the case for aged households with limited mobility; residential conditions have a substantial effect on this segment of the population. Combined with a reduced ability to go out, electricity pricing has a greater negative impact on aged people. These results imply that improving accessibility through transportation development and urban compaction is an effective means of saving electricity alleviating the negative impact of CPP on the aged society of the future.     

Measuring the impact of urban policies on transportation energy saving using a land use-transport model

Various projects all over the world are attempting to build smart cities in hopes of achieving energy-efficient and livable communities, but most of them are aiming to fulfill their goals technologically. However, the energy efficiency and livability of a city are affected by not only these technological factors but also urban structures that encompass residential areas, offices, transportation networks, and other facilities. Urban policies intervene in transportation and land-use conditions and thereby change how citizens consume energy and go about their daily lives as the actors in the urban system alter their behavior. This means that energy efficiency and quality of life share close ties. Assessments of urban policies thus need to consider the reactions of actors to the intervention.     

Fracture control of extremely thick welded steel plates applied to the deck structure of large container ships

The rapid enlargement of the size of container ships has led to the application of extremely thick plate in the deck structures, which may grow concerns about the fracture toughness at the butt-weld with large amount of heat input, and the arrest toughness of brittle crack propagation in the base metal of such thick plates. Also, slam-induced whipping stresses might affect the fatigue crack propagation and the initiation of a brittle crack in a container ship. In order to prevent the catastrophic failure of deck structures by brittle fracture, national joint research projects, which focused on the safety-related issues of extremely thick steel plate applied to hull of large container ships, were formed from April 2007 to March 2011 organized by the Japan Ship Technology Research Association (JSTRA) supported by the Japanese Government in collaboration with universities, national research institute, classification societies and relevant industries including shipbuilding, steel manufacturing and shipping companies. The joint research projects have carried out the investigations on crack initiation toughness of the weld, fatigue crack propagation under seaway loading, the potential of defect detection by ultrasonic testing, and the crack-arrest methods after brittle crack propagation. Practical recommendations to prevent brittle fracture of large container ships were proposed based on these comprehensive investigations. The essential parts of the above research activities are presented in this paper.     

Looking at sustainable urban mobility through a cross-assessment model within the framework of land-use and transport integration

In order to realise sustainable urban transport, it is necessary to combine different kinds of decision-making, including vision-led, plan-led and consensus-led approaches. In this paper, a cross-assessment model that supports both vision-led and consensus-led approaches is proposed as an analytical tool for developing sustainable urban transport and land use strategies for a low-carbon society. It is applied to an impact analysis of public transport and land use strategies in 2030 for all of Japan's 269 urban areas, with outcomes – including the financial balance of public transport operation, user benefits, and CO₂ emissions reduction – compared by strategy and urban area.     

止裂韧度值Kca的实尺模型试验研究

对船用钢进行长裂纹止裂特性研究表明:它们的脆性裂纹止裂能力不够。TMCP钢有足够的脆性裂纹止裂能力。对船用钢进行了两种实尺(actual-scale)模型试验,明确了脆性裂纹扩展的条件。根据试验结果提出了止裂韧度值Kca,已经归纳在"脆性裂纹止裂设计指导性文件"中。     

铁道车辆制动技术的最新动向

由于引进IT技术,最近铁道车辆控制系统显著提高了制动性能。本文着重介绍铁道车辆基础制动及控制方法的技术发展动向,同时阐述了制动装置的新设计理念及待解决的课题。