Formal scientific research of traffic collision data utilizing GIS

This paper explores the tenuous link between speeding behavior and accident causation, one that has not been well established in the international literature to date. Taking advantage of established engineering conventions and formulae, we were able to set up an a priori hypothesis suitable for testing. Utilizing this formal scientific method (which GIS researchers have been criticised for not using) we establish a statistical link for this relationship. Our methodology can be used to support all police intervention strategies, including the controversial photo radar systems. The results from our research have been entered into a GIS in order to create a map for spatial display. This map illustrates the relative probability or risk of collision occurrence resulting from speeding at all intersections and interchanges within the scope of the study. It is suggested that this methodology could easily be maintained with periodic updates of data, thus creating a dynamic model from which to monitor traffic safety within the city. Furthermore, this model can be utilized to study specific strategies, allowing for the scrutiny of before, during and after effects. The study area is the entire city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and includes all traffic collisions occurring during the year of 1994.     

On the use of mathematical programming in the evaluation of transport policies

This paper focuses on the evaluation processes by which decisions regarding transportation alternatives can be assisted. A multidimensional approach usually called multiple criteria decision making is required to represent the complexity of transportation policy and systems.

The multiple criteria decision making techniques can be divided into two groups. The first is based on a ranking scheme approach and the second on a mathematical programming approach.

A multiple objective mathematical programming procedure known as Goal Programming is presented. The authors examined the use of that procedure in real transportation problems.

The results suggest that multiple objective mathematical programming techniques in general do not appear to be appropriate in transportation policy analysis involving mutually exclusive alternatives. Their use can be limited to special cases in the private sector.     

为奥运会开创新时代

2000年悉尼夏季奥运会为运动会规划确立了新的标准，从而使奥运会主办城市在规划重大国际赛事方面得到了永久性的改善。以下便是他们为奥运会开创新时代的方法.[编者按]     

Assessing the cost of transfer inconvenience in public transport systems: A case study of the London Underground

Few studies have adequately assessed the cost of transfers² in public transport systems, or provided useful guidance on transfer improvements, such as where to invest (which facility), how to invest (which aspect), and how much to invest (quantitative justification of the investment). This paper proposes a new method based on path choice,³ taking into account both the operator’s service supply and the customers’ subjective perceptions to assess transfer cost and to identify ways to reduce it. This method evaluates different transfer components (e.g., transfer walking, waiting, and penalty) with distinct policy solutions and differentiates between transfer stations and movements.The method is applied to one of the largest and most complex public transport systems in the world, the London Underground (LUL), with a focus on 17 major transfer stations and 303 transfer movements. This study confirms that transfers pose a significant cost to LUL, and that cost is distributed unevenly across stations and across platforms at a station. Transfer stations are perceived very differently by passengers in terms of their overall cost and composition. The case study suggests that a better understanding of transfer behavior and improvements to the transfer experience could significantly benefit public transport systems.     

Activity patterns in space and time: calculating representative Hagerstrand trajectories

Daily activity diaries can be recorded as sequences of characters representing events and their contexts as they unfold during the day. Dynamic programming algorithms as used in bioinformatics have been used by a number of researchers to measure the similarities and differences between travel patterns on the basis of temporal sequencing of events, activity transition, and total activity time. The resultant similarity matrices have been shown to be more effective in classifying sequential patterns than classifications based on alternative similarity indices. The basic algorithms can be amended to include the geographic coordinates of events by a suitable amendment to the definition of distance. This permits quantitative classification of Hagerstrand-type activity trajectories on the basis of both activity and spatial similarity. Such a classification can be used to group similar trajectories and to identify representative trajectories that are analogous to measures of central tendency in univariate statistics, giving more concrete meaning to the concept of the activity pattern than any other method now available. The paper illustrates the effect of considering both events and locations in the classification of daily activity patterns using activity diary data gathered in the town of Reading. The algorithm has been implemented in the Clustal_TXY alignment software package.

摩托车发动机凸轮测量测点布局优化设计方法

凸轮测量的目的不同,对测点间距的要求也不同;为了最大限度地减少测量工作量,把测量误差控制在允许范围之内,必须按公差要求进行凸轮测点布局;在实际测量中,应把计算出的测点间距间的角度值圆整为整数度;无论是用平面测头还是滚柱测头测量,按本文方法算出的测点间距与测量误差的平方根成正比,而与被测点的曲率半径的平方根成反比。     

The ‘Four Dimensions of Behaviour’ framework: a tool for characterising behaviours to help design better interventions

This paper sets out the rationale and structure of a tool for assisting policy-makers and practitioners to understand behavioural challenges and open up thinking on the design of effective ‘behaviour change’ interventions. The ‘Four Dimensions of Behaviour’ (4DB) framework is based on the theoretical and empirical research in a range of policy domains including transport and pro-environmental behaviour more generally. The 4DB framework characterises multifaceted behaviours along dimensions of actor, domain, durability and scope. Its application in workshop or structured settings opens up diverse and non-exclusive discussion on designing interventions to match salient behavioural characteristics. The use of the 4DB framework in the transport domain is demonstrated for travel behaviours of interest to policy-makers using examples of buying plug-in vehicles (PiVs), commuting by bicycle, eco-driving and making business trips by train.     

The planning and analysis of a new group rapid transit system: the SkyCabs monobeam system in Auckland

This paper examines a case study of the SkyCabs system as a way to alleviate some of the traffic problems of Auckland, New Zealand. SkyCabs is an elevated two-way monobeam carrying light eight-seater cabs on tracks on each side of the beam, available on demand, providing fast, pollution-free, unimpeded travel above the footpath with panoramic views of the city. The aim of this study is to investigate the attractiveness of implementing the SkyCabs system to and from Auckland central business district (CBD) and Auckland international airport by examining four variables: different routes, different number of stops/stations, different passenger demand levels, and different number of cabs in the system. The analysis utilizes geographical information system and simulation tools for the various scenarios considered. The results show that it is possible to assess the cost–benefit of alternative routes in terms of those four variables and rate of return on investment.     

A capacity related reliability for transportation networks

A capacity related reliability for transportation networks with random link capacity is introduced. It is defined as the probability that the road network can accommodate a certain level of traffic demand, and is built on the concept of network reserve capacity. Network reserve capacity is defined as the largest multiplier applied to an existing origin-destination demand matrix that can be allocated to a transportation network in a user-optimal way without violating the link capacities. Due to large variability associated with link capacities, a probabilistic approach is adopted to model the different physical and operational factors that often degrade the capacity of roadways. A Monte Carlo simulation procedure is developed to estimate the capacity related reliability measure. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.     

Geometric-based tyre vertical force estimation and stiffness parameterisation for automotive and unmanned vehicle applications

Advanced empirical, and physical-based tyre models have proven to be accurate for simulating tyre dynamics; however, these tyre models typically require expensive and intensive tyre parameterisation. Recent research into wheeled unmanned ground vehicles requiring vertical force analysis has shown good results using a simple linear spring model for the tyre which demonstrate the continued use for simple tyre models; however, parameterisation of the tyre still remains a challenge when load test equipment is not available. This paper presents a cost-effective tyre vertical stiffness parameterisation procedure using only measured tyre geometry and air pressure for applications where high-fidelity tyre models are unnecessary. Vertical forces calculated through an air volume optimisation approach are used to estimate tyre vertical stiffness. Nine tyres from the literature are compared to evaluate the performance of the vertical force estimation and stiffness parameterisation algorithms. Experimental results on a pair of ATV tyres are also presented.