Changing accessibility, dwelling price and the spatial distribution of socio-economic activities

In this paper we present an activities-location choice model with endogenous price which simulates, based on Expected Random Utility principle, the behaviour of several agents of the urban system (e.g. the workers distinguished by income, the firms by economic sector) to estimate the spatial distribution of socio-economic activities within the study area as well as the impact of differential changes in accessibility on the dwelling price. The study area for this research is the metropolitan area of Napoli (South Italy), for which we show the results of the model estimation and the results of a “backcasting” analysis.     

Hierarchical distributed coordination strategy of connected and automated vehicles at multiple intersections

In this paper, we present a hierarchical distributed coordination strategy for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) that are travelling through multiple unsignalized intersections. The control strategy focuses on the improvement of vehicle fuel efficiency and system mobility. In presence of wireless communication among the involved CAVs and the intersection controllers, our coordination strategy focuses on leading the CAVs travel through a road network without conventional traffic light control and ensuring collision avoidance at the intersection areas. We propose a three-layered coordination strategy in this paper. First, we evaluate the road desired average velocity considering both upstream and downstream traffic to speed up the traffic density balance. Second, the intersection controllers optimally assign reference velocity to each vehicle based on the minimization of velocity deviation from its current velocity and collision avoidance at the intersections. Finally, fast model predictive control (F-MPC) is applied for each vehicle to track their reference velocity in a computationally efficient manner. Two simulation scenarios with different difficulty levels have been implemented on a two-interconnected intersection network. Simulation results indicate the feasibility and scalability of the proposed method, as well as vehicle fuel efficiency and system mobility improvement.     

An integrated modeling approach for facilitating emission estimations of alternative fueled vehicles

This paper develops an integrated model for reliable estimation of daily vehicle fuel savings and emissions using an integrated traffic emission modeling approach created by incorporating the US Environmental Protection Agency’s vehicle emission model, MOVES, and the PARAMICS microscopic traffic simulation package. A case study is conducted to validate the model using a well-calibrated road network in Greenville, South Carolina. For each transportation fuel considered, both emission and fuel consumption impacts are evaluated based on market shares.     

Forward power-train energy management modeling for assessing benefits of integrating predictive traffic data into plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles

In this paper, a forward power-train plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model with an energy management system and a cycle optimization algorithm is evaluated for energy efficiency. Using wirelessly communicated predictive traffic data for vehicles in a roadway network, as envisioned in intelligent transportation systems, traffic prediction cycles are optimized using a cycle optimization strategy. This resulted in a 56-86% fuel efficiency improvements for conventional vehicles. When combined with the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle power management system, about 115% energy efficiency improvements were achieved. Further improvements in the overall energy efficiency of the network were achieved with increased penetration rates of the intelligent transportation assisted enabled plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.     

Is accessibility relevant in trip generation? Modelling the interaction between trip generation and accessibility taking into account spatial effects

The influence of accessibility to opportunities in trip generation continues to be debated in the specialised literature given its relevance to simulate phenomena such as induced demand. This article estimates multiple linear regression models (MLR), spatial autoregressive models (SAR), spatial autoregressive models in the error term (SEM) and spatially filtered Poisson regression models (SPO) to discover whether or not accessibility is a significant factor in trip generation using data from the urban area of Santander (Spain). The results obtained provide evidence which shows that, on an intraurban scale, more accessibility to opportunities decreases trip production in private vehicle for work purpose, whereas it increases trip production in other transport modes for non—mandatory purposes. For the correct interpretation of the estimated parameters it was important to consider the direct and indirect effects of the independent variables in the SAR production models. Finally, the validation of the models showed that the SAR and SEM models had a mean squared error slightly lower than the MLR models in predicting overall trip production. This was because the spatial models reduced the correlation of the residuals present in the MLR models. Furthermore, the SPO models performed better in validation mode than all the continuous models.