Current operational urban land‐use–transport modelling frameworks: A review

Various alternative frameworks are available for modelling urban land‐use–transport interaction. This paper provides a detailed review of six of these frameworks that have been or are currently being used to develop operational models. The intention is to indicate what is the general nature of the current state of practice and what is now available for practical modelling work in the area. The intention is also to compare the current state of practice with what might be the ideal in various respects. The six frameworks reviewed (ITLUP, MEPLAN, TRANUS, MUSSA, NYMTC‐LUM and UrbanSim) are considered in terms of their representations of physical systems, decision‐makers and processes, along with various more general modelling and implementation issues. None matches the ideal as envisaged here in all respects. However, a wide range of policy considerations can be handled explicitly with what is available, and more recent developments show an encouraging trend towards expansion in the scope of what can be considered. Further strengthening of the behavioural basis and relaxation of some of the more restrictive assumptions would appear to be both appropriate and likely in the future.     

When it comes to container port efficiency,are all developing regions equal?

In this paper we carry out a container port performance analysis of the developing world between 2000 and 2010, using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. From a unique dataset – our sample covers 70 developing countries, 203 ports, and 1750 data points–, we examine the evolution and drivers of productivity and efficiency changes across developing regions. We show that productivity growth rates between 2000 and 2010 vary significantly and that this heterogeneity is explained by pure efficiency changes rather than scale efficiency of technological changes. Therefore, we carry out a detailed efficiency analysis to determine the drivers of port efficiency. Time series results show an upward trend for port efficiency in developing regions, as it increased from 51 percent in 2000 to 61 percent in 2010. Our analysis indicates that private sector participation, the reduction of corruption in the public sector, improvements in liner connectivity and the existence of multimodal links increase the level of port efficiency in developing regions.     

Hub location with flow economies of scale

A characteristic feature of hub and spoke networks is the bundling of flows on the interhub links. This agglomeration of flows leads to reduced travel costs across the interhub links. Current models of hub location do not adequately model the scale economies of flow that accrue due to the agglomeration of flows. This paper shows that current hub location models, by assuming flow-independent costs, not only miscalculate total network cost, but may also erroneously select optimal hub locations and allocations. The model presented in this paper more explicitly models the scale economies that are generated on the interhub links and in doing so provides a more reliable model representation of the reality of hub and spoke networks.     

Rail-truck multimodal freight collaboration: a statistical analysis of freight-shipper perspectives

Due to the effects of congestion, capacity reduction of truck-freight carriers, growing freight transportation demand, and increasing social and environmental concerns, there is a critical need for freight shippers to improve shipping quality and reduce transportation costs. Rail-truck multimodal freight collaboration can potentially address this need. In this study, we explore freight-shipper perspectives relating to the factors that may foster or impede their usage of rail-truck multimodal freight collaboration services, and the correlations of their operational and behavioral characteristics with these factors. The study provides insights to rail and truck carriers on collaboration mechanisms that can address the needs of freight shippers, including adopting synergistic technology to improve in-transit visibility, accommodating non-containerized cargo, improving the transshipment process, designing service quality control strategies, and constructing investment and revenue-sharing plans.     

Towards a standardized European road network database

Many Driver Information Systems, especially those that provide location information and route guidance instruction, rely on some form of digital map data, i.e. data that represent the location and other properties of earth-bound objects. A deeperinformation analysis of the data needs of the systems reveals that many needs are very close to the demands that a human navigator makes on a classical paper map. But it also reveals some hidden needs, which relate to the fact that the current Driver Information Systems have only a very poor or no general knowledge. Gathering all these data, putting them into a database and keeping them up to date is an enormous task. Therefore it is very important to know whatsurveying and digitizing techniques are the most suitable for such data. This question is currently being investigated by two DRIVE projects, PANDORA and Task Force EDRM.To guarantee the efficiency of a road network database and to guarantee the exchangeability of traffic messages, a certainstandardization will be inevitable. One possibility is to standardize the finished article, i.e. the map data in the form in which they are represented on the medium used by the system itself (e.g. CD, coded beacon message). This is the solution that has been chosen in Japan, where a CD-ROM based standard has been defined. It is also the solution chosen by the European manufacturers of beacon-supported systems such as Autoguide and LISB, who have defined a standard for the road-vehicle communication link. Another possibility is to standardize the semi-manufactured article, i.e. the map data as they occur in a general purpose road database or in the datafiles produced by data suppliers. This solution has been chosen by Bosch and Philips and had led to their GDF, in which they define a standard data content, a data model and an exhange format for these files. If the systems are going to combine data coming from different sources, the need arises for standard reference numbers. This means that an organizational infrastructure will have to be set up to create and maintain such a reference numbering system. A road database that is kept up to date, represents a lot of money. It will be vitally important for such databases to be legally protected against copying activities.     

A Topological Method to Choose Optimal Solutions after Solving the Multi-criteria Urban Road Network Design Problem

The paper proposes and applies a method for systematically sorting and reducing the number of different possible solutions to a network design problem (NDP). This is achieved first by defining a topological similarity measurement and then by applying cluster analysis. The NDP can be derived from the scientific literature. In general, the method consists of some models and subsequent algorithms that generate different solutions (enumerative, branch and bound, genetic, expert panel, ...) and evaluate for each solution an objective function (with deterministic or stochastic network assignment and with elastic or inelastic demand). The NDP, mainly in urban areas, needs multi-criteria evaluation and in each case a large set of non-dominated solutions is generated. In this paper, in order to select solutions and identify latent optimal network layouts, cluster analysis is carried out. The methodology utilises a “cluster” formation in relation to the solution topology and a “best” (representative) solutions extraction in relation to the criteria values. It can be utilised after solving the existing multi-criteria NDP and in other network problems, where the best solutions (for global or local network layouts) are extracted (with respect to the network topology) from a large set. The method is applied in a test system and on different real networks in two Italian towns, in order to analyse the goodness of the solution algorithm and assess its possible application to different networks.     

道路运输行业安全监管现状分析及对策研究

结合道路运输行业安全监管现状,从道路运输行业安全监管职责和内容、监管方式、安全检查方面对道路运输行业安全监管存在的问题进行分析,并有针对性的提出了相应的建议和对策。     

高铁网络对郑州经济发展影响分析

在高铁逐步成网的背景下,郑州作为传统意义上的交通枢纽迎来了前所未有的发展机遇。在国家战略及省市政府的规划部署下,郑州开始布局\"米\"字型铁路网络,积极参与\"一带一路\"建设,不仅为国家发展提供重要支撑,而且拉动了本市经济发展。本文采用SWOT分析方法,从优势、劣势、机遇和挑战等方面研究了高铁网发展对郑州经济发展的影响,提出以\"米\"字型高铁网络推动郑州经济发展的建议。     

Exploring public bicycle network structure based on complex network theory and shortest path analysis: the public bicycle system in Yixing,China

A well-functioning public bicycle system relates not only to its mode of operation, vehicle allocation, rental station layout and vehicle leasing configuration, but also the bicycle network structure and its formation. However, the latter aspects have been widely overlooked in China. Here, we help to further attract more researchers to conduct relevant studies and make suggestions for the development of public bicycle transport in many small and medium-sized cities across the world. We demonstrate how to explore the public bicycle network structure of a county-level Chinese city – Yixing – known for its clay ware and tourism. We show that complex network theory and shortest path analysis technology are useful in characterizing the public bicycle network structure, in aspects such as network topology, the spatial distribution of sub-networks and traffic flows. Finally, the paper proposes relevant urban planning strategies.     

Modelling contact mode and frequency of interactions with social network members using the multiple discrete–continuous extreme value model

Communication patterns are an integral component of activity patterns and the travel induced by these activities. The present study aims to understand the determinants of the communication patterns (by the modes face-to-face, phone, e-mail and SMS) between people and their social network members. The aim is for this to eventually provide further insights into travel behaviour for social and leisure purposes. A social network perspective brings value to the study and modelling of activity patterns since leisure activities are influenced not only by traditional trip measures such as time and cost but also motivated extensively by the people involved in the activity. By using a multiple discrete-continuous extreme value model (Bhat, 2005), we can investigate the means of communication chosen to interact with a given social network member (multiple discrete choices) and the frequency of interaction by each mode (treated as continuous) at the same time. The model also allows us to investigate satiation effects for different modes of communication. Our findings show that in spite of people having increasingly geographically widespread networks and more diverse communication technologies, a strong underlying preference for face-to-face contact remains. In contrast with some of the existing work, we show that travel-related variables at the ego level are less important than specific social determinants which can be considered while making use of social network data.     

Changes in multi-mode bus transit efficiency, 1988–1992

This paper examines the claim that US bus transit productivity has declined in recent years. It does so with reference to a piecewise-linear best-practice (DEA) production frontier, computed for multi-modal bus transit between 1988 and 1992. Efficiency is measured both by a Russell (static) and Malmquist (dynamic) measure of productivity change. The principal finding is that, overall, bus transit efficiency has improved slightly over the period.