Effects of local roads and car traffic on the occurrence pattern and foraging behaviour of bats

The most negative impacts of roads on bats are increased mortality caused by collisions with vehicles, noise pollution reducing both communication and foraging, and barriers to movement. To test the effect of roads and traffic on the occurrence and foraging habits of bats in forested landscapes in western Poland we compared 53 sites located along local asphalt roads of low to medium traffic volume with paired reference sites on unsurfaced forest roads. Acoustical monitoring systems with Anabat detectors were used at night to detect bats at all sites. Overall, we found a strongly significant preference of bats for local asphalt roads; 640 bat passes were recorded at asphalt roads but only 271 at reference sites. Furthermore, significantly more bat taxa, longer activity and a greater frequency of feeding buzzes (calls used during foraging) were also recorded at asphalt roads. However, significant benefits were not shown for all species. This study clearly shows that local asphalt roads in forested landscapes are important foraging areas for several bat species.     

The influence of the road network on private productivity measures using Data Envelopment Analysis: A case study from Spain

We evaluate the economic effects of investment in the road network on private regional activity. We employ provincial Spanish panel data from 1980 to 2007 to perform non-parametric frontier techniques based on Data Envelopment Analysis and to obtain the Malmquist productivity indexes, thus enabling us to examine the evaluation of the productivity growth via technological changes or efficiency gains. Additionally, we analyze the role of transport infrastructure on the evolution of Total Factor Productivity and its components through econometric techniques. Our results show important spillover effects. Moreover, our findings have significant implications for policy makers if we take into account the fact that the use of the road network in economic activity or in commercial relations greatly influences productivity growth.     

Runoff and water erosion on road side-slopes: Effects of rainfall characteristics and slope length

To investigate the effects of rainfall and slope length on water erosion on road side-slopes, runoff and soil loss are measured from natural runoff plots along the Qinghai-Tibet highway near Tuotuo River. Rainfall erosivity used in the revised universal soil loss equation is a good predictor for runoff and soil loss from road side-slopes. Runoff depth, sediment concentration and soil loss decreases as slope length increases.     

Exploring the impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise - A case study in Hong Kong

The impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise are explored by analysing field data applying fast Fourier transform technique to tyre/road noise spectrum analysis. The results indicate that the tyre/road noise can be higher at lower frequency bands but lower at higher bands. Cluster analysis on surface texture in terms of wavelength identified three cluster groups that centred at 1.32 mm, 3.65 mm, and 5.11 mm have different impacts on noise. The shorter wavelength group suppressed tyre/road noise, medium group aggravated it and the high wavelength group were outliers.     

Spatial and temporal characterization of travel patterns in a traffic network using vehicle trajectories

This paper presents a trajectory clustering method to discover spatial and temporal travel patterns in a traffic network. The study focuses on identifying spatially distinct traffic flow groups using trajectory clustering and investigating temporal traffic patterns of each spatial group. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a systematic framework for clustering and classifying vehicle trajectory data, which does not require a pre-processing step known as map-matching and directly applies to trajectory data without requiring the information on the underlying road network. The framework consists of four steps: similarity measurement, trajectory clustering, generation of cluster representative subsequences, and trajectory classification. First, we propose the use of the Longest Common Subsequence (LCS) between two vehicle trajectories as their similarity measure, assuming that the extent to which vehicles’ routes overlap indicates the level of closeness and relatedness as well as potential interactions between these vehicles. We then extend a density-based clustering algorithm, DBSCAN, to incorporate the LCS-based distance in our trajectory clustering problem. The output of the proposed clustering approach is a few spatially distinct traffic stream clusters, which together provide an informative and succinct representation of major network traffic streams. Next, we introduce the notion of Cluster Representative Subsequence (CRS), which reflects dense road segments shared by trajectories belonging to a given traffic stream cluster, and present the procedure of generating a set of CRSs by merging the pairwise LCSs via hierarchical agglomerative clustering. The CRSs are then used in the trajectory classification step to measure the similarity between a new trajectory and a cluster. The proposed framework is demonstrated using actual vehicle trajectory data collected from New York City, USA. A simple experiment was performed to illustrate the use of the proposed spatial traffic stream clustering in application areas such as network-level traffic flow pattern analysis and travel time reliability analysis.     

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.     

Wooded area,forest road-killed animals: Intensity and seasonal differences of road mortality on a small,newly upgraded road in western Romania

The roads are one of the most obvious expressions of modern society, being considered vital for economical growth. Nevertheless, roads have a very strong negative impact upon environment, manifested, among others, by road mortality. In Romania numerous minor roads are currently upgraded and asphalted. In the year 2016, on a road of this kind, in a wooded mountain area, we recorded 1628 road killed animals belonging to 48 taxons. The majority were forest and wet areas animals (earthworms, snails, amphibians, etc), characteristic for the road’s vicinity. Flying or dry areas animals were fewer. The road crosses the forest and the wet areas animals’ habitats. Now, they are certain victims on the road, because its recent upgrade had increased the cars’ speed. Road mortality differed between periods and according to the road surroundings aspect. The highest road mortality intensity was registered at the end of the spring. It has dropped in the summer and then rose again in the autumn, but just moderately. The animals were affected according to their life cycle and ecological demands. On this minor road surrounded by relatively uniform wooded habitats, the road mortality differences were determined in the first place by the demandings and life cycle of the victims, which were affected by meteorological conditions. This studied road is a proof of how forest native animals are exposed once their habitat is crossed by a road.     

The influence of individuals’ environmental attitudes and urban design features on their travel patterns in sustainable neighborhoods in the UK

This paper explores the influence of individuals’ environmental attitudes and urban design features on travel behavior, including mode choice. It uses data from residents of 13 new neighborhood UK developments designed to support sustainable travel. It is found that almost all respondents were concerned about environmental issues, but their views did not necessarily ‘match’ their travel behavior. Individuals’ environmental concerns only had a strong relationship with walking within and near their neighborhood, but not with cycling or public transport use. Residents’ car availability reduced public transport trips, walking and cycling. The influence of urban design features on travel behaviors was mixed, higher incidences of walking in denser, mixed and more permeable developments were not found and nor did residents own fewer cars than the population as a whole. Residents did, however, make more sustainable commuting trips than the population in general. Sustainable modes of travel were related to urban design features including secured bike storage, high connectivity of the neighborhoods to the nearby area, natural surveillance, high quality public realm and traffic calming. Likewise the provision of facilities within and nearby the development encouraged high levels of walking.     

四川省高速公路发展现状及改扩建趋势分析

"十三五"以来,四川省高速公路建设与交通运输进入快速发展阶段,路网骨干功能日益凸显,但部分早期建成路线的交通量渐趋饱和,亟待扩容改造。为了准确把握四川省高速公路的改扩建需求发展规律,为交通规划建设提供参考依据,统计分析了全省高速公路的发展规模、技术品质及交通运行情况,并结合区域经济社会发展形势,研究了全省高速公路网在交通强省建设规划期内的改扩建需求发展趋势。     

从数字看中国铁路隧道的建设

根据收集到的有关中国铁路隧道建设比较全面、可靠的统计资料,按年代和铁路线归纳整理列出的,并用数字来阐述截至2005年末中国铁路隧道建设的基本情况与发展历程；同时对隧道命名与隧道长度计算的统一等问题提出建议。     

西部某交通勘察设计企业发展战略转型研究

文章以西部某交通勘察设计企业为研究对象,对当前交通勘察设计企业所面临的内外部形势进行分析,并针对企业转型发展中所存在的问题,提出以创新为驱动的发展模式,总结归纳出推动企业可持续发展的相关对策,对类似交通勘察设计企业的转型发展具有一定的参考和指导意义。     

Investigating the effect of travel time variability on drivers' route choice decisions in Shanghai,China

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of travel time variability on drivers' route choice behavior in the context of Shanghai, China. A stated preference survey is conducted to collect drivers' hypothetical choice between two alternative routes with designated unequal travel time and travel time variability. A binary choice model is developed to quantify trade-offs between travel time and travel time variability across various types of drivers. In the model, travel time and travel time variability are, respectively, measured by expectation and standard deviation of random travel time. The model shows that travel time and travel time variability on a route exert similarly negative effects on drivers' route choice behavior. In particular, it is found that middle-age drivers are more sensitive to travel time variability and less likely to choose a route with travel time uncertainty than younger and elder drivers. In addition, it is shown that taxi drivers are more sensitive to travel time and more inclined to choose a route with less travel time. Drivers with rich driving experience are less likely to choose a route with travel time uncertainty.     

交通科技进步对西部经济发展贡献率的实证研究

文章以贵州、广西两省公路和水路运输行业发展中科技进步作用的定量测算为实证,结合发展经济学的理论基础和西部地区的实际情况,利用生产函数的经济增长模型,研究交通行业科技进步与西部地区经济发展的关系。     

Crowding in public transport systems: Effects on users,operation and implications for the estimation of demand

The effects of high passenger density at bus stops, at rail stations, inside buses and trains are diverse. This paper examines the multiple dimensions of passenger crowding related to public transport demand, supply and operations, including effects on operating speed, waiting time, travel time reliability, passengers’ wellbeing, valuation of waiting and in-vehicle time savings, route and bus choice, and optimal levels of frequency, vehicle size and fare. Secondly, crowding externalities are estimated for rail and bus services in Sydney, in order to show the impact of crowding on the estimated value of in-vehicle time savings and demand prediction. Using Multinomial Logit (MNL) and Error Components (EC) models, we show that alternative assumptions concerning the threshold load factor that triggers a crowding externality effect do have an influence on the value of travel time (VTTS) for low occupancy levels (all passengers sitting); however, for high occupancy levels, alternative crowding models estimate similar VTTS. Importantly, if demand for a public transport service is estimated without explicit consideration of crowding as a source of disutility for passengers, demand will be overestimated if the service is designed to have a number of standees beyond a threshold, as analytically shown using a MNL choice model. More research is needed to explore if these findings hold with more complex choice models and in other contexts.     

Impact of information intervention on travel mode choice of urban residents with different goal frames: A controlled trial in Xuzhou,China

In order to assess the degree to which specific groups will adapt their travel behaviors after certain intervention, this study utilized a cluster analysis to discuss three segments’ distinct goal frames, social-demographic properties, travel modes, and habitat, and then carried out an information intervention controlled trial to discover three segments’ modal split shifts. The results indicate that the information have consistent and distinct impacts on travel mode choice by clusters. This consistency is embodied in the simultaneous and significant increase in travel times by green modes (walking, non-powered bicycle, or bus) and in the small but non-significant effects on reducing car use in the three clusters. The distinctness of the impacts is that information have a more effective influence on subjects with gain goal frames because their travel times by all three green modes greatly improved. Subjects with the hedonic goal frame are the least sensitive to information, with the only significant increase in travel times being by non-powered bicycle. This research also addressed the “attitude-behavior gap”, weather impacts, and goal-oriented prompts. The findings suggest that policy interventions should be designed to improve public transit features, especially the bicycle system, rather than only to constrain car use, and that tailored policies should be targeted to specific groups with different goal frames.     

Examining the effects of the built environment and residential self-selection on commuting trips and the related CO2 emissions: An empirical study in Guangzhou,China

Numerous studies have established the link between the built environment and travel behavior. However, fewer studies have focused on environmental costs of travel (such as CO₂ emissions) with respect to residential self-selection. Combined with the application of TIQS (Travel Intelligent Query System), this study develops a structural equations model (SEM) to examine the effects of the built environment and residential self-selection on commuting trips and their related CO₂ emissions using data from 2015 in Guangzhou, China. The results demonstrate that the effect of residential self-selection also exists in Chinese cities, influencing residents’ choice of living environments and ultimately affecting their commute trip CO₂ emissions. After controlling for the effect of residential self-selection, built environment variables still have significant effects on CO₂ emissions from commuting although some are indirect effects that work through mediating variables (car ownership and commuting trip distance). Specifically, CO₂ emissions are negatively affected by land-use mix, residential density, metro station density and road network density. Conversely, bus stop density, distance to city centers and parking availability near the workplace have positive effects on CO₂ emissions. To promote low carbon travel, intervention on the built environment would be effective and necessary.     

Synopsis of bicycle demand in the City of Toronto: Investigating the effects of perception,consciousness and comfortability on the purpose of biking and bike ownership

This paper provides an empirical basis for the evaluation of policies and programs that can increase the usage of bikes for different purposes as well as bike ownership. It uses an integrated econometric model of latent variable connecting multiple discrete choices. Empirical models are estimated by using a bicycle demand survey conducted in the City of Toronto in 2009. Empirical investigations reveal that latent perceptions of ‘bikeability’ and ‘safety consciousness’ directly influence the choice of biking. It is also found that the choice of the level of bike ownership (number of bikes) is directly influenced by latent ‘comfortability of biking’. The number of bikes owned moreover has a strong influence on the choices of biking for different purposes. It is clear that bike users in the City of Toronto are highly safety conscious. Increasing on-street and separate bike lanes proved to have the maximum effects on attracting more people to biking by increasing the perception of bikeability in the city, comfortability of biking in the city and increasing bike users’ sense of safety. In terms of individuals’ characteristics, older males are found to be the most conformable and younger females are the least comfortable group of cyclists in Toronto.