A two-dimensional framework for the understanding of transportation planning models

This article puts forward the view that, for each transportation planning or management problem, there is a particular way to simultaneously define the multiple levels of procedures useful for the problem and set it in its proper perspective, the latter essentially by the identification of what is exogenous and endogenous to the problem at hand. The joint determination of these levels and of the exogenous/endogenous mix defines the two-dimensional frame of each problem. To develop our view, we extend our previous conceptual framework to include, in the first dimension, an activity location procedure, and to distinguish, in the second dimension, between operational, tactical, and strategic perspectives. We conclude by relativising the use of solution techniques by making them ancillary to the situation planning requirements.     

Some observed details of freeway traffic evolution

Certain details of traffic evolution were studied along a 2 km, homogenous freeway segment located upstream of a bottleneck. By comparing (transformed) cumulative curves constructed from the vehicle counts measured at neighboring loop detectors, it was found that waves propagated through queued traffic like a random walk with predictable statistical variation. There was no observed dependency of wave speed on flow. As such, these waves neither focused nor fanned outward and shocks arose only at the interfaces between free-flowing traffic and the back of queues. Although these traffic features may have long been suspected, actual observations of this kind have hitherto not been documented. Also of note, the shocks separating queued and unqueued traffic sometimes exhibited unexpectedly long transitions between these two states. Finally, some observations presented here corroborate earlier reports that, in unqueued traffic, vehicle velocity is insensitive to flows and that forward-moving changes in traffic states therefore travel with vehicles. Taken together, these findings suggest that certain rather simple models suffice for describing traffic on homogeneous freeway segments; brief discussion of this is offered in Section 5.     

An investigation into the existence of a two-tier spot freight market for crude oil carriers

Developments in environmental legislation have exercised increased pressure on the tanker sector to improve its quality. To date, the most influential and, indisputably, the most controversial piece of legislation against oil pollution is the U.S. Oil Pollution Act that was introduced in 1990. This paper attempts an empirical examination of the effects of these developments in the spot freight market. Using a database of Worldscale fixtures over a period of four and a half years, a series of statistical tests was performed with the aim of detecting the existence of any premium paid for vessels of lower age, double hull construction, or trading to the U.S.A. The results were mixed, indicating in several cases some form of premia for US.-bound vessels, but less evidence of premia for lower age and better hull construction.     

Dealing with congestion from a regional perspective The case of Massachusetts

Traffic congestion has received considerable public and media attention over the past several years. However, many of the transportation and land use actions offered to deal with the congestion phenomenon focus only on a specific site or at most a subregion of the metropolitan area. This paper argues that congestion in many cases is an areawide phenomenon requiring consideration from a regional and programmatic viewpoint. A ten-point congestion-relief program developed for eastern Massachusetts is described. Actions in this program included those aimed to mitigate current congestion and avoid future congestion through land use management. Four policy areas are emphasized - providing transportation system improvements, managing transportation demand, managing land use, and managing the institutional and funding framework. The paper concludes that because of the political nature of the congestion problem, the congestion-relief program's importance lies more in the message it sends to the public that programmatic action is being taken. The paper also concludes that a regional approach is necessary thus requiring close examination of existing institutions, that demand management is an important component of the strategy, that the private sector has an important role to play, and that the long-term effectiveness of the program relates to the success of attempts to institutionalize efforts into zoning and permit procedures.     

Enhanced bus operations: The Curitiba model and its applicability to China

Buses will remain the backbone of public transport systems for some time to come because of their lower cost and higher flexibility in relation to rail transport. However, buses are perceived as being an inferior mode of public transport and do not offer as much carrying capacity as rail transport. Following the Curitiba model, this paper looks at the potential for transferring some of the key advantages of rail transport to bus operations. This involves transforming bus stops into enclosed stations, with ticket purchase and/or checking in the station and at‐grade access to vehicles. It also involves the extensive use of bus lanes. The potential contribution of transport telematics is looked at, in particular the use of smartcards for payment in a closed fare system. The potential role of the Curitiba model for China is assessed in the context of toll road construction.     

氟硅橡胶在汽车涡轮增压器软管衬里中的应用

燃料价格在短期内的上涨和全球有限的石油供应造成的长期威胁正在影响着汽车行业的发展趋势,因此急需寻找能够进一步提高燃油效率、降低废气排放的技术。消费者对汽油价格的担忧以及对于汽车尾气对环境影响的日益关注,推动着世界各地的汽车研究人员不断研发矿物燃料的替代品,如     

采埃孚萨克斯驶向平稳发展之道

德国采埃孚萨克斯(ZF Sachs)公司正在一个平稳快速的发展轨道上,双质量飞轮(DMFs)是其最具创新性的产品之一,它提高了多款车型的行驶平稳性.     

汽车底盘系统零件的振动性能优化技术

汽车振动性能的优化要求对悬架系统的单个零件进行分析,同时考虑它们在振动系统中的相互作用。这一工作的最大挑战在于如何建立简单有效的动力学模型,以便获得用于对零件的性能要求进行详细定义的足够数据。     

International cooperation in Maritime casualty Investigations: an analysis of IMO RESOLUTION A.637 (1 6)

On 19 October 1989, the International Maritime Organization adopted a joint uslliberian resolution meant to advance international cooperation in maritime casualty investigations. This resolution reflected an international determination to achieve greater cooperation between different states in investigative matters, in a manner consistent with international law. This paper examines how the IMO resolution addresses some of the inherent problems in such a multi-national industry. It also examines the question of whether us lawmakers may, or should, impose stricter controls and restrictions unilaterally on foreign-flag ships which call on us ports.