The design of tram priority at traffic signals

This paper outlines the guidelines being used to introduce tram priority at traffic signals in Melbourne. Where techniques being used to meet the guidelines are of interest they are briefly outlined. Similarly, where it has been found that it is not possible to meet the full requirements of the guidelines, the deficiencies of current techniques are outlined and areas for further investigation put forward.     

The effects of non-optimal pricing and investment policies for transportation facilities

A simulation model was used to show the impacts of non-optimal pricing and investment timing policies for a major airport and an urban expressway. It was found that: the losses of economic surplus due to non-optimal pricing and investment policies were relatively small (less than 1% of the net present value of economic surplus for optimal pricing and investment), that marginal cost pricing covers the capital cost of all but the first increment of capacity, that higher user fees will permit the facilities to break even with relatively small losses of economic surplus, that marginal cost pricing has some effect relative to existing pricing policies in delaying the dates new capacity is required and achieving better capacity utilization, and that the shape of the cost function has a substantial impact on the amount of capacity required.     

SiMoCo: the viability of a prototype platform for a coastal monitoring system: a case study

Coastal zones are among the most productive areas in the world, offering a wide variety of valuable habitats and ecosystems services. Despite the low population density in the Brazilian coastal zone, their distribution is quite concentrated near some coastal cities and state capitals. This concentration places enormous pressure on coastal resources. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to present an overview on the current status of SiMoCo (Sistema de Monitoramento Costeiro, or Coastal Monitoring System in English) project as a possible early warning system that can be integrated to the Brazilian Coastal Management Information System. This prototype platform provides a real-time access to the composition, organization and simulation of planktonic communities. First, our results demonstrate such a system detecting a target dinoflagellate; second, we apply structural and functional indexes to compare and characterize the ecological networks from two different coastal areas. Conclusions are made about SiMoCo’s feasibility and its possible contribution to the decision-making process within integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) strategies.     

Curbing automobile use for sustainable transportation: analysis of mode choice on short home-based trips

This paper analyzes transportation mode choice for short home-based trips using a 1999 activity survey from the Puget Sound region of Washington State, U.S.A. Short trips are defined as those within the 95th percentile walking distance in the data, here 1.40 miles (2.25 km). The mean walking distance was 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The mode distribution was automobile (75%), walk (23%), bicycle (1%), and bus (1%). Walk and bicycle are found less likely as the individual’s age increases. People are more likely to drive if they can or are accustomed to. People in multi-person families are less likely to walk or use bus, especially families with children. An environment that attracts people’s interest and provides activity opportunities encourages people to walk on short trips. Influencing people’s choice of transport mode on short trips should be an important part of efforts encouraging the use of non-automobile alternatives.

Bayesian kriging regression for the accuracy improvement of beam modeled T-junctions of buses and coaches structures with a methodology based on FEM behavioral analysis

This paper has been developed in the framework of the alternative beam T-junction solution previously propoused by the authors (Alcalá et al., 2013), with the scope of optimizing the behavior of buses and coaches upper structures modeled with beam type elements. The alternative beam T-junction model proposed by the authors, had a total of six elastic elements at the junction level allowing to modify the localized rigidity of any modeled T-junctions, therefore improving their behavior and avoiding the well known rigidity issue these elements have. A fundamental aspect behind the use of these alternative beam models is related to the necessity of correctly estimating the rigidity values of the elastic elements for each modeled T-junction. In this context, we propose applying a surrogate model for the reference calculations which is based on statistical Bayesian kriging predictors. Statistical predictions have the added value, with respect to deterministic solutions, of providing a quantification of uncertainty. The development of the kriging predictors has required the application of a statistical methodology including computer experiment design, computation of moments of inertia, graphical and ANOVA type sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo computation of Bayesian inference. The results of the application have been a very satisfactory trade-off between accuracy of approximation (prediction) and computational cost. The surrogate kriging models also provide an useful tool for a better understanding of the input-output relationships involved in the reference computations.     

Novel evaluation method of fuel consumption and emission for heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles

This paper is a continuation of a previous paper titled “A novel way to calculate energy efficiency for rechargeable batteries” published on Journal of Power Sources/2012 describing a new method to calculate energy efficiency for rechargeable batteries. The present paper further describes the application of energy efficiency model on the evaluation of fuel consumption and emission for the heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles (HD-HEVs). A more accurate calculation method of net energy change for power battery pack is proposed based on energy efficiency model of power battery pack. A more simplified and accurate correction method of fuel consumption and emission is also presented based on equivalent mileage. The fuel consumption and emission on chassis dynamometer are measured in the HD-HEVs. The experiment results show that relative errors of fuel consumption and emission between equivalent mileage correction results and linear regression correction results are less than 3%, which verifies accuracy and validates the proposed evaluation method for HD-HEVs fuel consumption and emission.     

A Two-Stage Optimization Model for Staggered Work Hours

Traditional or standard work schedules refer to the requirement that workers must be at work the same days and during the same hours each day. This requirement constrains work-related trip arrivals, and generates morning and afternoon peak hours due to the concentration of work days and/or work hours. Alternative work schedules seek to reschedule work activities away from this traditional requirement. The aim is to flatten the peak hours by spreading the demand (i.e., assigning it to the shoulders of the peak hour), lowering the peak demand. This not only would reduce societal costs but also can help to minimize the physical requirements. In this article, a two-stage optimization model is presented to quantify the effects of staggered work hours under incentive policies. In the first stage, a variation of the generalized quadratic assignment problem is used to represent the firm’s assignment of workers to different work starting times. This is the input of a nonlinear complementarity problem that captures the behavior of the users of the transportation network who are seeking to overcome the constraints imposed by working schedules (arrival times). Two examples are provided to show how the model can be used to (a) quantify the effects and response of the firm to external incentives and (b) evaluate what type of arrangements in starting times are to be made in order to achieve a social optimum.     

Analyzing car ownership in Quebec City: a comparison of traditional and latent class ordered and unordered models

Private car ownership plays a vital role in the daily travel decisions of individuals and households. The topic is of great interest to policy makers given the growing focus on global climate change, public health, and sustainable development issues. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most researched transportation topics. The extant literature on car ownership models considers the influence of exogenous variables to remain the same across the entire population. However, it is possible that the influence of exogenous variable effects might vary across the population. To accommodate this potential population heterogeneity in the context of car ownership, the current paper proposes the application of latent class versions of ordered (ordered logit) and unordered response (multinomial logit) models. The models are estimated using the data from Quebec City, Canada. The latent class models offer superior data fit compared to their traditional counterparts while clearly highlighting the presence of segmentation in the population. The validation exercise using the model estimation results further illustrates the strength of these models for examining car ownership decisions. Moreover, the latent class unordered response models perform slightly better than the latent class ordered response models for the metropolitan region examined.     

Intelligent speed adaptation: Preliminary results of on-road study in Penang,Malaysia

The first field experiment with intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) in Malaysia was held in December 2010 in the State of Penang. Eleven private cars were instrumented with an advisory system. The system used in the present study included a vocal warning message and a visual text message that is activated when the driver attempts to exceed the speed limit. When the driver decreases the speed, the warning stops; otherwise it is continuously repeated. The test drivers drove the vehicles for three months with the installed system, and the speed was continuously logged in all vehicles. The warning was however only activated in the second month of the three month period. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of an advisory ISA on driving speed, traffic safety, and drivers' attitude, behavior, and acceptance of the system. To examine these effects, both the survey and the logged speed data were analyzed and explored. The results show a significant reduction in the mean, maximum and 85th percentile speed due to the use of the system. However, there was no long-lasting effect on the speed when the system was deactivated. In the post-trial survey, drivers declared that the system helped them well in following the speed limits and that it assisted them in driving more comfortably. Furthermore, the warning method was more accepted compared to a supportive system, such as active accelerator pedal (AAP). After the trial, most drivers were willing to keep an ISA system.