About attitudes and perceptions: finding the proper way to consider latent variables in discrete choice models

We provide an in-depth theoretical discussion about the differences between individual-specific latent constructs (representing attitudes, for example, but also other characteristics such as values or personality traits) and alternative-specific latent constructs (that may represent perceptions) affecting the choice-making process of individuals; we also carry out an empirical exercise to analyze their effects. This discussion is of importance, as the majority of papers considering attitudinal latent variables just take these as attributes affecting directly the utility of a certain alternative, while systematic taste variations are rarely considered and perceptions are mostly ignored. The results of our case study show that perceptions may indeed affect the decision making process and that they are able to capture a significant part of the variability that is normally explained by alternative specific constants. Furthermore, our results indicate that attitudes may be a reason for systematic taste variations, and that a proper categorization of latent variables, in accordance with underlying theory, may outperform the customary assumption of linearity.     

Single-assignment hub location problems with multiple capacity levels

In this paper, an extension of the classical capacitated single-allocation hub location problem is studied in which the size of the hubs is part of the decision making process. For each potential hub a set of capacities is assumed to be available among which one can be chosen. Several formulations are proposed for the problem, which are compared in terms of the bound provided by the linear programming relaxation. Different sets of inequalities are proposed to enhance the models. Several preprocessing tests are also presented with the goal of reducing the size of the models for each particular instance. The results of the computational experiments performed using the proposed models are reported.     

中国与莫桑比克典型路面结构对比分析研究

中国与南部非洲地区自然环境、气候条件、地形地貌差异较大,但路面结构设计方法却相同.作为比较,笔者以莫桑比克路面设计为例,利用弹性层状体系计算程序分别对两国典型路面结构的路表弯沉、沥青层底的拉应变和土基顶的压应变三大指标进行计算分析,发现对于干燥地区中、轻交通道路,中国的沥青路面结构形式更有利于结构疲劳寿命的增加,保证路面结构的长寿命;对于潮湿的地区,探讨了半刚性路面存在的一些问题,提出了改进的结构形式.     

Geometric modelling of bulbous bows with the use of non-uniform rational B-spline surfaces

Nowadays, bulbous bow forms have become a common design feature in most conventional ship designs. The design of a bulbous bow is usually attempted with the use of certain form parameters that are imposed using the designer's experience or regression values that provide the optimum parameters based on experimental tests or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. In this article, the geometric modelling of a bulbous bow form that complies with a series of parameters is presented. First, a wire model was constructed with cubic B-spline curves that hold certain form parameters that the designer wants to impose. Second, a B-spline surface that fits these splines was mathematically constructed. A review of the influence of the design parameters used on the bulbous bow properties was made. This method could be used prior to numerical optimization of a bulbous bow because different variations of the design can be easily generated. These variations can be tested numerically using CFD software. A practical application example of the method is shown.     

Fishermen’s training and use of safety equipment: A case-study of the Artisanal Fleet of Andalusia

This article is intended as a contribution to safety and health in small-scale/artisanal fishing in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. Training is examined as a key element for reducing risks and therefore the serious number of accidents that occur in the fishery work sector as one of those that is statistically reflected as such and discusses the international and Spanish regulations. The case study focuses on the use of safety equipment in this fishing fleet and highlights the improper use of safety equipment and lack of a health and safety culture. Training is examined as a key element in promoting health and safety awareness in this group.     

Revisiting the notion of induced traffic through a matched-pairs study

In investigating the question of the existence of "induced demand" in connection with highway expansion projects, Hansen et al. (1993) studied eighteen California state highway segments whose capacities had been improved in the early 1970s. For the present study, these segments were paired with control segments that matched the improved segments to unimproved ones with regard to facility type, region, approximate size, and initial volumes and congestion levels. Taking annual data for average daily traffic (ADT) and design-hour-traffic-to-capacity (DTC) ratios during the 21 years 1976–1996, three approaches were used to compare growth rates between the improved and unimproved segments: overall growth comparisons for the matched pairs, repeated measures analysis, and analysis of matched mean profiles. We found the growth rates between the two types of segments to be statistically and practically indistinguishable, suggesting that the capacity expansions, in and of themselves, had a negligible effect on traffic growth over the period studied. Reasons for the differences between these results and those of aggregate cross-sectional models finding a significant induced demand effect are discussed. Our analyses suggest that the aggregate models may overestimate induced traffic due to the attribution of at least a fraction of the observed traffic growth to "induced demand" rather than to some of the confounding factors which were not controlled for in such studies. At the same time, it is noted that the traffic induced by capacity expansion may in certain circumstances be larger than that observed in the present study, with the effect of new highway construction on traffic growth being a prime candidate for scrutiny in this regard. The results of this study nonetheless suggest that, for existing facilities, the size of the induced-traffic effect that can be attributed to capacity enhancements may be sufficiently small that its detection in a case-control study would be difficult, if not impossible, without a substantially larger sample size.     

A literature review of mobility services: definitions,modelling state-of-the-art,and key considerations for a conceptual modelling framework

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review focused on the supply side of mobility services, providing relevant insights at the conceptual, operational, and modelling levels. Definitions are first drawn from the Mobility as a Service paradigm due to its predominance in the literature. This is followed by an assessment of the operational features of a range of mobility services, including carsharing, bikesharing, ridehailing, and demand responsive transit. To conclude the review, the state-of-the-art in modelling approaches for mobility services is reported, at different levels of complexity and integration. Three of the most important findings and arguments from this paper suggest that a high degree of generality exists for operational features of mobility services; that it is essential to make a distinction between Mobility as a Service and a mobility service in isolation; along with the argument that human agency should be carefully considered in modelling efforts, both for user agent and driver agent decision-making processes. Finally, key considerations are proposed for the future development of a conceptual framework for modelling the supply side of mobility services, which would have a generic service provider model as its core component.     

Online license plate matching procedures using license-plate recognition machines and new weighted edit distance

License-plate recognition (LPR) technology has been widely applied in many different transportation applications such as enforcement, vehicle monitoring, and access control. Recently, there has been effort to exploit an LPR database for vehicle tracking using popular template matching procedures. Existing template matching procedures assume that the true reference string is always available. However, under a two-point LPR survey, a vehicle could have its plate misread at both locations generating a pair of misread strings (or templates) with no reference for matching. To compensate for LPR misreading problem, we propose a new weight function based on a probability model to match the observed outcomes of a dual LPR setup. Also, considering that reversal errors are never made in LPR machines, new editing constraints as a function of the string lengths are proposed to avoid compensation for reversal errors. These editing constraints are incorporated into the constraint edit distance formulation to improve the performance of the matching procedure. Finally, considering that previous template matching procedures do not take advantage of passage time information available in LPR databases, we present an online tracking procedure that considers the properties of probability distribution of vehicle journey times in order to increase the probability of correct matches. Experimental results show that our proposed procedure can improve the accuracy of LPR systems and achieve up to 97% of positive matches with no false matches. Further research is needed to extend the ideas proposed herein to plate-matching with multiple, i.e., more than two, LPR units.     

Characterizing European high speed train stations using intermodal time and entropy metrics

This paper presents a quantitative method for characterizing high speed train stations in terms of passenger intermodality. The aim of the procedure is two-fold: firstly, the method is to be used as an objective measure for comparing stations in order to detect suboptimal points and improve the performance of stations as nodal points; secondly, the method provides a means to embed intermodality into regional accessibility models, allowing comprehensive modelling at lower scales. The empirical base of the work comprises data from 27 European high speed rail stations, which is deemed an appropriate statistical sample for the whole European rail network. Using the entropy metric, we found that several different patterns emerged: there was a clear hierarchy of stations which was linked to their respective roles within the system, while strong constraints impeded stations from performing optimally as true intermodal nodes.     

Inferring origin–destination trip matrices from aggregate volumes on groups of links: a case study using volumes inferred from mobile phone data

The origin–destination matrix is an important source of information describing transport demand in a region. Most commonly used methods for matrix estimation use link volumes collected on a subset of links in order to update an existing matrix. Traditional volume data collection methods have significant shortcomings because of the high costs involved and the fact that detectors only provide status information at specified locations in the network. Better matrix estimates can be obtained when information is available about the overall distribution of traffic through time and space. Other existing technologies are not used in matrix estimation methods because they collect volume data aggregated on groups of links, rather than on single links. That is the case of mobile systems. Mobile phones sometimes cannot provide location accuracy for estimating flows on single links but do so on groups of links; in contrast, data can be acquired over a wider coverage without additional costs. This paper presents a methodology adapted to the concept of volume aggregated on groups of links in order to use any available volume data source in traditional matrix estimation methodologies. To calculate volume data, we have used a model that has had promising results in transforming phone call data into traffic movement data. The proposed methodology using vehicle volumes obtained by such a model is applied over a large real network as a case study. The experimental results reveal the efficiency and consistency of the solution proposed, making the alternative attractive for practical applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.