Coordination mechanisms in improving hinterland accessibility: empirical analysis in the port of Rotterdam

Hinterland accessibility is one of the main determinants in port competition. Improving hinterland accessibility is a complex process in which many actors are involved and many factors play a role. It requires coordination mechanisms beyond the price mechanism; conditions of complexity can become such that assistance is needed from other coordination mechanisms, such as introduction of incentives, creation of an interfirm alliance, changing scope, and creating collective action. The goal of this paper is to gain a better understanding on coordination in hinterland chains. Based on the insights of Transaction Cost Economics, a set of variables is explicated in order to understand when, by whom, and under which conditions and situations coordination arrangements are chosen. The variables can be divided into variables related to the complexity of the coordination problem and variables related to the coordination arrangement. The variables are used in an empirical analysis of coordination arrangements in hinterland transport from and to the port of Rotterdam. This analysis provides insight into the patterns and conditions of the emergence of different coordination arrangements that improve hinterland accessibility.     

Transportation education in the United States

Abstract

In the last decade the importance of attitude‐related residential self‐selection has frequently been recognized. In addition people can theoretically self‐select them with respect to other location choices, such as job locations, with respect to travel behaviour, or with respect to the exposure to transport externalities such as noise and congestion. In this paper, we argue that insights into self‐selection processes might significantly improve our knowledge on location choices, travel behaviour and transport externalities. We elaborate on options for self‐selection and briefly formulate methodologies for research into self‐selection.     

Multi-period Research Designs for Identifying Causal Effects of Built Environment Characteristics on Travel Behaviour

Abstract

To date, most empirical studies have applied cross-sectional designs to investigate the relationship between the built environment (BE) and travel behaviour (TB). Since these studies cannot identify causal influence, the use of designs that provide data on multiple moments in time seems necessary. This article classifies these designs and describes how they can be applied to identify causality in this relationship. We recommend the use of natural experiments to assess the impact of changes in land use/infrastructure and prospective longitudinal designs to assess the impact of residential or job moves. In addition, the role of the BE can be explored by assessing the impact of (1) deliberate TB change experiments and (2) changes in household circumstances across different spatial contexts over time. The use of randomised experimental designs is recommended for the former and prospective longitudinal designs for the latter. The article concludes with an outlook on future research.     

Genetic algorithms approach to the problem of the automated vehicle identification equipment locations

The automated vehicle identification (AVI) equipment location problem entails determination of the best locations for the automated vehicle identification equipment. The paper attempts to solve the AVI equipment location problem as a multi‐objective optimization problem, thus determining the best locations on the basis of several criteria. The developed model is based on genetic algorithms. Testing of the model developed on the greater transportation networks is certainly one of the most important directions for the future research, as much as the development of models based on other metaheuristic approaches (Simulated Annealing, Taboo Search). The results obtained in this stage of the research are promising.     

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本文提出一种用于评价公路－铁路联合运输货运枢纽选址方案的整数模型。模型中的四个主体为：货运枢纽经营者、交通运输网络设施规划者、客户、社会公众。介绍了可使全局目标优化的基于主体建模方法(ABM)在货运枢纽选址中的应用。最后，本文以澳大利亚昆士兰州东南部的货物联合运输枢纽为例，介绍了其原始选址过程、个体目标函数测试及基于主体的模型设计过程。     

Long-term impacts of transport infrastructure networks on land-use change: an international review of empirical studies

Improvements in geographical information systems, the wider availability of high-resolution digital data and more sophisticated econometric techniques have all contributed to increasing academic interest and activity in long-term impacts of transport infrastructure networks (TINs) on land use (LU). This paper provides a systematic review of recent empirical evidence from the USA, Europe and East Asia, classified regarding the type of transport infrastructure (road or rail), LU indicator (land cover, population or employment density, development type) and outcome (significance, relationship’s direction) as well as influential exogenous factors. Proximity to the rail network is generally associated with population growth (particularly soon after the development of railway infrastructure), conversion to residential uses and the development of higher residential densities. Meanwhile, proximity to the road network is frequently associated with increases in employment densities as well as the conversion of land to a variety of urban uses including commercial and industrial development. Compared with road infrastructure, the impact of rail infrastructure is often less significant for land cover or population and employment density change. The extent of TINs’ impact on LU over time can be explained by the saturation in TIN-related accessibility and LU development.     

From user equilibrium to system optimum: a literature review on the role of travel information,bounded rationality and non-selfish behaviour at the network and individual levels

Travel information continues to receive significant attention in the field of travel behaviour research, as it is expected to help reduce congestion by directing the network state from a user equilibrium towards a more efficient system optimum. This literature review contributes to the existing literature in at least two ways. First, it considers both the individual perspective and the network perspective when assessing the potential effects of travel information, in contrast to earlier studies. Secondly, it highlights the role of bounded rationality as well as that of non-selfish behaviour in route choice and in response to information, complementing earlier reviews that mostly focused on bounded rationality only. It is concluded that information strategies should be tailor-made to an individual's level of rationality as well as level of selfishness in order to approach system-optimal conditions on the network level. Moreover, initial ideas and future research directions are provided for assessing the potential of travel information in order to improve network efficiency of existing road networks.     

Robust flight-to-gate assignment using flight presence probabilities

In this paper we present a novel method to improve the robustness of solutions to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem (FGAP), with the aim to reduce the need for gate re-planning due to unpredicted flight schedule disturbances in the daily operations at an airport. We propose an approach in which the deterministic gate constraints are replaced by stochastic gate constraints that incorporate the inherent stochastic flight delays in such a way so as to ensure that the expected gate conflict probability of two flights assigned to the same gate at the same time does not exceed a user-specified value. The novel approach is integrated into an existing multiple time slot FGAP model that relies on a binary integer programming formulation and is tested using real-life data pertaining to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The results confirm that the proposed approach holds out great promise to improve the robustness of the FGAP solutions.     

Consumer preferences for electric vehicles: a literature review

Widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) may contribute to the alleviation of problems such as environmental pollution, global warming and oil dependency. However, the current market penetration of EV is relatively low in spite of many governments implementing strong promotion policies. This paper presents a comprehensive review of studies on consumer preferences for EV, aiming to better inform policy-makers and give direction to further research. First, we compare the economic and psychological approach towards this topic, followed by a conceptual framework of EV preferences which is then implemented to organise our review. We also briefly review the modelling techniques applied in the selected studies. Estimates of consumer preferences for financial, technical, infrastructure and policy attributes are then reviewed. A categorisation of influential factors for consumer preferences into groups such as socio-economic variables, psychological factors, mobility condition, social influence, etc. is then made and their effects are elaborated. Finally, we discuss a research agenda to improve EV consumer preference studies and give recommendations for further research.

Abbreviations: AFV: alternative fuel vehicle; BEV: battery electric vehicle; CVs: conventional vehicles; EVs: electric vehicles; FCV: fuel cell vehicle; HCM: hybrid choice model; HEV: hybrid electric vehicle (non plug-in); HOV: high occupancy vehicle; MNL: MultiNomial logit; MXL: MiXed logit model; PHEV: plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; RP: revealed preference; SP: stated preference.     

Weekly rhythms in task and time allocation of households

Analysis of household activity scheduling has to date been limited to one-day periods. This paper extends the study of household task allocation to a one-week period. Using a one-week time use survey held under couples in The Netherlands in 2003, the paper proposes indicators for measuring task allocation on a daily and weekly scale and investigates to what extent role expectations, work status and indicators of time pressure influence task allocation patterns. The outcomes suggest that egalitarian role expectations and higher female work status lead to a more balanced allocation of work and households tasks between spouses. More traditional role views and increased time pressure lead to more specialisation and inequality between spouses. Interestingly, households under time pressure apply day-to-day specialisation to arrive at balanced weekly allocation totals.