Enhancing stated preference surveys in transportation research: the contribution of geographic information systems

In this paper we argue that visualization, data management and computational capabilities of geographic information systems (GIS) can assist transportation stated preference research in capturing the contextual complexity of many transportation decision environments by providing respondents with maps and other spatial and non-spatial information in graphical form that enhance respondents' understanding of decision scenarios. We explore the multiple inherent contributions of GIS to transportation stated preference data collection and propose a framework for a GIS-based stated preference survey instrument. We also present the design concepts of two survey prototypes and their GIS implementation for a sample travel mode choice problem.     

降低车体下部噪声的评价试验

新干线高速试验列车FASTECH360S和FASTECH360Z采用安装吸声板来降低车体下部噪声。在仿真试验、模型试验和用现有商业运营列车进行的运行试验中,确认了这些吸声板的降噪效果。     

Ecological modeling as a tool for coastal zone management in Dokai Bay, Japan

An ecological numerical model has been developed for coastal zone management in Dokai Bay, Japan. The numerical model experiment reproduces the occurrence of red tides and oxygen-deficiency in Dokai Bay during summer. Moreover, the model experiments forecast that when the phosphorus or nitrogen load from land will be cut by 90% or 95%, respectively, red tides and oxygen-deficiency will not occur in Dokai Bay. If the sewage facility is not sufficient to cut the nutrients load to the necessary degree, it is necessary to consider other countermeasures such as cultivating bivalves in order to decrease the nutrients in the bay.     

A benchmark study of procedures for analysis of axial crushing of bulbous bows

Simplified methods to estimate mean axial crushing forces of plated structures are reviewed and applied to a series of experimental results for axial crushing of large-scale bulbous bow models. Methods based on intersection unit elements such as L-, T- and X-type elements as well as methods based on plate unit elements are employed in the analyses. The crushing forces and the total absorbed energy obtained by the simplified analyses are compared with those obtained from large-scale bulbous bow experiments. The accuracy and the applicability of these methods are discussed in detail.