Transportation infrastructure improvement and real estate value: impact of level crossing removal project on housing prices

This paper studies the impact of removing the level crossing, which constitutes traffic hazard to the society, on house prices by conducting a quasi-natural experiment using the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) implemented by the Victoria state government in Australia since 2015. Using a difference-in-differences method, we analyzed the changes in housing prices due to the improvement of transportation infrastructure, gauging the LXRP’s impact on house and unit submarkets separately. We found that the prices for house and unit markets increased significantly after the removal of level crossings, with the value uplift decreasing with distance from the removal site. This paper contributes to the existing literature by adding an empirical study related to the enhancement of infrastructure aiming to improve the traffic safety in the urban context. Unlike previous studies, this study examines the effect of improvement projects for existing infrastructure and provides relevant implications to improve the efficiency of investing public resources in infrastructure improvement.

     

Public perceptions of the use of dynamic message signs

Intelligent transportation systems have been promoted as a means to improve both the efficiency and safety of the road network. The effectiveness of advanced technologies in improving road safety has been an area of research which has thus far yielded mixed results. In order to ensure that advanced technologies deliver on their intended outcomes, more research has to be devoted to understanding road users' perceptions and reactions to these systems. This study examines drivers' perceptions of the use of dynamic message signs and their self‐reported reactions to the messages displayed. In general, drivers support the use of highway electronic boards for traffic incident reports and weather information which have an impact on traffic delays and level of service. They also think that it is a good idea to display road safety messages and to remind drivers to drive safely and be courteous on the roads. Moreover, most drivers reported that they do read and think about the messages displayed and react positively to some of the road safety messages.     

韩国高速列车防撞设计与评估

针对韩国高速列车(KHST)的防撞性能进行深入地研究。选定行驶速度为110km·h-1的列车与一个15t重的刚性障碍物的撞击、两列行驶速度为30km·h-1的列车相撞作为严重撞击的事故场景,两列行驶速度为8km·h-1的列车相撞作为轻度撞击的事故场景。用有限元方法对KHST的防撞性进行了数学评估。一维和二维的仿真分析表明该车整体上具有良好的耐撞性。同时,对动车的前端部分做了三维壳体单元的仿真分析。使用安全带的旅客伤亡试验的结果说明KHST的良好性能足以在设置的事故场景中保护旅客的安全。最后,用实比例的撞击试验对仿真方法进行了验证。     

A spatial equilibrium port cargo projection model

A mathematical spatial programming model developed to analyse changes in international and hinterland commodity flows through a regional port system is applied to wheat shipments through the U.S. Pacific Northwest port system. Two scenarios, one focusing on a Chinese quarantine on wheat shipments from the Pacific Northwest and the other on possible closure of barge transportation on the Columbia-Snake River, illustrate the capacity of the model to evaluate the impacts of international and hinterland shocks on the regional port system.     

Determinants of airport retail revenue: a review of literature

ABSTRACT

As the airport retail industry continues to grow due to increasing travel demands, airport operators are increasingly developing their retail revenue potential to ensure financial viability. This study aims to provide a review of airport retail literature and identify the salient factors associated with passenger shopping behaviour. The paper presents a review of contemporary airport retail literature, covering a total of 50 studies from 1998 to 2018. The review identified 26 factors, which could broadly be grouped into five categories: airport/operator related; passengers' demographic related; passengers’ travel related; passengers’ psychological related and passengers’ resources related. In addition to providing a summary of the statistically significant factors across studies, the review identifies and discusses potential approaches for future research. These include the importance of considering both “to spend or not” decision and how much to spend and how most empirical studies focussed on the former; the gap in empirical analysis on the impact of airport terminal design layout on retail performance; and the gap in application of general consumer shopping behavioural models to airport retail problems. The paper concludes with the suggestion that we can build on the existing studies to develop a hybrid approach to solve several of the identified gaps simultaneously.     

自主神经功能检测对早期糖尿病自主神经功能损害的诊断价值

目的评价自主神经功能检测对早期糖尿病自主神经功能损害的诊断价值。方法50例2型糖尿病患者进行自主神经功能检查,即交感皮肤反应和心血管自主神经功能检测,并与30名健康人进行对比分析。结果糖尿病患者自主神经功能检测中交感皮肤反应,瓦氏比值和深呼吸时心率变异与对照组比较均有显著性差异(P<0.05),三者的异常率分别为70%,46%和50%;以交感皮肤反应的异常率最高,尤其以双下肢明显。立卧位血压差和冰水试验与对照组比较无显著性差异(P>0.05),其异常率分别为12%和16%。结论检测外周器官自主神经功能状态的方法中以交感皮肤反应的阳性率最高,可以作为检测早期糖尿病自主神经功能的常规筛选检查。     

Differences in single heavy vehicle crashes at intersections and midblocks

The objective of this research is to identify the factors differentiating between single heavy vehicle collisions at intersections and midblocks by using a binary logit model. Our results show that single vehicle crashes involving heavy vehicle at intersections are more likely to occur on main roads and highways, whereas crashes at midblocks are more likely to occur on divided two‐way roads, roads with special facilities or features (e.g. bridge) and roads with a higher percentage of heavy vehicle traffic. Intersection crashes are also more likely to involve vehicles that are turning left or right, resulting in angle crashes and vehicle overturn, whereas midblock crashes are more likely to involve vehicles on higher posted speed roads. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental study of the effect of low-noise wheels in reducing noise and vibration

Wheel/rail interaction is a major source of railway noise. A low-noise wheel structure is developed and its effect on noise reduction is investigated. This low-noise wheel employs a rubber material inserted into the steel rim or mounted on the wheel surface. The low-noise wheel has low stiffness and a high-damping ratio compared to a solid wheel. Measurement shows that it reduces rolling and squealing. It turns out that a subway line with the proposed wheel could reduce its interior noise level by 4–5 dB(A) and vehicle vibration level by 7–8 dB. While the proposed structure seems promising in noise reduction for railway vehicles, the endurance and cost effectiveness of the low-noise wheel are yet to be verified.     

Theoretical method for predicting the weight reduction rate of a box-type car body for rolling stock by material substitution design

In this paper, a theoretical approach is suggested for predicting the structural performances and weight reduction rate of a car body with a box-type section when its material is substituted with a lightweight material for weight saving. For the material substitution design of a car body for rolling stock, bending, axial, and twisting deformations should be considered at constant stiffness and strength conditions. To compare the weight reduction effects on different material applications, some new indices were derived from a structural performance point of view. The derived indices provide good measures to estimate weight reduction by material substitution design and can be effectively applied to the conceptual design of a car body.