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Aiming at the time-dependent characteristic of the highway network, effective emergency vehicle routing plan is a great significance to emergency rescue. In this paper, a novel particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the time-dependent (dynamic) shortest path problem. The algorithm uses a way of adjacency matrix search to generate particle swarm satisfying constrains of the problem during the whole calculation, and puts forward a kind of update rule using the path of the optimal individual as the guidance information to ensure that the vehicle enters a shorter road section at the earlier time. The results of illuminate examples show that the algorithm can quickly and efficiently search the shortest path of emergency vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation information is the foundation of traffic planning and management. Given the limitations of traditional data acquisition method in quantity, coverage, and accuracy, the use of mobile phone positioning technology to obtain transportation information and conduct identification has good application prospects. With regard to computation complexity, excessive data processing work, and low accuracy, this study has analysed the temporal and spatial features of three regular transportation modes, namely, bus transportation, driving transportation, and walking transportation (going to and from work on work days). This study has also proposed an identification method for the transportation modes based on the matching of temporal and spatial features. We have recruited volunteers in Guangzhou to conduct transportation data acquisition for two weeks (10 work days) and used this method to perform transportation mode identification. Results show that the accuracy of bus transportation identification is 90.98%, that of driving transportation identification is 90.63%, and that of walking transportation identification is 88.60%. Therefore, the method has high accuracy. This study has demonstrated that the temporal and spatial matching method can accurately identify the three regular transportation modes and provide basic data reference and decision-making support to traffic planning and management departments. Thus, the proposed method can be applied and promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the explosive growth of data in recent years, it caused the scientific community pay close attention to the big data research. As a part of the big data, traffic data not only have big data's 3V-features (volume, variety, velocity), but also have its special features, such as hierarchy, instantaneity, and so on. Firstly, this paper summarized current situation of traffic data processing, take a deep insight into the limitations and problems existing in the research; Secondly, discussed the basic theory and method of granular computing (GrC); Verified the feasibility of using GrC to solve the problem of traffic data processing, and put forward the idea of using GrC to deal with these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the problem of automatic vehicle recognition for traffic flow detection at home and abroad, the recognition method based on Support Vector Machine(SVM) and Hidden Markov Model(HMM) algorithm is proposed through extracting linear prediction coefficient(LPC) characteristic from vehicle acoustic. LPC algorithm is learned from voice technology by common between vehicle acoustic and voice. By contrasting other recognition method, simulation indicates vehicle targets are recognized correctly form acoustic signals and this method is effective in vehicle target recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To alleviate the automobile passenger station retention problems, this paper proposed station transport capacity monitoring method based on travel time electronic fence, and compares it with the traditional circular electron fences, roads electronic fences and so on. The test results show that the method can accurately estimate the bus passenger station capacity and transportation capacity curve monitoring weekday can capacity matching and scheduling scheme to provide decision support, in the holiday traffic management can also play the role of capacity scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate evaluation of the bus transit route network is the foundation of scientific planning and management of such a network. The present evaluation methods for the majority of bus transit route networks are characterized by subjectivity, one-sidedness, and inaccuracy. The paper, by introducing Time and Space Geography Theory and GIS-Based Analyzing Method for Spatial Temporal Behavior Data, proposes an evaluation method based on the time-space chain for bus trip and conducts research in terms of time, space, and travel experience. Resident trip investigation and evaluation of bus routes in Guangzhou were made to acquire total travel time, travel time in every station, dwell time, and travel experience of each station. Comparison was made between transportation in morning, common, and evening peak hours and between up route and down route. As a result, an intuitive and visual bus route evaluation was achieved. The research results, which are more specific, detailed, and targeted, conform to the actual requirement of traffic management departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With development of transport technology and Transportation Demand, the loading reinforcement plan of railway long heavy goods is only decided by Transportation Enterprise and plan-making-Company. It has been unable to meet the development of railway transport of goods. It needs consider the demand of customer at the same time. A Multi-objective Optimization Model of the loading reinforcement plan is established by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). It is the first time that the customer demand is included in the Loading Plan optimization goals. It fully considered the demand of the plan-maker, the plan-user and customer. The four evaluation objectives are determined in the optimization model which is transportation security, transit time, transportation costs, and customer satisfaction. The weight of four first stage objective values and the second stage objective value safe of transport are confirmed in this paper. An application example shows that it can get a better plan by the comprehensive evaluation of three plans for different customer needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrival time forecasts can provide lots of help in improving the image of city. The public resident's satisfaction with public transport system, and reduce the number of private cars. In the past, bus forecasts were based on a single static or dynamic prediction algorithm didn't have real-time or stability. In this paper, Support Vector Machine algorithm (SVM) are used to predict the results through historical data, and then use Kalman filter (KF) algorithm to predict the results of dynamic correction, while combine static and dynamic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One possible solution to increase passenger participation in the public transit service and relieve traffic congestion is to implement the fare elimination policy, but transportation divisions are still hesitant to attempt on it for its actual effect on the urban transportation systems. This paper introduces a recent system-wide fare-free policy demonstration in Gaoping city of China, a small-size developing city with high residential density. Two contrastive investigations to disclose the impacts of the fare-free strategy on the transportation system and residents have been completed. A sharp increase of 320% in passenger demand in the public transit system was observed after the initiation of the new policy, far beyond the performance of previous demonstrations. The results indicate that the fare elimination policy had a limited influence on decreasing the vehicle volume on the roads, but it indeed worked well in preventing the further deterioration of traffic congestion. Empirical evidence simply that this demonstration can be an encouraging experience and the fare-free policy could be an effective solution for developing countries with high residential density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-depth research is made on the relevant departments of the typical large urban rail transit, and then the safety elements are analyzed which impact the urban rail transit operation. On the basis of constructing the safety evaluation index system of urban rail transit station operation, in the view of the nonlinear dynamic relationship between safety indexes and evaluation value, the WNN safety assessment model of urban rail transit operation is presented: the AS-OWA aggregation operator method is introduced to data dimension reduction so as to simplify the structure of the wavelet neural network; the adjustment algorithms based on hidden layer nodes is used to determine the number of wavelet basis in order to reduce the wavelet neurons of the redundancy of information and improve the convergence speed. Taking Beijing rail transit typical station operation as the object, based on MATLAB platform, the WNN safety assessment simulation model of urban rail transit operation are built to assess the station operation. The results show that the WNN is an effective method in the training accuracy and iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers, practitioners and local administrators tend to pay poor attention to Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs), thus affecting safety levels. The poor availability of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to increase PTWs safety is evidence of the underestimation of this mode's role, although ITS applications in this field are largely beneficial to increasing road safety. A specific ITS tool to collect PTWs accidents data, tested on 23 sites in Rome, is described. The objective was to have the tested sites ranked according to a series of safety indicators, which describe the road characteristics in the most comprehensive way. Such safety indicators were selected after a review of the scientific literature in this field, focusing on those which resulted the most consistent with the Rome urban environment. The methodology began with a survey of useful ITS to collect data and "feed" the indicators, the selection of the most appropriate ITS tool for the Rome case study, and the process to apply the PTWs' safety indicators within the selected ITS tool's environment, before the test phase. After the test, results stressed that the use of the ITS tool applied could largely improve accuracy in the safety analysis, as it allowed the merging of GIS and GPS' based data in one single processing environment and improvement in the quality of indicators by integrating the accident dynamic parameters, features of road geometry, and vehicle behaviour during the accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate on the perceptions of the drivers on the risk of road accident. An objective of the research is to understand how driving attitudes and behaviour influence road accident risk according to the opinions of the drivers. We analyse two different kinds of perceptions: perceptions of users interviewed through a face-to-face survey, and perceptions of users reached by web. So, another important objective of the research is to verify the differences between the two samples, and the reliability of the responses. We proposed to the users an experiment based on the Stated Preferences according to which respondents had to express a ranking of hypothetical driving scenarios characterized by different levels of attributes describing driving attitudes. Logit models are used to estimate the influence of each attribute on accident risk. The results obtained from the two samples conduct to very different interpretations, but we can definitively say that the respect/violation of the driving rules and the correct/incorrect driver behaviour certainly affect the level of accident riskiness perceptions. From the results, we could retain online survey as reliable, and a valid alternative to traditional methods such as face-to-face survey, especially if we consider the advantages linked to the lower cost and the reduced risks of social desirability bias associated with self-administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively evaluate the potential benefits and costs of transportation investments, transportation planners need to forecast future vehicle crashes. This study describes an approach to develop and apply a planning-level crash prediction model at the traffic analysis zone (TAZ) level for safety benefit estimation associated with planning-level transportation projects. First, different categories of factors from the regional transportation planning model were identified by using geographic information system (GIS) functions. These factors are used to develop a planning-level crash estimation model based on negative binomial regression. Following this, the safety benefits for two transportation planning projects were estimated by applying this model in combination with the transportation planning model from a region-wide perspective. The regression results show that the final zonal crash prediction model (ZCPM) contains vehicle hours traveled as the exposure variable and two predicting variables, the number of low-income households and the number of signalized intersections. The ZCPM shows a reasonable goodness of fit when comparing observed and estimated crashes, and safety benefit estimates for two planning projects in this study appear in general consistent with intuitive expectations. This study indicates that the modeling framework seems a useful approach in estimating future crashes and project safety benefits with certain assumptions, which may fill some gaps in current planning-level project evaluation by explicitly considering future safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A driving simulation experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness and relative efficiencies of two practice scenarios, each designed to present a series of lane changes for participants to negotiate. Scenario 1 included 50 lane changes and participants were instructed to follow the posted speed limits, which ranged from 48 km/h (30 mph) to 105 km/h (65 mph). Scenario 2 included 20 lane changes and participants began driving at 80 km/h (50 mph). They were told to increase their speed as they were comfortable to do so. In both scenarios, the lane changes were identified using sets of pylons flanking the desired travel lanes. Measures of steering and speed control were recorded. A cost function was developed as the product of the absolute value of the lane position of the simulator vehicle at the moment the vehicle reached each set of pylons and the square of the travel time between successive sets of pylons. The cost and cumulative cost per trial values were tested for whether they fit a power curve, indicating whether the participants learned, were still learning, or were not learning to interact with the simulator. Both scenarios were shown to be effective. The differences in the means and variances of the cumulative cost per trial values were tested. The results support the notion that Scenario 1 was more efficient, as indicated by lower variances after 20 lane changes. Additionally, the participants driving Scenario 2 had greater travel times between lane changes than those driving Scenario 1. The drawn conclusion is that directing participants to drive a range of speeds while making lane changes helps in their learning to interact with the driving simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the presented study is to review and evaluate simplified finite element (FE) models used for dynamic vehicle bridge interaction studies. The simplified models considered have been developed using new features implemented in LS-DYNA for computer simulation of moving loads. This new modeling approach offers a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy, and is especially useful for extensive parametric studies on dynamic response of bridges induced by traffic loading. Models for a simply supported beam subjected to a moving mass and one-axle vehicle with spring and damper respectively are used to verify the corresponding FE algorithm through comparison between FE results and existing analytical or semi-analytical solution obtained from MATLAB procedure. In addition, a more complex FE model for a girder-slab-barrier bridge, coupled with a heavy truck, is developed based on experimental data. After validation of FE models, sensitivity of dynamic amplification factor (DAF) to vehicular parameters including: velocity, weight ratio of vehicle over the bridge, and damping of the vehicle is investigated. DAF was found to be generally ascending with growing velocities and local peaks occurring at certain velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subway operational disruptions significantly affect passenger travel patterns; interestingly, limited research has been done to investigate traveler patterns following a network disruption. Using Athens, Greece, as a study area, this paper investigates passenger sensitivity to a programmed closure of the subway network using stated preference data and we explore the manner in which travelers may respond to a hypothetical programmed subway network closure. Results indicate that individuals with higher travel times derive higher utility from public transport than from a car or taxi. Findings suggest that travelers who use subway regularly would use bus in the event of a programmed closure of the subway network, while travelers who usually travel by modes other than subway, would use the car. Our research also shows that those travelers who are flexible in terms of arrival and departure times would travel by public transport during a closure. Findings also suggest that a better understanding of travel patterns can significantly benefit public transportation systems in the event of programmed subway closures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) capture the world's headlines when there is a war, a terror attack or a bloody government crackdown. But the deaths caused by soldiers and gunmen are tiny compared to the carnage that the region's residents create behind the wheel of a car. Prior to the so-called ARAB SPRING, the MENA region was experiencing a transportation boom, with the construction of high-speed rapid-transit systems, the expansion of highways, the introduction of toll roads, and the reduction of automobile tariffs in several markets. As incomes rose and more people took to the road, the automotive industry continued to grow. This development has created problems that are now on national agendas. Pollution, gridlock and traffic safety, which is the main subject of this article, have become burning issues in many MENA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is no comprehensive national land transport strategy (NLTS) in Lebanon. The car ownership rate in the country is one of the highest in the world, estimated at a ratio of around one car for every 2.5 persons. The transportation sector is serviced by a fleet of mainly old and poorly maintained vehicles. Passenger trips occur on a relatively inferior road network, with a weak public transportation system, and without regulation enforcement. In summary, the main problems facing land transport in Lebanon are the overdependence on the private car, lack of organization and regulatory enforcement, and the deterioration of the levels of service provided. The main barriers facing a comprehensive national land transport strategy in Lebanon are: * Changing the attitude of the public toward car use. * Lack of enforcement. * Perceived accident risk of non-motorized modes of transport. * Cultural and institutional bias against green modes of transport. * Generated road space that can be an incentive for increased car use. This paper provides an overview of the land transport sector in Lebanon, with special emphasis on traffic safety. Its aim is not to analyze statistical data relevant to land transport and traffic safety, which have been the subject of numerous articles by the authors, but to pinpoint, as best as possible, the problems facing the land transport sector in general and traffic safety in particular, and to provide recommendations to alleviate these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport simulators provide the potential to isolate specific variables to test for differences in controlled experiments. If simulators operate on a spectrum from low-end, paper based schematics, through to high-end full replica systems, there are fundamental issues associated with how 'fit for purpose' they might be. The physical and functional fidelity of simulators are key factors in their successful implementation as well as issues of face validity and ecological validity (the extent to which research findings generalise from one setting to another). This paper explores different levels of fidelity across a number of experiments that were conducted as part of the UK Government LINK Inland Surface Transport (IST) programme that investigated the potential impact of speech input systems in automotive applications. The findings illustrate that high-end simulation is not always required, especially in exploratory studies where fundamental principles are identified for further examination. However, there comes a point where more realistic driving tasks and contexts are required to develop higher levels of fidelity and enhance the ecological validity of results and the application of knowledge beyond the laboratory and into the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]