Infrastructure

Traffic Surveillance by Wireless Sensor Networks: Final Report

Cheung, Sing-Yiu
Varaiya, Pravin
2007

Traffic surveillance systems provide the data used by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The disadvantages of inductive loop detectors have led to the search for a reliable and cost-effective alternative system. This report summarizes a three-year research project in the prototype design, analysis and performance of wireless sensor networks for traffic surveillance, using both acoustic and magnetic sensors.A robust real-time vehicle detection algorithm for both signals is developed. Magnetic sensors turned out to be superior, achieving detection rates above 97% in the field, and led...

Task B-2: Status of Legislative Settings to Facilitate Public Private Partnerships in the U.S.

Iseki, Hiroyuki, PhD
Eckert, Jeanette
Uchida, Kansai
Dunn, Ryan
Taylor, Brian D.
2009

In the search for new sources of funding, federal, state, and local government officials in the U.S. have recently been exploring public private partnerships (PPPs). While promising, PPPs are neither a panacea nor an unwarranted gamble: both shining successes and troubling failures abound. Given the large variation in the efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and feasibility of public-private highway finance partnerships in past projects, federal and state officials have been enacting legislation and statutes to both promote PPPs and to protect public interests from the potential pitfalls of...

The Importance of Accurate Road Data for Spatial Applications in Public Health: Customizing a Road Network

Frizzelle, BG
Evenson, KR
Rodriguez, DA
Laraia, BA
2009

Health researchers have increasingly adopted the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for analyzing environments in which people live and how those environments affect health. One aspect of this research that is often overlooked is the quality and detail of the road data and whether or not it is appropriate for the scale of analysis. Many readily available road datasets, both public domain and commercial, contain positional errors or generalizations that may not be compatible with highly accurate geospatial locations. This study examined the accuracy, completeness, and currency of...

Planning for Pedestrians and Bicyclists: Results from a Statewide Municipal Survey

Evenson, KR
Aytur, SA
Satinsky, SB
Kerr, ZY
Rodriguez, DA
2011

We surveyed North Carolina (NC) municipalities to document the presence of municipal walking- and bicycling-related projects, programs, and policies; to describe whether prevalence of these elements differed if recommended in a plan; and to characterize differences between urban and rural municipalities. We surveyed all municipalities with ≥ 5000 persons (n = 121) and sampled municipalities with < 5000 persons (216/420), with a response rate of 54% (183/337). Responses were weighted to account for the sampling design. From a...

Sistemas de Transporte Público Masivo Tipo BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) y Desarrollo Urbano en América Latina (Land Lines Article)

Rodriguez, DA
Tovar, V
2013

Las ciudades de América Latina han liderado la implementación de Sistemas de Transporte Público Masivo de Autobuses tipo BRT (llamados así por sus siglas en inglés por Bus Rapid Transit), un modo de transporte que generalmente se caracteriza por el desarrollo de infraestructura que dan prioridad al transporte público en relación con el transporte en otros tipos de vehículos, ofrece la posibilidad de pagar la tarifa antes de tomar el autobús y permite un rápido acceso al mismo. Más de 45 ciudades de América Latina han realizado inversiones en sistemas tipo BRT, lo que representa el 63,6 por...

BRT-Oriented Development in Quito and Bogotá

Rodriguez, DA
Vergel, E
Triana, WFC
2013

This report summarizes a study that combines different methods to understand the land development impacts of bus rapid transit (BRT) investments in Quito and Bogotá. Intervention and control zones in each zone are used to quantitatively examine changes in the land market in both cities. Outcomes include land market characteristics such as built area added per year (both cities), units added (Quito), and building permits issued (Bogotá). We use qualitative analyses to examine interviews conducted with 44 key informants in both cities to understand the factors that explain the presence or...

Sistemas de Transporte Público Masivo Tipo BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) y Desarrollo Urbano en América Latina

Tovar, E
Rodriguez, DA
2013

Latin American cities have led the implementation of BRT-type Bus Mass Public Transportation Systems (named after Bus Rapid Transit), a mode of transportation that is generally characterized by the development of infrastructure that prioritizes the public transport in relation to transport in other types of vehicles, offers the possibility of paying the fare before taking the bus and allows quick access to it. More than 45 cities in Latin America have made investments in BRT-type systems, which represents 63.6 percent of the number of passengers in BRT-type systems worldwide. In...

Bus Rapid Transit and Urban Development in Latin America

Rodriguez, D
Vergel, E
2013

Latin American cities have been leaders in the implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems—a transportation mode often characterized by infrastructure improvements that prioritize transit over other vehicles, provide off-vehicle fare payment, and allow quick vehicle access. More than 45 cities in Latin America have invested in BRT, accounting for 63.6 percent of BRT ridership worldwide

Determinants of Bicycle Commuting Propensity: Findings from a Questionnaire-Based Investigation in Barcelona, Spain

Cole-Hunter, T
Donaire-Gonzalez, D
Curto, A
Mendez, MA
Garcia-Aymerich, J
Jerrett, M
Rodriguez, DA
Nazelle, A De
Nieuwenhuijsen, MJ
2013
The current study (of the TAPAS project) aimed to ascertain which factors, both psychological (mental) and physical (practical), were acting as the greatest determinants for bicycle commuting propensity of the working (or studying) population of Barcelona, Spain. Methods: Adults [N=795; 51% female, 87% nationals. Mean ± standard deviation: age = 37 ± 10, body mass index = 23.5 ± 3.3] who commuted to work or school in Barcelona responded to a comprehensive questionnaire (via telephone) concerning their commute activity and attitude. Respondents were categorised as either frequent or infrequent...

Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure Improvements

Bushell, MA
Poole, BW
Zegeer, CV
Rodriguez, DA
2013

Costs for pedestrian and bicycle safety infrastructure often vary greatly from city to city and state to state. This document (and associated database) is intended to provide meaningful estimates of infrastructure costs by collecting up-to-date cost information for pedestrian and bicycle treatments from states and cities across the country. Using this information, researchers, engineers, planners, and the general public can better understand the cost of pedestrian and bicycle treatments in their communities and make informed decisions about which infrastructure enhancements are best suited...