Dirk Lauwers

Shopping Centre Siting and Modal Choice in Belgium: A Destination-Based Analysis

Abstract Although modal split is only one of the elements considered in decision-making on new shopping malls, it remarkably often arises in the arguments of both proponents and opponents. Today, this is also the case in the debate on the planned development of three major shopping malls in Belgium. Inspired by such debates, the present study focuses on the impact of the location of shopping centres on the travel mode choice of the customers. Our hypothesis is that destination-based variables such as embeddedness in the urban fabric, accessibility and mall size influence the travel mode choice of the visitors. Based on modal split data and location characteristics of 17 existing shopping centres in Belgium, we develop a model for a more sustainable siting policy. The results show a major influence of the location of the shopping centre in relation to the urban form, and of the size of the mall. Shopping centres that are part of a dense urban fabric, measured through population density, are less car dependent. Smaller sites will attract more cyclists and pedestrians. Interestingly, our results deviate significantly from the figures that have been put forward in public debates on the shopping mall issue in Belgium.

Noise emissions at intersections: comparing microscopic and macroscopic traffic simulation approaches

Environmental noise mapping often involves the use of traffic simulation software. In most cases, traffic flows are simulated in a macroscopic way, considering only traffic flow parameters averaged over road segments. This approach does not allow to correctly account for the typical deceleration and acceleration patterns of traffic at intersections, which influence local noise emissions. Microscopic traffic simulation models, which model each vehicle individually, incorporate these dynamic effects. However, they require much larger amounts of input data for calibration, and are therefore less suited to map large areas. In this paper, we investigate the possible influence of the choice of simulation detail on simulated traffic flow parameters and, as a consequence, on noise emissions near intersections. As a case study, several types of road intersections under various traffic demand and traffic composition conditions are considered. Simulation results are obtained using a microscopic (Paramics) as well as...