Jianhong Xia

Development of Fuzzy Logic Forecast Models for Location-Based Parking Finding Services

Park-and-ride (PnR) facilities provided by Australian transport authorities have been an effective way to encourage car drivers to use public transport such as trains and buses. However, as populations grow and vehicle running costs increase, the demand for more parking spaces has escalated. Often, PnR facilities are filled to capacity by early morning and commuters resort to parking illegally in streets surrounding stations. This paper reports on the development of a location-based parking finding service for PnR users. Based on their current location, the system can inform users which is the best station to park their cars during peak period. Two criteria—parking availability and the shortest travel time—were used to evaluate the best station. Fuzzy logic forecast models were used to estimate the uncertainty of parking availability during the peak parking demand period. A prototype using these methods has been developed based on a case study of the Oats Street and Carlisle PnR facilities in Perth, Western Australia. The system has proved to be efficacious and has the potential to be applied to other parking systems.

Assessing drivers’ visual-motor coordination using eye tracking, GNSS and GIS: a spatial turn in driving psychology

Abstract Vehicle-driving in real traffic can be considered as a human-machine system involving not only the attribute of the vehicle movement but also the human visual perception, cognition and motion of the driver. The study of driving behaviours, therefore, would integrate information related to driver psychology, vehicle dynamics and road information in order to tackle research questions concerning driving safety. This paper describes a conceptual framework and an integrated GIS data model of a visual-motor coordination model (VMCM) to investigate drivers’ driving behaviour via the combination of vision tracking and vehicle positioning. The eye tracker recorded eye fixations and duration on video images to exhibit the driver’s visual search pattern and the traffic scenes. Real-time kinematic (RTK) post-processing of multi-GNSS (global navigation satellite system) tracking generated the vehicle movement trajectory at centimeter-level accuracy, which encompasses precise lateral positioning and speed control parameters of driving behaviours. The eye fixation data were then geocoded and linked to the vehicle movement trajectory to represent the VMCM on the GIS platform. An implementation prototype of the framework and the VMCM for a study of older drivers is presented in this paper. The spatial-temporal visualisation and statistical analysis based on the VMCM data-set allow for a greater insight into the inherent variability of older drivers’ visual search and motor behaviours. The research framework has demonstrated a discriminant and ecologically valid approach in driving behaviour assessment, which can also be used in studies for other cohort populations with modified driving scenarios or experiment designs.

Work-integrated learning: linking research and teaching for a win-win situation

This paper establishes a framework for linking research and teaching (LRT) by developing industry-oriented student projects based on work-integrated learning theory (WIL). The major components of the WIL experiences and their relationships are identified. The scope of student projects may vary from a minor assignment project to a medium submission, such as a final year or honours project, to a more complex research undertaking, such as a Master or PhD project. A range of practical examples for linking research and teaching and work-integrated learning (LRT-WIL) are described. This study demonstrates that by synthesising work-integrated learning, research and teaching, a win-win situation is created for students, academics and industry partners.

High Water Mark Determination Based on the Principle of Spatial Continuity of the Swash Probability

ABSTRACT Liu, X.; Xia, J. (C.); Blenkinsopp, C.; Arnold, L., and Wright, G., 2014. High water mark determination based on the principle of spatial continuity of the swash probability This study presents a model that determines the position of the high water mark (HWM) based on the spatial continuity of inundation probability due to swash for a range of HWM indicators. These indicators include mean high water (MHW), high water line (HWL), and a number of shoreline features, such as the vegetation line. HWM identifies the landward extent of the ocean and is required for cadastral boundary definition, land-use and infrastructure development along the foreshore ,and for planning associated with climate change adaptation. In this paper, shoreline indicators are extracted using an object-oriented image analysis (OOIA) approach. Ten-year hourly swash heights (shoreline excursion length) are fitted into a cumulative distribution function. The probability that swash will reach the various HWM indicators over a 10 y period is then estimated. The spatial continuity distances of the swash probability of HWM indicators are calculated using semivariogram models that measure similarity of swash probability. The spatial continuity distance is defined as the distance between the lower bound of sampling position (the most seaward HWM indicator) and the position where autocorrelation, or the similarity of swash probability of the various HWM indictors, approaches zero. The latter is considered as the HWM position in this study. This HWM determination method is evaluated at two study sites at different latitudes and with distinct coastal features.

Changing patterns of access to cataract surgery: A population study spanning 22 years

Cataract surgery can prevent blindness but access to health services is often difficult for those living in rural and remote areas of Australia. This study investigated changes in cataract surgery relative to geographical and demographic status 1980-2001. Improved specialist ophthalmic services in rural and remote areas of Western Australia reduced the median distance travelled by patients but did not improve the rate of surgery. This suggests that factors other than distance also affect patient access to cataract surgery. Adequate access to cataract surgery by Aboriginal Australians was difficult to assess due to outdated prevalence data.

A survey of a personalised location-based service architecture for property hunting

Context-awareness in location-based service studies has attracted more and more attention. Awareness of a users location and the users themselves has become the centre of these services. This paper discusses a survey conducted for developing a personalised location-based property hunting system (LBSPH), and a personalised LBSPH architecture developed from the survey results. What users wanted in the way of essential property and neighbourhood information, the best way to display the information, and the common use cases of such a location-based service (LBS) were identified from the survey. The LBSPH architecture was designed to reflect these preferences.

Exploring passenger rail markets using new station catchment size and shape metrics

ABSTRACT This paper presents a novel spatial market segmentation method to determine key user groups of a train station (such as gender, age and access mode), based on the size and shape of the station catchment area of each group. Two new indices – area ratio and composite ratio – are developed to quantify the importance of user groups for a train station. This method is applied to identify key user groups at seven train stations in Perth, Western Australia. The study offers a new way to explore the travel behaviour of train users and provides insights for rail transport planning and marketing.

Unpacking older drivers’ mobility at roundabouts: Their visual-motor coordination through driver–vehicle–environment interactions

Abstract While mobility and safety of older drivers are challenged by age-related cognitive changes, the increasingly complex road environment has placed a higher demand on their adaptability. Older drivers experience difficulties in regulating their operational level behaviors which rely on the second-to-second decision-making, e.g., using the visuospatial information to guide their steering. The roundabout maneuver is one of the critical scenarios for older drivers which requires efficient visual and motor coordination. Understanding older drivers’ visual-motor coordination at roundabouts will provide insights into the mobility and safety of older driver population, which is important yet to be explored. This paper contributes to new measurements in driving behavior through quantitative examinations on driver–vehicle–environment interactions. The drivers’ visual-motor coordination is conceptualized as a sequence of eye fixations coupling with the vehicle trajectory in a space–time path. The experimental data were from 38 older adults’ on-road driving recorded using context and location-aware enabled eye tracking and precise vehicle movement tracking. A visual-motor coordination composite indicator (VMCCI) was developed to measure the efficiency of visual-motor coordination in GIS based on the aggregate multiple parameters of visual and motor behaviors at entry, circulating and exit stage of a roundabout. The results show that the VMCCI is a sensitive indicator for identifying risky drivers, problematic road sections, problematic behaviors. Older drivers’ VMCCI was associated with the angle of deviation at roundabouts, particularly at the entry stage. Findings of this study have implications for actual roundabout designing practice, which will contribute to improve the safety of older drivers behind the wheel.

Locally analysing the risk factors for fatal single vehicle crashes hot spots in Western Australia

Fatal single vehicle crashes (FSVC) have been identified as one of the most serious road-related risks; therefore, it is necessary to investigate their potential risk factors. A number of studies have been conducted to suggest the major factors and the relevant intervention strategies of FSVC. However, most of these studies ignored the spatial heterogeneity in estimating relationships between FSVC and potential factors. The aim of the study is to identify spatial patterns of FSVC in an attempt to explain its relationship with the underlying possible factors in Western Australia. Two types of factors in relation to FSVC are investigated in this research: (1) road condition (slope, sealed, wet, curve, cross and speed limits) and (2) environmental factors (light condition and rain weather). Geographic weighted regression model is applied to identify relationships between the factors and FSVC hot spots. The results show that the impact from significant risk factors is different on rural and metropolitan areas; therefore, the ways of roads accident prevention, especially for the FSVC, should be different.

Development of landmark based routing system for in-car GPS navigation

Research has shown that where possible humans will incorporate landmarks as part of a cognitive map for the purposes of navigation. This paper discusses an extension of existing GPS navigation device design to include landmark-based instructions. This is achieved through the use a landmark weighting system to influence routes chosen by a traditional GPS-navigation system, namely, shortest distance routing algorithm. This system applies the landmark weights to nodes of a network graph in addition to replacing distance-to-turn type directions where appropriate. The proposed landmark-based routing system is flexible for a wide range of situations as users can customize the landmark selection and routing parameters to fit specific needs.