Nikolaos Gavanas

Implementation of alternative transport networks in university campuses

Purpose – In order to alleviate the impacts of traffic congestion that undermine the mobility and accessibility conditions of the Aristotle University campus, the paper aims at the presentation and description of a complementary network of alternative modes (i.e. pedestrian and bicycle) and the discussion of the appropriate measures for its successful implementation in the campus.Design/methodology/approach – The methodological approach of the paper is twofold: the overview of good practices for implementing cycling and pedestrian networks in European university campuses in an attempt to identify an integrated activity framework compatible to the European approach; and a questionnaire survey for the assessment of the modal split for trips towards and from the campus and the current mobility and accessibility conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the Aristotle University campus.Findings – The successful implementation of alternative transport networks in university campuses depends on the specific fea...

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW MEMBER STATES TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN AN ERA OF CONVERGENCE - DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDICATOR SYSTEM

The recent enlargement of the European Union (EU) towards East Europe and the Balkans provides a common policy framework towards the promotion of socio-economic convergence of the 12 new member-states to the EU emphasizing the role of the transportation system. A system of indicators is developed in this paper in order to describe the new member-states’ transportation system in relation to the area’s socio-economic characteristics by comparing them to the transportation and socio-economic profile of the 15 pre-enlargement member-states. The analysis indicates relatively low levels of mobility for the study area combined with social and economic disparities. It also highlights a series of prospects that could contribute decisively towards the achievement of socio-economic convergence. Based on the experience gained by the development and application of the indicator system, the paper concludes with a series of propositions in order to enhance its contribution for the description of the features and the assessment of the impacts from the development of the new member-states’ transport system.

Integration of LUTI models into Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs)

A literature review indicates that there is an increasing number of Land Use/Transport Interaction (LUTI) models being used in policy analysis and support of urban land use, transport and environmental planning. In this context, LUTI models are considered to be useful for the development of scenarios during the preparatory stage of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). A SUMP can be defined as a strategic planning framework, proposed by the European Commission, for planning and design of an urban multimodal transport system, which combines multi-disciplinary policy analysis and decision making. The objective of a SUMP is to achieve sustainable urban mobility, i.e. accessibility for all, safety and security, reduction in emissions and energy consumption, efficient and cost-effective transport and an improvement in the urban environment. Based on the overall conceptual and methodological framework of LUTI models (Geurs and van Wee 2004), the scope of the proposed research is to fully integrate a LUTI model into a contemporary transport planning framework and, more specifically, into the SUMP structure. This paper focuses on the configuration of the integration pattern, according to which a LUTI model may evolve and interact with the planning process throughout the eleven elements of the SUMP, as well as the evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks from the implementation of the proposed pattern for the enhancement of SUMP and overall promotion of sustainable urban planning.

The Territorial Impact Assessment of transport: the case of the Egnatia motorway system in the cohesion potential of Southeast Europe

Abstract Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) is proposed as a critical tool in order to investigate the way policies affect spatial development and hence territorial cohesion. The paper introduces a TIA methodological model in relation to transport sector. The design of the methodological model is based on a quantitative evaluation framework that comprises a set of selected indicators applied in a cross-border area of southeast Europe, influenced by the operation of the Greek motorway system of Egnatia and its vertical axes. The indicators are grouped into three main fields of TIA, i.e. transport intermodality, polycentric spatial organization and cross-border territorial cooperation. The TIA’s indicators are approximated by quantitative analysis. The procedure concludes to an overall composite indicator measuring the ‘level of territorial cohesion’ along with some core results and the expected added value. It also highlights some key technical aspects about the routines used and proceeds to suggestions for further refinement.

Land Use Models And Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans: An Integrative Approach For Strategic Planning

The notion of integrative and multidisciplinary approach in developing and implementing sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) has been prevalent in the transportation planning agenda for several years now. The benefits of such approach include preparing better and public legitimate plans and promoting cooperative planning culture. In this context, European Commission (EC) currently promotes the concept of the SUMP, which can be defined as a strategic planning framework for the urban multimodal transport system combining multi-disciplinarity, policy analysis and decision making, while its objectives concise with the main pillars of sustainable urban mobility. Furthermore application guidelines for SUMP propose a combination of appropriate techniques and tools, for successful conduction of the activities and fulfilment of the requirements of the planning process. In this context, this paper argues that the use of Land Use Transport Interaction (LUTI) models could enhance the prospect of successful implementation of such plans. Therefore, it explores the possibility of integrating LUTI models in the various phases of a SUMP cycle. To do so, it starts with an investigation and recording of the different types of land use models and their functionality. It then specifies the criteria that someone should use in order to choose the appropriate LUTI model and it proposes a framework for the integration of LUTI models into a SUMP cycle. Finally, it discusses the expected benefits and drawbacks from such integration. The paper concludes that integration of LUTI models into the SUMP cycle, could enhance the strategic and communicative aspects of SUMPs, mainly due to the fact that LUTI models can be used as testing and evaluating tools of alternative ‘mobility futures’, and as tools to communicate and ensure mutual understanding amongst involved stakeholders and individuals.

Potential contribution of LUTI models in contemporary strategic planning for urban mobility: a case study of the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki

The contemporary approach of strategic urban mobility planning aims at the cross-scientific analysis of the interactions between the transport system and urban structure, under the perspective of socio-economic and environmental sustainability. In this context, the European Commission currently promotes the concept of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), which can be defined as a strategic planning framework for the urban multimodal transport system combining multi-disciplinarity, policy analysis and decision making, while its objectives concise with the main pillars of sustainable urban mobility. SUMP guidelines refer to the potential use of Land Use and Transport Integrated (LUTI) models as tools for the development of strategic scenarios during the preparatory stage of the planning process. Based on the conceptual background of LUTI models, the current paper suggests that they could play an extensive role in the implementation of a SUMP. Therefore, it discusses the expected benefits and drawbacks from the implementation of a LUTI model in contemporary strategic planning for urban mobility and proposes a framework for the full integration of such a model into the SUMP cycle. An application of the proposed framework is attempted for Thessaloniki’s SUMP, recording the emerging problems and implementation issues. Finally, the paper concludes by outlying the potential added value from the full integration of a LUTI model to the SUMP cycle.