Panagiotis Papaioannou

Applications of GPS technology in the land transportation system

Abstract The global positioning system (GPS) allows the accurate positioning of an object using satellite signals. There are a lot of applications of this technology in many scientific fields all over the world. In recent years, the rapid increase in the development of the geographic information system technology (GIS) has led to the development of GPS/GIS applications. Therefore, the geometric and geographic information obtained by the use of GPS can be introduced to GIS database and thus thematic maps can be produced. In the framework of this paper, a short overview of applications in the area of transportation in Greece and abroad is presented. Emphasis is placed on an ongoing application in railway mapping, through the presentation of its pilot phase in Greece. The use of modern technologies, the problems identified and the results produced are presented and discussed.

A Study of Traffic Signal Violations at Highway Intersections

Abstract A research study of drivers non-compliance with traffic signals, covering 19 interurban signalised highway intersections in Northern Greece is presented in this paper. The objective of the study is to identify the interrelations between traffic signal violations and roadway, traffic and operational features of the intersection. The results of the study indicate that traffic signal violation at interurban intersections is a major problem, which requires emergency attention. Four out of ten (4/10) drivers violate the red signal. The violation rate is higher for left and right turns, for motorcycles and during low traffic volumes.

A GIS web-based traffic accident information system

Humanity has faced an enormous technological evolution over the last 15 years in the area of Networks and Communications, in parallel with the continuous progress occurring in the computer hardware and software technologies. Communications and Informatics are undoubtedly considered as the fundamental sections for developing systems and managing their critical component, the data, in order to obtain information and consequently knowledge. As far as spatial data is concerned, the applied aspect of the relevant sciences and the involved technologies lay in the greater area of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS-based software implementations comply with the principles governing contemporary software developments and they often need to be integrated with existing systems of human activities. As a result, specialised server applications termed Internet Map Servers (IMS), satisfy client requests for different purposes including spatial based information retrieval. In addition, existing Database Management Systems (DBMS), handle spatial information and through special software connectors serve requests sourcing from GIS-based applications. Systems dealing with traffic accidents and road safety, may be generally termed as Traffic Accident Information Systems (TAIS), and serve the objectives of the present paper. Accidents are handled as point events and are positioned over the transportation network through appropriate Linear Referencing Systems (LRS). Although, numerous systems have been developed, the system proposed by the present study exploits the benefits of modern, state-of-the-art software modules, regarding spatial information related services.

DESIGN OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TAMS), FOR THE GREEK NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM, USING GIS TECHNOLOGY

Abstract A GIS based Management System for Traffic Accidents, is being presented, with the main emphasis on the Data Base Design. The System functions and the overall Architecture have been approached at a first stage, providing an indication of what such a system might be. The system is appropriate for the General Secretariat of Public Works, its Regional Branches and other Authorities which have to do with road networks. The benefits of such a system extend on operations, management, planning and monitoring. What is really needed is maturation and determination from the decision makers to employ a GIS base Traffic Accident Management System. A system that will also be quite useful for other functions of the same Ministry as well.

Applying Behavior Change Theory to Predict Travel Behavior of University Commuters

Selecting the right alternatives to an existing travel mode for commuting to a major trip generator at the center of a metropolitan area is often a complex project. In this chapter, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece is the major trip generator in a study that compares the predictions of two approaches, both of which use discrete choice modeling, regarding the number of commuters who are willing to change travel mode if the right alterative is offered to them. The first is the conventional approach that, using travel cost and travel time as the main travel mode choice determinants, is applied to a selected (aggregate) sample of the commuter population. The second approach uses the same determinants but stratifies the sample into four strata according to the behavioral change stage to which the commuters belong. The model results indicate that the predicted travel mode choice behavior differs significantly among the persons in the sample depending on which behavioral change stage they are in. This study suggests that transport policy makers might better devise targeted interventions to maximize the positive socioeconomic and environmental impacts of travel mode alternatives.

L’importance attribuée par les usagers des transports publics à l’information fournie par les technologies avancées: un levier pour l’investissement dans des systèmes coopératifs

Le Transport public (TP) doit devenir plus concurrentiel pour lutter contre l’usage croissant de la voiture. Ceci exige de mieux comprendre les besoins des usagers et les determinants du choix modal. Des systemes dits cooperatifs, permettant une communication en temps reel entre vehicules ou entre ces derniers et l’infrastructure ou l’usager, sont mis en œuvre a travers le monde, ameliorant le service et l’information fournis. Ameliorer la qualite du service par le biais de la technologie Systemes de transports intelligents (STI) augmente la satisfaction du client mais demande un investissement durable qui exige suivi et evaluation. Cet article se concentre sur l’application des STI dans Thessalonique (Grece), ou le reseau de bus sera complete d’un reseau de metro en 2015. Ce travail discute le potentiel des systemes cooperatifs du point de vue des exploitants. Au cours de la derniere decennie, plusieurs enquetes ont mesure la satisfaction des usagers et l’importance attribuee aux applications STI. La clientele semble porter une appreciation positive et durable sur ces applications et la tendance d’utilisation les transports publics est croissante. La prise en compte du point de vue du client est recommandee aux operateurs qui peuvent ainsi planifier des ameliorations pour repondre aux besoins, guider les choix, et augmenter leur part de marche. Les systemes cooperatifs exigent un investissement considerable et le consensus des acteurs, mais aussi le soutien des clients. Les operateurs, qui investissent deja, devront argumenter sur l’importance de telles applications pour les usagers qui en sont de plus en plus demandeurs.

New Concepts in Public Transport Information Systems

This paper studies Public Transport Information Systems (PTIS) as they have emerged from the CASSIOPE system, based on the design of a kernel data model and a common RDBMS, appropriate for all functional domains. The EUROBUS/POPINS terminals designed and developed for three European cities are also presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of the likely impacts of public transit patronage.