Rob van der Heijden

An evaluation methodology for city logistics

This paper presents a methodology for evaluating city logistics initiatives using a dynamic traffic simulation with optimal routing and scheduling. This methodology was applied to a test road network. The performance of three city logistics initiatives, advanced routing and scheduling systems, cooperative freight transport systems and load factor controls were assessed in terms of total costs and CO2 emissions by pickup/delivery trucks operations within the network. Results indicated that these initiatives were not only effective for reducing total costs, but also for CO2 emissions. The methodology presented here allows city planners to quantitatively evaluate city logistics initiatives.

Technical feasibility of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for road traffic safety

This paper explores the technical feasibility of five Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functions to contribute to road traffic safety, to reach stated European (EU) and national road traffic safety targets. These functions – enhanced navigation, speed assistance, collision avoidance, intersection support and lane keeping – were selected from previous research as adequate substitutes for infrastructure related measures. State-of-the-art enabling technologies (like positioning, radar, laser, vision and communication) and their potential are analysed from a technical perspective, and possible obstacles for large-scale dedicated ADAS implementation for road traffic safety are discussed.

Managing Traffic by Privatization of Road Capacity: A Property Rights Approach

Abstract Road congestion remains a serious problem, despite all the efforts to limit road use and to manage growing road traffic volumes. Economic approaches (such as pricing) are introduced based on traditional welfare economic theory. Although they are sometimes very successful, the magnitude of traffic issues also requires alternative and unconventional approaches. Perhaps a more innovative perspective is needed. The paper discusses an alternative economic approach starting from property rights theory. It is translated in transport systems in concepts of infrastructure capacity slot management, where slots are dynamically priced and exclusively allocated to individual users. Debates and practices regarding this approach in air traffic and rail traffic are further developed than in the field of road traffic. The paper aims to explore the potential benefits and disadvantages of the property rights approach for road traffic. Attention is paid to major institutional and technical conditions. The conclusion is that the approach theoretically has clear advantages and seems technologically feasible. Nevertheless, serious political and institutional issues have to be solved first.

Modelling and Forecasting Traffic Safety Improvement:Infrastructure Redesign vs Driving Assistance Systems

Both large-scale physical infrastructure redesign and extensive use of in- vehicle driving assistance systems can contribute to improving road traffic safety. Limited availability of effect data (historical and estimated) for both alternatives is hampering long-term strategic analysis of their potential effects. This paper investigates the use of a first-order and one- variable grey model, denoted as GM (1,1), to forecast the trend of the reduction of traffic accident severity (in terms of fatalities and hospitalisations) through mentioned strategies and combinations thereof. Based on modelling the limited available data of the effects of the infrastructure redesign programme in The Netherlands for the period 1998-2002, we forecast the trend of fatalities and hospitalisations for the years 2003 until 2010. The result is compared with other traffic safety enhancement scenarios by using cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). Error analysis shows that the applied model has a high degree of reliability. Therefore, the method (grey model and CEA) and the outcome of the analysis may contribute to planning and decision making concerning further appropriate steps to reach the ambitious Dutch road traffic safety goals for 2010.

ITS-based transport concepts and location preference: Will ITS change 'business as usual'?

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are expected to solve problems regarding safety, congestion and environmental issues. Currently, automotive industries develop many applications, which are implemented in car driving, freight transportation and public transport. Our theory is based on the assumption that especially further integration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and travel based Information and Communication Systems (ICT) results in new and more attractive ITS concepts. These concepts will influence the performance of both passenger and goods transportation. Consequently, these integrated ITS concepts might in the long run influence the spatial dynamics and more specifically the development of firm locations. To test this hypothesis we use a systemic approach of scenario building. The construction and validation of these scenarios must result in both plausible and attractive images of future ITS. We need these images to conduct a survey and test our hypothesis. The scenarios will provide different futures of an urban region, with differences in accessibility and image of the transportation system. Besides the reaction of firms, we are also interested in responses of actors that develop locations, so-called suppliers. Both suppliers of and demanders for locations create our future space.

The Impact of Spatial Clustering of Transport Infrastructure on Risk

The hypothesis has been formulated that spatial clustering of transport line infrastructures might generate higher risks in terms of higher probability of accidents and/or more severe consequences of accidents. The risk increase is assumed to be the result of interference between transport flows. No systematic research has been performed so far to test this hypothesis. This paper therefore presents the results of an empirical study on this subject based on accident data from the Netherlands. It is concluded that clustering of infrastructures has not caused a higher probability of accidents in the past. However, impacts of accidents in terms of the number of casualties are significantly more severe. This generates new discussions on the spatial planning of infrastructures on the one hand and the organisation of emergency response capabilities on the other.