Teppei Osada

Development of Integrated Database System for Traffic Impact Assessment using Server Side Technology

This paper discusses the Integrated Database System for Traffic Impact Assessment. Traffic impact assessment requires various data for analysis. However, data are widely scattered and a large amount of time is needed to execute analysis. In order to solve these problems, we developed a system which consists of Web GIS Server and Web DB server. These servers use the Java Server Side Technology. As a result, information retrieval by accessing the system became possible, and the traffic impact assessment can be executed more efficiently. A case study to apply this system to large-scale suburban shopping malls proved the effectiveness of the system.

DEVELOPING A BARRIER-FREE MAP BY USING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM AND CELLULAR PHONES WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS

The recent enactment of the transportation barrier-free law in Japan emphasizes the importance of incorporating a barrier-free approach for any new road facility construction and for improvements to existing road facilities in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to develop barrierfree maps for people with various types of disabilities to help public agencies plan a barrier-free transportation system environment. Statistics show that technological progress and the explosive proliferation of cellular phone use in Japan has reached the level of two phones for every three people. In particular, new advanced cellular phones equipped with additional features such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) and digital cameras are gaining in popularity. The focus is on GPS cellular phones with digital cameras as a tool to collect barrier-free information on the streets. The digital photos and location information generated by the GPS are sent to a personal computer by e-mail. The gathered information is then stored in a geographic information system (GIS) database to display hazardous barrier locations with pictures and messages on a map. Actual field surveys were conducted in the central business district of Utsunomiya City using this method, and information was collected about various barriers for people with different types of disabilities. Barrier-free maps for different types of disabilities were then developed using the multilayer feature of GIS. By comparing hazardous locations for each group of disabilities, both common and differential characteristics were found and summarized in the form of a barrier-free map. Such barrier-free maps are expected to be useful to public agencies for providing a barrier-free transportation environment for people with all types of disabilities.

Research on the Fluctuation of Basic Unit of Daily Visitors to Large-Scale Retail Stores

The guideline stipulated in the Large-Scale Retail Stores Location Law enacted in 2000 is uniform across the nation and does not reflect the characteristics unique to local cities. Therefore, this paper examined the actual situations in Tochigi Prefecture, and proposed improvement of measures that conform well to local city environments. Basic unit of daily visitors was analyzed using the result of customer satisfaction level survey. The analysis revealed cause of fluctuation of basic unit of daily visitors that takes attribute and behavioral pattern of individual customer into consideration. In addition, a proposal was made with regard to the establishment of basic unit of visitors to other facilities such as furniture stores.