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21 December 2005

Disaggregate assessment of population exposure to aircraft noise

Dr Stephen Greaves, Senior Lecturer in Transport Management, ITLS-Sydney

Abstract:  The short and long-term health impacts of the noxious by-products (noise, air pollution) of transportation activities are a daily source of contention and debate. Fundamental to this debate is assessing personal exposure or the overall time of pollutant contact by humans and the severity of that contact. Currently, this is difficult to gauge at little more than an aggregate/population level, because we simply do not have the information on either 1) the transportation activity or 2) location of people at the degree of spatial and temporal specificity required. This seminar considers how we might begin to tackle these dual issues from the perspective of assessing exposure of Sydney residents to aircraft noise from Kingsford Smith airport. The first issue is addressed using a newly available GIS database of individual aircraft movements provided to us by DOTARS. The second issue is tackled by adapting a procedure to ‘track’ the location of the population over the day using time and location information from the Sydney Household Travel Survey. Please note this is very much work in progress and will mainly be a conceptual presentation of the issues and approaches with a view to soliciting advice and feedback from the audience.

Bio: Stephen joined ITLS-Sydney as a Senior Lecturer in Transport Management in early 2004. Prior to this appointment, he worked for three years as a lecturer in transportation at Monash University after completing his undergraduate studies at Leeds University in England and his PhD at Louisiana State University in the United States. Stephen has teaching experience at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering statistical methods in traffic and transportation, transportation planning models, traffic engineering and control systems, highway design, and road safety. In addition, he will be involved in the development and delivery of targeted industry-based educational programs and short courses at ITLS-Sydney. Stephen has experience in both traditional face-to-face teaching as well as with web-based flexible delivery programs. He has also recently gained a formal university teaching qualification, the internationally-accredited Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, which is demonstration of commitment to quality teaching. Stephen’s current research areas include the use of GPS technology in the evaluation of driver behaviour modification programs, measuring and assessing the health impacts of travel choices, and simulating travel data as a low-cost alternative to conducting large-scale travel surveys. He has demonstrated success in attracting competitive and industry-based support for these programs and has published articles in a variety of mediums including refereed journals, refereed conference articles and book chapters

22 November 2005

Route switching behavior on freeways with the provision of different types of real-time traffic information

Professor Jou Rong-Chang, Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan

Abstract: This study investigates route switching behaviour on freeways in reaction to the provision of different types of real-time traffic information. The experimental design of the stated preference survey is based on four types of real-time information provided to travellers who were randomly selected at rest areas. The four types of real-time information defined in this paper are qualitative, quantitative, qualitative guidance, and quantitative guidance. The bounded rationality framework, also known as indifference band approach, is applied to model the freeway route switching behaviour. Two important variables, travel time and travel cost, are included in the indifference band. In this study, the best route switching rule, travellers’ current routes as compared to the best route, is investigated to further provide valuable insights into freeways travellers’ route switching behaviour with the provision of different types of real-time traffic information.

Bio: Jou Rong-Chang is Professor of Department of Civil Engineering, National ChiNan International University, Taiwan. Professor Jou received his PhD from the University of Texas, Austin, USA in 1993. He has been member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Transportation Research A (1996-present), and a reviewer for many major transportation journals and major conferences (TRB annual conference, EAST, IATBR, ISTTT,g42u  etc.). Professor Jou has over 10 years experience in travel behavior modeling (commuter behavior, effects of real time traffic information), transportation systems and demand management (road pricing, vehicle ownership, HOV lane), and related areas.  He has published more than 30 papers in refereed journals (including papers in Chinese), including the refereed publications in Transportation Research A, B, Transportation Research Record, Journal of Advance Transportation, Transportation, various conference and symposia proceedings, and bound technical research reports. Professor Jou also visited other universities as a visiting professor, such as Kyoto University, Japan (2001-2002) and NTU University, Singapore (2004-2005).

15 November 2005

French segregation: evidence and analysis

Dominique Bouf, ITLS Visiting Professor, Transportation Economics Laboratory, Lyons, France

First some evidence will be provided that French cities are segregated. Then a general framework will be proposed to explain how segregation can result of free location of households, without any discrimination. One core hypothesis is that the French public housing policy might be one of the reasons for the rise of segregation. Then some evidence will be presented on the consequences of this segregation on access to jobs. The presentation will make some use of a paper presented at the North RSAI in Nov 2003.

Abstract: The intuition of this paper is that income segregation can be obtained trough the provision of low rent subsidized housing. : Social dwellings build in low access area. This might lead to poor access to jobs, and thus longer commutes. An empirical test of this theoretical framework is carried out on commuting time for workers living in public housing in the Paris metropolitan area. Among the working class, households living in housing projects tend to have longer commuting time. Then, a test is carried out on the accessibility to various job centres in the Parisian area. Public housing workers have poorer access to service and industry job centres but surprisingly better access to high technology job centres.

Bio: Dominique Bouf is Senior Researcher (CNRS) at the LET (Transportation Economics Laboratory) located in Lyons, France. Prior to joining the LET he worked for the Dutch Ministry of Transportation and for the RATP (Parisian Urban Transportation Company). He lived for two years in Africa and carried out several research projects on African transportation issues. More recently he addressed the problems of railways regulation through studies for the French Government, SNCF (the French railways operator), the European Commission (as the leader of the LET’s participation to the project Improverail), and the OECD, providing a report on yardstick competition. He is working in co-operation with the University of Tongji (Shanghai) on China’s railways reform and is responsible for a research project on the long term prospects for Chinese transportation (China in 2050). Dominique’s main research interests are; Chinese transportation, performance measurement and regulation of transport companies (especially railways), particularly possible implementation of yardstick competition.

8 November 2005

The changing role of the seaport in the global supply chain

Simon Barney, General Manager Commerce and Logistics, Sydney Ports Corporation

Abstract: A practical discussion based on the global movement of containers but focused on the experiences in Sydney. An exploration of the complex inter-relationships between supply chains (primary commodity through to retail), service providers, Government intervention (e.g., Customs) and infrastructure provision. After many year sof planning and a two year assessment process Sydney has recently received approval to expand port facilities at Port Botany. In addition the port is driving change in landside logistics with a focus on the use of rail for the movement of cargo to/from the port.

Bio: Simon joined Sydney Ports in 1999 at the same time as the corporation realigned its business activities and put a greater emphasis on the landside accessibility of the port. His key responsibilities are trade development, logistics, property management, and e-commerce. Sydney’s position as Australia’s number one import port is dependent on the ability to move cargo efficiently from the port to its destination and the port is promoting various initiatives to improve this process. Similarly, the promotion of export cargo is key to reducing the overall cost of port operations. To this end the port is working with all stakeholders in the logistics chain including stevedores, rail operators, the road haulage industry, importers, exporters and the forwarding community. The port has a property portfolio of over 300 hectares in three separate areas of Sydney: Sydney Harbour, Port Botany, and Enfield (inland location for proposed intermodal terminal). Sydney Ports actively works with tenants to promote port operations that improve the supply chain. Before joining Sydney Ports, Simon worked with P&O for nine years. This included three years in port operations in the UK and Australia and more than four years as Operations Manager for Western Europe for P&O Containers based in Rotterdam with direct responsibility for all landside operations including train management, road transport, inland container depots and systems development. Simon holds a BA (Hons) from Durham University in the UK, and a MA (Management) from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney.

1 November 2005

Measuring the impact of urban sprawl on household vehicle usage and fuel consumption

Professor Tom Golob, ITLS Visiting Professor, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

Presentation

Abstract: This research is aimed at providing quantitative evidence in the debate concerning impacts of urban land use density on travel. A 2001 USA national travel survey includes land use variables, yearly odometer readings, and annual fuel usage computations based on the make, model and vintage of all household vehicles. A model system was developed to obtain unbiased estimates by accounting for both residential self-selection effects and missing data related to the endogenous variables. Results show that the residential density effects are substantial. Comparing two USA households that are similar in all respects, the household located in an area lower in density by 100 housing units per square kilometer will drive about 675 kilometers per year further and will use 62 more liters of fuel on all its vehicles. The fuel usage effect is partially through lower fleet fuel economy, a result of vehicle type choice.

Bio: Tom Golob has been publishing research on travel behaviour and traffic safety since 1970, first at General Motors Research Labs, then as a consultant in the Netherlands, and for the last twenty years at the University of California. Enough is enough, and Tom is planning on retiring in 2006. As the University of Sydney has been a favourite haunt of Tom’s, the farewell tour starts here. So long and thanks for all the data.

25 October 2005

Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from Europe

Professor John Pucher, ITLS Visiting Professor, Rutgers University

Abstract: Urban transport has important public health impacts that should be key determinants of transport policies. The three main public health concerns are traffic safety, environmental quality, and physical exercise. In every respect, walking and cycling are ideal means of transport, with the potential to make urban transport safer and less polluting while generating valuable cardiovascular exercise for travellers on a regular basis, simply as part of their everyday routines to reach practical destinations. Prof. Pucher presents six broad categories of policies that would promote more walking and cycling while also making them safer, more convenient, and more feasible means of travel in our cities:

1. Better and more extensive facilities for walking and cycling

2. Traffic calming of residential neighbourhoods

3. More restrictions on car use and parking

4. Enforcement of traffic regulations designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians

5. Traffic education of cyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists

6. Compact, mix-use urban development that shortens trip distances to necessary destinations, thus making walk and bike trips more feasible

The enormous potential public health benefits of increased walking and cycling should provide a strong basis of public and political support for the public policies needed to make more walking and cycling possible. Every city, every neighbourhood, and every individual would benefit from such policies, both directly and indirectly. A concerted public information campaign is needed to convey the nature and extent of individual and societal-wide benefits of increased walking and cycling.

Bio: JOHN PUCHER is a professor in the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey). Since earning a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1978, Pucher has conducted research on a wide range of topics in transport economics and finance, including numerous projects for the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Canadian government, and various European ministries of transport. For over two decades, he has examined differences in travel behavior, transport systems, and transport policies in Europe, Canada, and the USA. Currently, Pucher's research focuses on walking and bicycling, and in particular, how American cities could learn from European policies to improve the safety, convenience, and feasibility of these non-motorized modes in the United States. Most recently, he has focused on the need for Americans to increase their walking and cycling for daily transportation as the best way to ensure adequate levels of physical exercise and enhance overall public health.  From 2005 to 2006, Pucher will be a visiting professor at the University of Sydney's Institute of Transport Studies directing a research project that examines differences between Canada, Australia, and the USA in their travel behavior, transport systems and policies, and the impacts of transport on public health.

18 October 2005

Modelling the impact of Activity-Routing types on urban truck flows

Dr Miguel Figliozzi, Lecturer in Logistics Management, ITLS-Sydney

Abstract: Major developments in technology and supply chain practice are considerably changing the distribution logistics context. Due to its aggregate approach, traditional urban freight models cannot fully explain how technical or supply chain changes will affect urban freight flows. This seminar will explore how an analytical model can be used to model urban distributions using a one-to-many distribution structure (e.g., one distribution centre and several retailers) and disaggregating activities according to their routing properties. Results to date indicate that the effects of technological, supply chain, cost, or policy changes on urban freight flows may significantly differ across different activity-routing types

Bio: Miguel Andres Figliozzi joined ITLS-Sydney as a Lecturer in Logistics in 2004. He has a Masters in Transportation from The University of Texas at Austin and a PhD from the University of Maryland. Miguel’s work experience includes work on electronic marketplaces for transportation, auctions, vehicle routing problems, international trade impacts on freight systems, ports and container movements, and highway planning. Miguel’s research areas are transportation logistics and supply chain management. His current interests are focused on these studies from a strategic perspective, which includes interaction between technology, information, and behaviour. Additional areas include, fleet management problems, port operation and ship scheduling, vendor management/inventory routing problems, pricing and auctions, and online problem in logistics.

11 October 2005

Public transport in Austria and Germany - Some examples

Professor Peter Stopher, Professor of Transport Planning, ITLS-Sydney

Presentation

Abstract: In Europe, public transport often seems to work much better than it does in Australia or North America. From a recent visit made to Europe, some examples are provided to show aspects of the integrated systems especially in Vienna and Karlsruhe. These examples show some of the ingredients that make a public transport system successful, and provide some useful lessons for what may need to be done in Australia to make public transport more successful. Public transport in Vienna is able to attract about 34 percent of daily trips and is growing in market share. In Karlsruhe, market share, while at only 18 percent currently, is also growing currently. The Karlsruhe system is also much more recent than that in Vienna. Brief snapshots are also provided of a few other mid-European cities.

Bio: A specialist in travel-demand forecasting, travel behaviour research, transport survey methods, and transport and environment issues, Peter has more than 35 years of professional experience as a university teacher and as a professional in transport planning, and has published more than 175 papers in leading international journals and has also published a number of books in transport-related topics. Peter recently published a co-edited book on Transport Survey Quality and Innovation and is working on a new edition of his 1975 book on Urban Transportation Planning and Modelling. He has made major contributions to the profession as a founding member of the TRB Committee on Traveler Behavior and Values, of which he has been awarded Emeritus Membership, and also founded the TRB Committee on Survey Methods. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Engineers Australia, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

4 October 2005

Market segmentation as a tool for improving the planning and delivery of public transport services: Lessons from the US

Professor Alan Hoffman, Principal, The Mission Group

Presentation

Abstract: Public transport services are often designed without explicit input from market research, raising questions in the literature on whether investments in infrastructure and services could be more productive if informed by a considered market strategy. Among the more powerful tools used in market research is segmentation, the grouping of people by some common characteristic for the purpose of targeting the design or promotion of services. This seminar will review two market segmentation exercises undertaken in the United States (in San Diego and Atlanta) during the past five years with the purpose of devising more robust public transport strategic plans. Each employed a different approach to market segmentation, and had a different impact on the planning of future services. Each of these approaches will be discussed and their strengths and weaknesses considered.

Bio: Alan Hoffman is principal of The Mission Group, a planning firm based in San Diego, California, specializing in innovative strategies for transportation and urban development. A noted expert in transit market research, he has contributed to long-range planning in cities around the world and serves as a frequent workshop speaker to the U.S. National Transit Institute on Bus Rapid Transit and Land Use integration. A cum laude graduate of Cornell University, he holds a Master’s in Urban Studies and Planning from MIT and a Master’s in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University.

13 September 2005

Floating Vehicle Data (FVD) and Cellular Floating Vehicle Data (CFVD) traffic information services

David Quayle, Founder and Managing Director, Traffic Intelligence

Presentation | Video

Abstract: Whilst reliable high quality real time traffic information is taken for granted in Europe and increasingly in the US, no provider currently exists in Australia. Whilst some of the state road authorities use e-tag and SCATS/STREAMS data to generate traffic info for highway Variable Message Signs, this information is infrequently updated and no single body is providing a national real time service. Traffic Intelligence intends to address this shortfall by implementing technology developed by a UK company, ITIS Holdings PLC. ITIS generate traffic information through the aggregation of both GPS tracked vehicles (Floating Vehicle Data – FVD) and passive monitoring of mobile phone cellular networks (Cellular Floating Vehicle Data – CFVD). ITIS operate the worlds largest FVD system and currently 4 CFVD systems in Europe, Middle east and the US.

Bio: David is the founder and Managing Director of Traffic Intelligence, the Australian technology licence holder for a number of telematics products and services, including ITIS Holdings traffic information collection and delivery systems. Traffic Intelligence was formed by David Quayle to exploit the current lack of provision of quality road traffic information for commercial services in Australia. Priot to Founding Traffic Intelligence, David was a leading independent telematics consultant, working in the field of telematics strategy implementation. Prior to moving to Australia, David was responsible for managing and developing telematics markets within Europe on behalf of Visteon, a major automotive components manufacturer. David is a qualified Civil Engineer and has an MBA from Henley Management College in England.

16 August 2005

Metro plan and transportation

Professor Edward Blakely, Professor of Urban Planning, University of Sydney

Presentation

Abstract: The key assumption of the new metropolitan plan is that new growth will be in transportation corridors and near existing transport nodes. This will mean higher densities along major corridors served by rail and bus and require upgrading of existing systems. But the critical ingredient of the plan is to focus jobs, entertainment and other trip generating growth in central nodes to reduce trips of all kinds. This is a challenging task for both new Greenfield sites as well as established areas. It is an open question as to whether this ambitious goal can or should be achieved.

Bio: Professor Blakely has a long and distinguished background in Urban and Regional Planning and an international reputation in the fields of Urban and Regional Economic Development. Before his Sydney appointment of Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Professor Blakely was Dean of the Robert J. Milano Graduate School at the New School University in New York. He was also Dean of Urban Planning at the University of Southern California in New York. For the last 22 years, has been on the Faculty and Chair of Urban Planning at the University of California at Berkeley. Professor Blakely is an author of 8 well known books and has received numerous international awards for strategic planning.

7 June 2005

New Approaches to Describing and Assessing Aircraft Noise

David Southgate, Department of Transport and Regional Services

Presentation

Abstract: Over the past decade there has been a revolution in the techniques used in Australia for describing and assessing aircraft noise.  This re-examination of conventional practice was triggered by the extremely angry public reaction to the opening of third runway at Sydney Airport in the mid 1990s.  Change has also occurred as a result of broad public demands for greater transparency in Environmental Impact Assessments and has been facilitated by rapid advances in computing power in recent years. The seminar will discuss the new directions and demonstrate the software which has been developed by DOTARS to implement the new concepts.

Bio Dave is head of the Aviation Environment Policy Section in the Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS).  In recent years his group has focussed its work on trying to find ways to improve communications between experts and the layperson on aircraft noise issues.  One of the key products of this work has been a software package which enables non‑experts to gain access to aircraft noise information that is conventionally hidden. Dave has worked as an environmental noise specialist in Australian Government Departments for approximately 25 years and has a science/engineering background.  He holds degrees from the Universities of Liverpool, London and Tasmania.

24 May 2005

Whither urban transport? Some reflections on the outlook for Sydney’s transport system and for systems in other world cities.

John Stott, Chair, TAC Integrated Ticketing Project, NSW Ministry of Transport

Abstract: The size of a city is limited by its occupants’ ability to get themselves and their goods where they need to go, in reasonable time. Sydney has evolved from a compact form in the first half of the 20^th century, to a vast urban sprawl today.  This has been fuelled by cheap land, cheap cars and trucks, and cheap energy.  But the party is coming to an end. Continued low density expansion is not available - for environmental and energy supply reasons, and because of the economic effects of congestion. This presentation will look at some of the challenges that confront us and ask whether they can be met by leaving things to traditional mechanisms, or whether a more interventionist approach is necessary.

Bio: John Stott has had a lengthy career in transport management in all modes:  road, rail, marine and aviation.  From 1996 to 2004, he headed the NSW State Transit Authority, which operated Sydney’s buses and ferries and, in 2000, was instrumental in the “rescue” of the bus transport arrangements for the Sydney Olympics.  He also managed STA’s takeover of a major private sector bus operator, controversial at the time but since proven to be a highly successful initiative.  Since mid-2004, he has been Executive Chairman of the agency which is developing a smart-card ticketing system to cover all of Sydney’s rail, bus and ferry operators.  He is also assisting with the preparation of a transport strategy for metropolitan Sydney. John chairs the Australia-New Zealand chapter of UITP, the International Public Transport Association, and is a member of its international policy committee.  He has presented nationally and internationally on  a wide range of transport issues.  In 1999, he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal for his work in improving accessibility of transport for people with disabilities.

17 May 2005

Sydney Airport Master Plan and associated passenger and freight forecasting and environmental impact assessments

Joseph Chan, Land Use and Capex Planner, Planning and Development, Sydney Airport Corporation Limited

Sydney Airport Master Plan

Please click here to contact Joseph for further details

Abstract: Sydney Airport was privatised in 2002, and has since completed a Master Plan in 2004 and an Environmental Plan in 2005. Sydney Airport is administered in accordance with the Commonwealth Airports Act 1996. Sydney Airport is Australia’s pre-eminent airport gateway, in Australia’s business and tourist hub, generating half of all international and one third of all domestic passengers movements, and half of all airfreight and airmail. The economic impact of Sydney Airport is equivalent to 6% of NSW GSP and 2% of GDP, and provides over 60,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs, over 8% of Sydney’s labour force. Sydney Airport’s capacity will grow at it grows with the metropolis and the nation. According to the 20 year Master Plan, passenger numbers will triple to 68 million, but aircraft movements will less than double. In this time, Sydney’s population will increase to 5 million. As Sydney continues to consolidate, so too will the Airport continue to develop as a vibrant multi-transport transport hub. The seminar will provide a background on Sydney Airport, having regard to the Approved Airport Master Plan, the Environment Strategy, the economic contribution, outline key tasks and facts in forecasting growth in aviation activities, and highlight land use and transport issues.

Bio: Joseph Chan is Land Use Planner at Sydney Airport. With a background in urban and regional planning, recent and ongoing work included developing and managing the land use assessment framework, and managing key external planning relationships with local, state and federal agencies. As part the Sydney Airport Master Plan team, he was responsible with managing key aspects of the infrastructure, ground access and strategic land use management areas, strategic work which continues unabated to this day.

3 May 2005

Tracking and modelling human activity-travel scheduling decision processes

Professor Sean Doherty, ITLS Visiting Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfred Laurier University

Abstract: The development of simulation models of activity scheduling behaviour has gained momentum over the past decade as a means to forecast travel demands, especially with respect to the impacts of emerging travel demand management policies.  Such models inherently recognize that travel is a derived demand * from the need to participate in activities outside the home * and these activity demands in turn, are the result of a dynamic process of activity scheduling that occurs over time, space and across individuals.  This presentation will focus on new data collection and modeling methods for simulating the activity-travel scheduling process.  At this early stage in our understanding it is important to experiment on a small scale with data collection techniques that go beyond the observed patterns typically captured by traditional travel diaries.  This presentation will examine several methodologies, including computerized activity scheduling surveys, interactive stated-adaptation surveys, and a recent application of GPS to the automatic detection of scheduling decisions (not just detection of routes and stops!).  Time permitting, the usage of such data to develop rules for emerging activity scheduling simulation models will also be presented. 

Bio: Sean Doherty is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), and is currently a Visiting Professor in the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney.  He received his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1998, and has a masters degrees in Geography. His interests are in activity-based travel demand modelling, household activity scheduling behaviour, integrated land-use and transportation models, energy efficiency, computerized survey methods, and use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for tracking human behaviour. His current research projects include a Canadian federally funded geomatics project on "Multi-Agent Geo-Simulation", and a UK project focusing on "Optimising Personal Logistics". Dr Doherty's international activities include chairing a US Transportation Research Board subcommittee on "Behavioural Processes", and serving on the board of the International Association of Travel Behaviour Research.

26 April 2005                                                 

Transforming the supply chain into a demand chain

Professor Martin Christopher, Professor of Marketing and Logistics, Cranfield School of Management

Presentation

Abstract: Supply chain management is now widely recognised as a strategic management concern.  However, supply chains in many organisations have tended to evolve organically rather than be designed to support a carefully defined strategic intent.  Indeed it can be argued that traditional supply chains are 'production-oriented' meaning that they tend to be designed from the factory outwards than from the 'customer backwards'. There is an emerging view that suggests that because the business will more than likely be servicing multiple markets and segments, it will need to create multiple demand fulfilment processes.  These processes might be termed 'demand chains'.  This seminar will examine the fundamental business transformations that may be necessary to convert supply chains into demand chains.

Bio: Martin Christopher is Professor of Marketing and Logistics at Cranfield School of Management. His work in the field of logistics and supply chain management has gained international recognition. He has published widely and his recent books include Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Marketing Logistics. Martin Christopher is also co-editor of the International Journal of Logistics Management and is a regular contributor to conferences and workshops around the world. At Cranfield, Martin Christopher directs the Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management, the largest activity of its type in Europe. The work of the centre covers all aspects of transportation and logistics and offers both full-time and part-time Masters degree courses as well as extensive management development programmes. Research plays a key role in the work of the Centre and contributes to its international standing. In addition to leading a number of on-going research projects in logistics and supply chain management, Martin Christopher is active as an advisor to many organisations and is non-executive director of a number of companies. Martin Christopher is an Emeritus Fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport on whose Council he sits. In 1988 he was awarded the Sir Robert Lawrence Gold Medal for his contribution to logistics education and in 1997 was given the USA Council of Logistics Management's Foundation Award.

19 April 2005

Road user charging: Where to next?

Professor David Hensher, Director, ITLS-Sydney

Presentation available July 2005

Abstract: Charging users of the roads for the costs they impose on the system is not new. Economists have been promoting its virtues for as long as arguments about economic efficiency have been in print. What is different today is that a growing number (but by no means all) of decision makers are showing a greater interest and commitment to finding ways to improve the efficiency of the road system, be it through infrastructure expansion and/or other means. Of special interest has been the growing level of traffic congestion and a feeling of almost helplessness, that we seem to have failed in finding a way forward to maintain traffic congestion at levels that are acceptable to the public and are consistent with principles of good economic practice. The literature abounds with suggestions on how this might be achieved, focused primarily on various pricing regimes that say as much as about levels of charges as they do about the role of the revenue raised, the latter as controversial as the former. The current state of technology provides a capability to introduce sophisticated charging mechanisms. We are at a stage in the evolution of 'solutions' to dealing with inefficient road use and provision of road funds that offers real prospects of delivering outcomes that can align with political, social and user demands and expectations. This presentation provides a global update on the road to efficiency.

Bio: David Hensher is Professor of Management, and Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies: The Australian Key Centre of Teaching and Research in Transport Management in The Faculty of Economics and Business at The University of Sydney as well as in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University. David is also Associate Dean (Graduate Coursework Programs) in Faculty of Economics and Business. David is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science in Australia, Past President of the International Association of Travel Behaviour Research and a previous Vice-Chair of the International Scientific Committee of the World Conference of Transport Research. David is on the editorial boards of 10 of the leading transport journals and Area Editor of Transport Reviews. David was appointed in 1999 by one of the world's most prestigious academic publishing houses - Elsevier/Pergamon press as series and volume editor of a handbook series "Handbooks in Transport".

5 April 2005

Demographic change and patterns in travel behaviour

Tim Raimond, Director, Transport Data Centre, Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resources

Presentation

Abstract: The talk will discuss the use of demographic and travel data and modelling to support strategic transport and land use planning in NSW. The presentation will include much useful information on demographic change, travel behaviour and travel model outputs to illustrate the role of data and modelling in the decision-making process.

Bio: Tim Raimond is Director of the Transport and Population Data Centre in the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. He holds a Master of Transport Management from ITLS and a BSc in Applied Economic Geography from UNSW. Tim has held various roles in the design, collection, analysis and management of data collections and model development. In the 1990s he worked for four years at ITLS-Sydney, then for the NSW Department of Transport and most recently for the DIPNR for which he has been Director of the Transport and Population Data Centre for the last three years.

29 March 2005

Constructing efficient designs for stated choice experiments

Professor Michiel Bliemer, ITLS-Sydney Visiting Professor, Delft University of Technology

Abstract: Stated choice experiments represent a popular tool within many disciplines (e.g., economics, marketing, transport, health, etc.) to elicit information on the behaviour and preferences of individuals. Typically underlying such experiments are what are called experimental designs, which are used as an aid in the construction of stated choice surveys. Specifically, a design determines the attribute levels shown to respondents in questionnaires, and therefore directly linked to the questionnaire outcomes from which parameters of the utility (preference) functions are estimated. Until relatively recently, many researchers have relied upon the use of orthogonal designs, however, a better understanding of the modelling undertaken after data collection has resulted in a shift towards the use of so-called D-optimal designs. These designs use prior information on parameter estimates to construct statistically more efficient designs. To date, D-optimal designs have been applied within the literature to models with generic parameters. In this seminar, we will explain how to construct D-optimal designs, but also show how the theory can be extended towards more complex model types. Finally, some numerical outcomes are shown to illustrate how designs may be further optimised and we present some findings on sample size requirements.

Bio: Michiel Bliemer is currently Assistant Professor Transportation Modelling at Delft University of Technology (DUT) in The Netherlands. Michiel lectures the Transportation & Spatial Modelling course and the Transport Economics course in Delft. After his Masters degree in Econometrics and receiving his PhD in transportation planning and traffic engineering 3 years ago, he continued his main research on dynamic network modeling at DUT and TNO (the largest not-for-profit research institute in The Netherlands), leading to an operational analytical multiclass dynamic traffic assignment model called INDY. Furthermore, he is project leader of a project on dynamic road pricing in The Netherlands. Other research interests are dynamic queuing models, game theory, traffic simulation models, discrete choice theory, travel behaviour of heterogenous travellers with uncertainty.

15 March 2005

Reinventing the private car - Changing personal mobility in the 21st century

Bruce Jeffreys, Co-Founder, Newtown CarShare

Abstract: Our cities need new mobility systems that are integrated, clean, smart, and customer-oriented. With the race on to find viable alternatives to the private motor car one mobility trend which has rapidly gained ground worldwide is the introduction of professional car sharing services. A car sharing service provides members with reliable and convenient access to cars on demand, in a network of locations across the city. With the integration of web-based technologies, car sharing now has tens of thousands of members across North America, Europe and parts of Asia swapping private car ownership for access to a mixed fleet of motor vehicles. With a service already running successfully in Inner-west Sydney - what is the potential for this innovative new transport service for Australian cities?

Bio: Following a Bachelor of Economics (Murdoch University) and involvement with the Masters program at Murdoch University’s Institute for Sustainable Transport Policy , Bruce has gained extensive experience in both the private and government sectors in the sustainable transport field. He has recently been an integral part of the NSW State Government’s Sustainability Unit, based within the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. As a senior policy officer he has written numerous briefing papers, reports and feasibility studies into the application of car sharing to the urban environment in Australia and has been involved in various aspects of the Department’s sustainable transport policy initiatives. He co-founded and is a Director of Australia's first and only car sharing service, Newtown CarShare, which is set to go national in February as the GoGet Australia service.

1 March 2005

Highway Robbery? A financial analysis of design build finance and operate in roads in the UK

Professor Jean Shaoul, Professor of Public Accountability, University of Manchester

Presentation | Paper

Abstract: This seminar will examine empirically the financial outcomes of using private finance in roads under the UK government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO). It refutes the government’s claim that private finance would lever in additional finance that it could not afford since in the three years for which information was available, the Highways Agency paid out more than the £590m construction cost of the projects. It questions the claims of greater VFM over the life of the contracts than conventional procurement because: (i) the payment mechanism, based on the volume of traffic which has been rising, introduces additional costs for the public sector; (ii) DBFO seems to have been more costly than expected, thereby eroding the expected and very marginal cost advantage of DBFO; and (iii) the high cost of risk transfer.

Bio: Jean Shaoul is a professor in the Division of Accounting and Finance at Manchester Business School where she focuses on public accountability in the context of business and public policy. She has written widely on privatisation, particularly water and rail, the use of private finance in public infrastructure under the UK government’s Private Finance Initiative and Public Private Partnerships – a policy that is being adopted around the world - transport (rail, roads and London Underground PPP) and health finance policy, and public expenditure.  Her analyses are based on financial information derived from company accounts and other grey literature to evaluate public policy decisions from a public interest and/or social distribution perspective.

22 February 2005

Risk compensation and the management of road safety

Professor John Adams, Professor of Geography, University College London

Presentation

Bio: Professor John Adams was a member of the original Board of Directors of Friends of the Earth in the early 1970s and has been involved in public debates about environmental issues ever since. He has presented evidence to numerous public inquiries and parliamentary committees on forecasting, traffic modelling, cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment, and is a regular contributor to radio and television programmes and broadsheet newspapers on transport and risk themes. John is intrigued by the persistence of attitudes to environmental risks. He says that since his involvement with Friends of the Earth almost 30 years ago, the same arguments, slogans and insults have been shouted past each other by the participants (or their descendants) in debates about the environment. His current work on both risk and transport issues seeks to understand these attitudes and the reasons for their persistence, in the hope of transforming shouting matches into more constructive dialogues.

15 February 2005

Countervailing influences of vehicle-based emissions and pervasive mobile wireless ICT on economic sustainability of transport

Christopher Skinner, Principal, DISplay Pty Ltd

Presentation

Abstract: This seminar considers the implications of the convergence of two fundamental influences on transport and logistics planning and operations:

1. Energy consumption and resulting emissions have significant impact on sustainability and efficiency of all transport  

2. Wireless information and communications technology [ICT] is especially relevant for transport information and control of systems and increasingly for the benefit of travellers themselves.

When previous forecasts of travel-to-work behaviour are examined neither of these two influences appear to have been foreseen sufficiently. Current analysis should acknowledge a similar risk of similar disruptive technological change affecting transport and logistics in the future (rather than rely on predictions based on current trends). The seminar will provide a summary of relevant ICT issues to illustrate some of the implications that are apparent.

Bio: Chris Skinner works in Sydney as a project systems and software engineering management consultant. He graduated from London University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and from University of New South Wales with a masters degree in software engineering. He has extensive experience in general and project management of large complex projects in defence, aerospace, telecommunications and most recently in transportation. He is member of IEE, IEEE, Engineers Australia, ACM and the Australian Computer Society. Since 2002 Chris has been Chair of the National Intelligent Transport Systems Architecture Working Group of the industry group ITLS Australia Inc.

7 February 2005

Demographics, transportation infrastructure and retail food distribution in the Asia-Pacific region

Dr Walter J Armbruster, President, Farm Foundation

Abstract: Demographic changes are impacting population distribution and Asia-Pacific’s urban population soon will surpass itls rural population.  Many large urban areas are coastal and accessible for foreign suppliers, but internal transportation links to major urban markets from production areas are underdeveloped and the connections need to be strengthened.  Improved access to food production, storage, shipping, packaging and processing technologies will spur growth in the economies contributing to faster and more balanced economic growth across the region.  A proliferation of super markets is fast filling an economic need  more sophisticated distribution systems to provide low cost, safe food for the growing urban populations across the region.  This will require new distribution centers, intermediaries to deal directly with farmers and new services to lower transaction costs and provide more uniform, consistent quality food in the urban setting.  Policies may be needed to encourage a modernization of the retail food sector, streamline domestic supply chains by investing in transportation infrastructure and facilitating food imports through adjustments in trade policy.

Bio: Dr Walter J. Armbruster is president of Farm Foundation.  Dr Armbruster works as a catalyst to improve the economic and social well-being of U.S. agriculture, the food system and rural communities, assisting private and public sector decision makers in identifying and understanding forces that will shape the future. Armbruster is president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, and is secretary-treasurer of the International Association of Agricultural Economists.  He previously served as president of the American Agricultural Economics Association and of the American Agricultural Law Association. Dr Armbruster is Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Fellow of the American Agricultural Economics Association; and Distinguished Agricultural Alumni, Purdue University.