Past Seminars 2006

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		17 October 2006 Professor Peter Stopher, Professor of Transport Planning, ITLS Can GPS measurement replace conventional travel surveys? Presentation Abstract: Since the mid-1990s, GPS measurement of travel has become a growing method of data collection. Predominantly, it has been used as a method for checking the accuracy of conventional methods of travel surveys, such as the computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) and the face-to-face interview. In this use, it has usually been applied with a small subsample of households, who are asked to carry a GPS device around at the same time that they are also asked to complete a conventional diary and interview. However, more recently, GPS has started to be used as a primary data collection method in itself, especially in the evaluation of travel behaviour change policies. In this paper, we explore the uses that have been made of GPS measurement of travel, the necessary specifications of a GPS travel survey, and the potential of this procedure to replace more conventional methods, such as the travel diary. Data from recent applications of GPS measurement are used to explore the amount of information provided, and compare this with the information obtained from a diary survey. Issues of potential bias are examined in terms of response levels and characteristics of those who respond to the GPS survey and those who respond to a more traditional diary-based survey. Finally, the additional potential information obtained by having people carry GPS for a week or longer is explored, together with the implications that longer periods of measurement have for sample sizes required for the use of travel survey data. Bio: Professor Stopher is Professor of Transport Planning at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, a position he has held since the beginning of 2001. He was educated at the University of London, where he received both his BSc (Eng.) in Civil Engineering and PhD in Traffic Studies. He has been a professor at Northwestern University, Cornell University, McMaster University, and Louisiana State University, where he held the endowed chair of the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company. He spent 11 years from 1980 through 1990 as a full-time transport planning consultant in private industry. Professor Stopher has 40 years of professional experience in transport planning, travel forecasting, travel-behaviour modelling, and associated areas. He has an international reputation in travel-demand modelling, and the development of new procedures for travel forecasting. He was one of the pioneers of the development of disaggregate travel-demand models and was the first to use and apply the logit model in the 1960s. He has been in the forefront of work to assess the shortcomings of conventional travel-forecasting models with respect to the demands of clean air legislation and goals. He was selected by the US Federal Highway Administration to develop one of four concept papers on a new paradigm for travel forecasting. He was a founding member of the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on Traveler Behavior and Values, serving as its first Chairman from 1971-1977, and again from 1995-1997 and was awarded Emeritus Membership of the Committee in 2002; he also founded the series of International Conferences on Traveller Behaviour that began in 1973 and which will hold its next meeting in Kyoto, Japan in 2006.
		10 October 2006 Liz Ampt, Head of Behavioural Research, Steer Davies Gleave Australia Voluntary travel behaviour change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Presentation Abstract: Voluntary travel behaviour change (helping people to help themselves) is now being used as a policy tool throughout Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the private transport sector. Almost all states have programs that help people to change - either through the community at large, or specifically through schools and workplaces. Liz will present examples of various approaches to change, and examine the likely degree of change for each of the approaches. She will give many examples from applications in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Bio: Liz is an international specialist in the field of behaviour research - particularly understanding and facilitating the potential for individual change. She has worked closely with individuals, communities and organisations to understand and then develop methods in which individuals gain personal benefits while they are also positively influencing their environment, their social exchanges, and their community. The complexities of behavioural change as related to transport and community development is her great love. In addition, she is particularly interested in understanding reactions to policies that include constraint measures and in assisting with policy advice on behavioural change. Her interest in behavioural change stemmed from an initial expertise in travel survey methodology and design, having co-authored several books on this topic. She is currently base in Adelaide as the Head of Behavioural Research for the international consulting firm, Steer Davies Gleave.
		3 October 2006 Ross Cameron, Consultant, Investment Banking Group, Macquarie Bank Limited The role the private sector can play in the transport solution Presentation Abstract: There are a number of concerns around the private sector's involvement in the transport industry. Despite these concerns, a large transport infrastructure backlog has meant that the private sector has become largely involved in delivering transport projects. The successful integration of these projects relies on aligning the public and private sector goals. This presentation will address these issues and the role that the private sector can play in the transport solution going forward. Bio: Ross Cameron joined Macquarie's Investment Banking Group in December 2004 from a background in politics and the law. Ross studied economics and law at Sydney University, and the American University in Washington DC, also working as an aide to Republican Senator Mark Hafield in the United States Congress. Ross later moved to Port Moresby to work as a Judges Associate to Sir Mari Kapi, now Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea. On his return to Australia Ross worked as an adviser to then NSW Minister for Transport, the Hon Bruce Baird, MP, on Sydney's Olympic Bid and on land transport reform, including delivery of the privately financed M2 Motorway. Ross worked for three years as a lawyer at Blake Dawson Waldrons Projects Group, on delivery of privately financed infrastructure in the transport and water sectors. Ross was the youngest members elected to the federal parliament in March 1996, winning the marginal seat of Parramatta. He was re-elected in 1998 and in 2001, completing his final term as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer with responsibility for competition policy, financial services reform, the Corporations Law, the Australian Stock Exchange, the Mint, ASIC and the introduction of global accounting standards. Ross is now working in the Macquarie's Investment Banking Group, with a focus on Public Private Partnerships in the transport and water sectors.
		12 September 2006 Rhonda Daniels, A/Director, Transport Strategic Planning, NSW Department of Planning Implementing the Metropolitan Strategy - A Transport Perspective For further details please email Rhonda Daniels at: Rhonda.Daniels@planning.nsw.gov.au Abstract: In December 2005, the NSW Government released its Metropolitan Strategy City of Cities - A Plan for Sydney's Future to guide the city's growth over the next 25 years. The Strategy provides an integrated approach to strategic planning with actions grouped into themes on economy and employment, centres and corridors, housing, transport, environment and resources, parks and public places, and implementation. Many agencies are involved in implementing the Strategy. Rhonda Daniels, NSW Department of Planning, will speak on the process for implementing the Metropolitan Strategy including subregional planning, State Infrastructure Strategy, monitoring and performance indicators; and discuss progress on selected transport actions including demand management measures such as parking policy and TravelSmart, and related work. Visit the Metropolitan Strategy website: www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au Bio: Rhonda Daniels works in transport strategic planning in the Infrastructure and Transport Planning branch of the NSW Department of Planning. She was involved in the development of the transport elements of the Metropolitan Strategy, and currently works on implementing the Strategy. Rhonda has worked for the State Transit Authority, Environment Protection Authority and School of Geography UNSW. She has a BSc in economic geography and Master of Policy Studies from UNSW and a PhD in transport management from the Institute of Transport Studies, University of Sydney. Her interests include the use of data in policy-making and valuation of environmental impacts.
		5 September 2006 Dr John Rose, Lecturer in Transport and Logistics Management, ITLS Designing Efficient Data for Stated Choice Experiments: Accounting for Socio-demographic and contextual effects in designing stated choice experiments Presentation Abstract: Identifying methods for reducing the number of respondents required for stated choice (SC) experiments is important for transport studies given increases in survey costs. Such reductions, however, must not come at the cost of a lessening in the reliability of the parameter estimates obtained from models of discrete choice. Recognition of this has resulted in growing interest in a class of SC designs known as efficient designs, which balance reliability concerns with sample size issues. To date, however, the literature on generating efficient designs has only considered experiments that involve only attributes of the experiment. Covariates that may be used in data analysis have therefore ignored to date. In this paper, we demonstrate that if covariates are to be used in data analysis, then the efficiency of a SC design may be lessened. We demonstrate how efficient SC experiments may be constructed to account for covariates, and how minimum quotas may be established in order to retain a fixed level of efficiency. Bio: John is a Lecturer in Transport and Logistics Management and the Director of the Industry Program at ITLS. The industry program includes courses taught to the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW, to NSW bus operators, as well as other professional development courses open to academics and public companies. John’s research interests are in the areas of discrete choice modelling and efficient stated choice experiments. John has several articles published in the top Transportation and Logistics journals (including Transportation, Transportation Research A, B and E) and is a co-author of (with Professors David Hensher and William Greene) Applied Choice Analysis; A Primer, (2005) by Cambridge University Press. He is currently writing a book on generating efficient stated choice experimental designs (with Mike Bliemer, Delft).
		29 August 2006 Peter Moore, Executive Director of UITP (Australia / New Zealand) Energy crisis? Climate change? - Breathe easy - How a properly-balanced transport system can help preserve and improve our urban environment Abstract: At the start of the 21st century, Australia and New Zealand, like much of the developed world, finds itself at a critical decision point. For half a century, our cities have followed a growth pattern that has only been possible because of readily available, affordable motorised transport. Most of us now live considerable distances from where we work, shop or socialise, but we still manage to get around in reasonable times due to a very effective road system. Without this easy mobility, our cities would have been quite different – more like the older, more compact suburbs close to our city centres. They would probably also be safer and healthier, because with the motorised, dispersed city has come a distressing road toll and a fall in personal fitness (because travel distances are too great for walking). Many of us thought that this low-rise expansion could go on indefinitely, but it’s now clear that we were wrong and that we will have to re-engineer our cities over the next few decades Bio: Peter Moore is the Executive Director of the Union International des Transport Publique (UITP) - English translation - International Association of Public Transport (Australia / New Zealand), based in Canberra. The Australia / New Zealand regional office, established in 2000, is part of the UITP (Europe) network. Formed in 1885, UITP (Europe) is the foremost advocate for mass transit in the world with over 2200 Members in 85 countries. Other regional offices of UITP are Hong Kong, Rome and Moscow. Peter is a qualified accountant and has a varied background having worked in a number of roles in the oil and gas industry with Esso/BHP; and as a Senior Director with the ACT Government including the period to establish self-government for the Territory. Peter was an Air Traffic Controller in his younger days. Peter has addressed a number of major national and international conferences including two World Transport Congresses in London (2001) and Madrid (2003). Peter has a Degree in Business/Accountancy from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
		17 July 2006 Professor Tae Oum, UPS Foundation Chair Professor of Transport and Logistics, Sauder School of Business, The University of British Columbia Low Cost Carrier (LCC) vs. Full Service Airline (FSA) competition: What happens after the effects of LCC entries stabilize? Presentation Abstract: Many studies have found that a Low Cost Carrier’s (LCC) entry substantially reduces prices in the air travel markets via its actual, adjacent and potential competition effects. However, aside from the fact that LCC entries lead to reduction of Full Service Airline’s (FSA) prices, little is known about how airlines compete after LCC enters. In addition, although LCCs’ characteristics are well documented, most of the previous studies have failed to treat explicitly the aspect of product differentiation between FSAs and LCCs. Using a panel data for the non-stop domestic route markets to/from Chicago, this study empirically estimates an Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) for carriers competing in the same city pair markets. This enables us to calculate carrier-specific demand equations and identify substitution possibilities between FSAs and between LCC and FSA. Competition analysis is also carried out by empirically estimating LCC and FSA’s reduced form price equations. Our key results are as follows: (1) there are strong evidences of product differentiation effect between services provided by FSAs and LCCs; (2) when we remove the data for the first two quarters after the Southwest’s entry (during which most of FSA’s initial price responses have occurred), our reduced form fare equations show that FSA’s average prices become more sensitive to the number of FSAs in the market than the number of LCCs and/or regional carriers present in the market. This shows that competition between FSAs will continued to be important even when a major LCC is present in the market; (3) further we find that Southwest’s pricing is much more responsive to the number of LCCs and/or regional carriers present in the market while being pretty insensitive to the number of FSAs present in the market; (4) as expected, airlines with higher market shares (regardless of whether they are FSA or LCC) tend to charge higher prices, indicating market dominance effect on pricing; (5) for an identical increase in frequency share, Southwest drives higher positive price benefit than United does; (6) on the other hand, for an identical increase in share of available seats, United derives higher positive price benefit than Southwest does. Our results has the following policy implications: (a) importance of anti-trust implications of mergers between FSAs even in the presence of one or more LCCs in the market; (b) increase in market concentration by merging or liquidating one or more FSAs would benefit FSAs more than LCCs; (c.) Only another LCC can effectively discipline an LCC’s pricing. Bio: Professor Oum is the UPS Foundation Chair in Transport and Logistics, Sauder School of Business, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is the president of the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS), an world-wide organization for researchers, policy makers and executives, the past President of the American Economics Association’s Transportation and Public Utilities Group (TPUG), and a Steering Committee member of the World Conference on Transportation Research (WCTR) Society since 1995. Prior to joining UBC he taught at School of Business, Queen's University at Kingston (1977-83). He was a visiting professor at Graduate School of Economics, Tokyo University (2004-05), National University of Singapore (2005), the METEO Visiting Professor at University of Maastricht, Holland (2000), the Albert Winsemius Professor at Nanyang Business School, NTU, Singapore (1999-2000), an Invited Professor at Osaka University (1989, 1994), and Korea Transport Institute (1995). Dr. Oum specializes in economics and strategic management issues of transport, logistics and telecommunications industries. He has published 21 books, edited/co-edited 39 books/Conference Proceedings/Special issues of journals, published 88 refereed journal papers and over 70 papers as book chapters or in conference proceedings, have written numerous research reports for Canadian and foreign government agencies, major corporations, and the World Bank on the transportation and telecommunications policy and management issues. His books include Shaping Air Transport in Asia Pacific (Ashgate, London: 2000), Globalization and Strategic Alliances (Pergamon for Elsevier Science, 2000), Winning Airlines: Productivity and Cost Competitiveness of the World’s Major Airline (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston/Dordecht/London, 1998), Transport Economics: Selected Readings (Harwood Academic Publishers, London: 1997), and International Perspectives in Telecommunications Policy (JAI Press, Grennwich, Connecticut, USA, 1993). He has advised numerous Canadian and foreign government agencies, major telecom and airline companies in North America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. He delivered over 200 invited speeches (many keynote addresses), lectures, and presentations including a Millennium Celebration lecture in Singapore (January 13, 2000) and Special Lectures at the Japan Federation of Economic Societies (2000, 2004). He has been awarded a number of research prizes including the top research paper award from the World Conference on Transportation Research (Antwerp, 1998), The University of British Columbia Research Excellence Award (1999), Killam Research Prize (2002) by Killam Foundation of Canada, Distinguished Researcher Award by the U.S. Transportation Research Forum (2006). He is an Editor of Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, serves on the Editorial Boards of six other international journals (Journal of Air Transport Management, Transport Policy: The Official Journal of the WCTR Society, Transportation Research E: Logistics & Transport Review, Maritime Economics and Logistics, Journal of Air Transportation, Journal of Logistics and Trade), and until 2005, co-editor of Ashgate Aviation Series.
		4 July 2006 Professor Dominique Bouf, ITLS Visiting Professor, Senior Researcher, Transportation Economics Laboratory, Lyons China in 2050, interurban transportation Presentation Abstract: The LET recently carried out a study on China in 2050. Why 2050? The reason is that China will very likely be developed in 2050. The strong economic growth of China is coming after several other examples, notably Japan and Korea. What is more specific to China is the size of the population, the extent of the territory, and its density (in the East and Centre regions). So China is facing unprecedented challenges, to serve this vast territory. In this presentation, I will address the question of interurban transportation. The basic methodology is to compare China to currently developed countries. To that end, various scenarios are built on macro economics, demographics, urbanization and regional balance. 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.
		13 June 2006 Professor John Pucher, ITLS Visiting Professor, Rutgers University Urban transport crisis in China and India: Impacts of rapid economic growth Presentation Abstract: Professor Pucher’s talk will provide a comparative overview of urban transport in the world’s two most populous countries: China and India. Cities in both countries are suffering from severe and worsening transport problems: air pollution, noise, traffic injuries and fatalities, congestion, parking shortages, energy use, and lack of mobility for the poor. The urban transport crisis in China and India results from continuing population growth, urbanization, suburban sprawl, rising incomes, and skyrocketing motor vehicle ownership and use. Prof. Pucher critically assesses government policies in each country and suggests a range of specific improvements. Above all, he advocates a slowdown in the massive roadway investment in recent years and a shift in emphasis to expanding and improving public transport, cycling, and walking facilities. While continued growth in motor vehicle use is inevitable, China and India should restrict motor vehicle use in congested city centers and increase taxes, fees, and charges to reflect the enormous social and environmental costs of motor vehicle use. At the same time, much stricter regulations should be imposed on manufacturers to produce cleaner, more energy-efficient, quieter, and safer cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. Mitigating the many social and environmental impacts of rising motorization is obviously important for the future well-being of Chinese and Indian cities. It is also crucial to the future of the rest of the world. Unless the problems of motorization in China and India can be effectively dealt with, the world faces sharp increases in Greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change, and rapid depletion of a range of nonrenewable resources. 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 US 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 behaviour, transport systems and policies, and the impacts of transport on public health.
		6 June 2006 Dr Stephen Greaves, Senior Lecturer in Transport Management, ITLS Valuation of aircraft noise: A stated choice approach Presentation Abstract: This seminar provides and overview of experience thus far in the use of stated choice (SC) methods for valuation of aircraft noise. The context for the study is concern over the social costs associated with rapidly growing air traffic and increasing numbers of people residing in close proximity to airports and aircraft flight paths (particularly in Sydney). The arguments for using SC methods are presented together with the particular challenges faced in applying them to valuation of non-market goods such as noise. Following this a conceptual approach is outlined which encompasses three major innovations to addressed perceived short-comings of current methods. These innovations include, 1) use of visualisation cues to represent noise in a more comprehendible manner to respondents, 2) an experimental design that is tailored more closely to the actual noise-level experiences of each individual participant based on where they live and their noise sensitivity, and 3) the derivation of distributions of willingness to pay to reduce exposure to noise that account for the heterogeneity in preferences (noting that all previous studies focussed on a single point or average estimate for the population). Please note, in keeping with staff seminars, 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 is a Senior Lecturer in Transport Management at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney. He joined ITLS in February, 2004 after completing three years as a lecturer in transportation at Monash University. His teaching experience includes a wide variety of transportation-related courses at both the under-graduate and postgraduate levels as well as industry-based short courses. Current research activities are focused on the environmental/health externalities of transport and travel choices, and methodological and technological improvements to the collection of travel survey data.
		9 May 2006 Dr Stephane Hess, ITLS Visiting Research Scholar, Senior Researcher Institute for Traffic Planning and Transport Systems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Understanding air travel choice behaviour Presentation Abstract: Given the dynamic nature of the air travel business, the long-term horizon of any policy decisions, and the precarious financial situation of many airlines, accurate forecasts of air passenger behaviour are an important input into the planning process in many large metropolitan areas. As such, and given the increasing availability of tools such as discrete choice models, it should be no surprise that the number of studies aiming to model air travel choice behaviour has increased over recent years. However, despite this increased interest in this area of research, there is still a general lack of appreciation of the complexity of the choice processes undertaken by air travellers. This is reflected in the fact that most existing studies look only at a subset of the choices faced by air travellers, and fail to recognise the potential bias introduced into their results through these simplifications. Furthermore, important issues arise due to the generally low quality of the data used in such studies. This presentation discusses the findings of three separate studies of air travel choice behaviour, making use of revealed preference (RP) data collected in Greater London and the San Francisco Bay area, and stated preference (SP) data collected in an internet-based survey in the US. Aside from providing insights into how passengers make their choice of airport, airline and access mode, the presentation also discusses the advantages of advanced model structures, while however also looking at the problems of increased estimation cost and specification issues. Bio: Dr Stephane Hess is a senior researcher in the Institute for Traffic Planning and Transport Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH), a visiting scholar in the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, and an honorary research associate in the Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London. Hess holds a PhD in transport demand modelling from Imperial College London, and a MPhil in Statistical Science from Cambridge University. He is a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, and a member of academic committees for the European Transport Conference and the Transportation Research Board. His main research interests lie in the use of advanced discrete choice models for the analysis of travel behaviour. Here, Hess has made several recent contributions to the state of the art in the specification, estimation and interpretation of such models, while also publishing a number of papers on the benefits of advanced structures in actual large-scale transport analyses.
		2 May 2006 Professor John D Landis, Chair of the City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley A GIS and accessibility-based approach to jobs-housing balance: Methodological and policy issues Abstract: Balancing Jobs and Housing: A GIS Approach Achieving a jobs-housing balance has become one of the watchwords of regional, metropolitan and local urban planning. This presentation will review different approaches to balancing job generation and housing construction, paying special attention to the GIS-based commute shed method. The commute shed identifies individual highway and transit commute sheds around each job center, and uses them to apportion forecast housing construction so as to minimize excess commuting. The commute shed method can also be used to identify historical and projected imbalances in job generation and housing construction as input into housing market models and metropolitan plans. Bio: John Landis is a professor and former department chair in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where he teaches courses in planning history, housing, project development, land use planning, urban economics, and computer mapping. Prof. Landis’ recent research has focused on a wide variety of housing and growth policy issues, including transportation and land use, the potential for infill development, the environmental impacts of urban growth, and the extent and causes of urban sprawl. Prof. Landis received his Bachelor of Science Degree from MIT in 1978 and his PhD in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley in 1983. His article, “Imagining Land Use Futures,” won the 1995 award for best feature article in the Journal of the American Planning Association. He is currently on sabbatical in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sydney.
		19 April 2006 Associate Professor Jay Sankaran, D/o Information Systems & Operations Management, The University of Auckland The impact of road traffic congestion on supply chains: modelling and empirics Presentation Abstract: We report findings from a longer-term agenda of research into the impact of road traffic congestion on supply chains, with particular reference to the Auckland region of New Zealand. The first phase of the research entailed case studies of the impact of road traffic congestion on manufacturers and distributors and their supply chains. We found that congestion affects businesses in varied ways and degrees depending on the nature of the market for the company's products, the nature of raw materials and finished products, the location of the factory/warehouse, etc. Further, congestion is often an amplifier of delays and costs, which themselves burgeon for a variety of other reasons. These include business growth, increasing levels of service, urban sprawl, bio-security regulation, etc. The second phase of the research involved the exploration, through both mathematical modelling and simulation, of some key insights from the first phase. Specifically, we analysed the impact of both congestion and shrinking consignment sizes on distribution costs. Our analysis suggested various hypotheses that shaped the design of a questionnaire that is presently being administered to manufacturers and distributors. Bio: Jay Sankaran is Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management at the University of Auckland. He holds a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT, Madras (1984), an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iowa (1986) and a PhD from the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago (1989). His main teaching areas are: logistics and supply chain management; inventory management and production planning; and management science. His main research areas is both modelling and empirics in logistics and supply chain management, with a strong accent on the New Zealand context, especially with regard to the latter strand of research (he is the the sole member from NZ on the Editorial Advisory Board of the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management). He also has a a secondary interest in the application of inductive, qualitative research methods in organization studies.
		11 April 2006 Dr Tharit Issarayangyun, Renzo Tonin and Associates Pty Ltd Health and well-being impacts by aircraft noise Presentation Abstract: This research aims at developing a better understanding of the impacts of aircraft noise on community health and well-being by exploring two core research questions: (1) “Is health related quality of life worse in community chronically exposed to aircraft noise than in community not exposed?”; and (2) “Does long-term aircraft noise exposure associate with adult high blood pressure level via noise stress as a mediating factor?”. The Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport has been selected as a case study. The health survey instruments have been developed and piloted, and then translated from English into Greek and Arabic. A postal self-administrative health survey has been implemented in the areas surrounding Sydney Airport and in the control group. The total sample size was 1,500 with 47% response rate. Factorial analysis of covariance revealed that “Health related quality of life of community chronically exposed to high aircraft noise level were worse than the control area”. Binary logistic regression analysis found that “Subjects (aged 15 – 87) who have been chronically exposed to high aircraft noise level have the odds of 2.61 of having chronic noise stress. In addition, person suffered from noise stress has the odds of 2.74 of having hypertension compared with those without chronic noise stress”. Bio: Tharit achieved his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1998 with second honour from Kasetsart University, Thailand. He received a partial scholarship from Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, to pursue his Master of Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering) which he completed in 2000. He has completed his Doctoral degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of New South Wales in 2005. His PhD thesis involves studying the impacts of aircraft noise on community health and well-being and developing a ‘new’ easier-to-interpret aircraft noise index. At present he is working at an acoustic consulting company, Renzo Tonin & Associates Pty Ltd, in their Environmental Acoustic Team.
		14 March 2006 Professor Dominique Bouf, ITLS Visiting Professor, Senior Researcher, Transportation Economics Laboratory, Lyons Making transit irresistible: the dark side Presentation Abstract: This seminar is a follow on to seminars praising public transit in Europe. It will be a reply and in a sense will describe the dark side of “making public transit irresistible”. In Western Europe, France is one country which has gone very far in the direction of promoting public transit. Through this example, we will present: That the goals of this policy are not always very clear; - That the cost of this policy is very high; - Finally, that the efficiency is questionable. The main examples presented will be Paris and Lyon, with some new developments on Lyon’s policy to promote cycling, which appears to be more symbolic than truly efficiency oriented. 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.
		7 March 2006 Professor Graham Currie, Chair of Public Transport, ITS Monash University Presentation Research perspectives on Light Rail for Sydney Abstract: This presentation reviews the authors research designed to provide an evidential basis for often polarised debates in public transport. In this case the context is the Sydney Light Rail debate. The research includes a 'meta' study of behavioural research on how passengers value trip attributes of LRT vs bus travel, a review of the challenges of Melbourne’s streetcars and a comparative assessment of LRT/bus impacts on transit oriented development. The findings are far from conclusive with regard to the Sydney LRT debate however they point the way to what is and isn’t required for quality public transport futures. Bio: Professor Currie is a well known international Public Transport researcher and planner with over 25 years experience. He has worked for some of the worlds leading Public Transport Operators including London Transport, and has managed Public Transport research and development projects in Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. Professor Currie has a unique range of experience in relation to the development of Public Transport strategies for Special Events. He developed the public transport plan for the successful 1996 Australian Grand Prix, led independent reviews of both the Atlanta and Sydney summer Olympic Games transport systems and was an advisor to the Athens Olympic Committee for the design of transport services for the 2004 Olympic Games. Professor Currie has managed a full range of Public Transport projects in all major Australasian cities, states and territories. Mr Curries experience spans Project Management, Demand Forecasting, Planning Methods in Public Transport, Regulatory Reviews, Efficiency and Performance Benchmarking, Training, Market Research, Investment Appraisal and Financial and Economic Analysis. As Australasia's first Chair in Public Transport, Professor Currie's role is to develop research and education in the public transport profession. Professor Currie is a member of the Victorian Road Based Public Transport Advisory Committee. He is also an international panel member of the US Federal Transit Administration TCRP project H-32 'Determining the Elements Needed to Create High Ridership Transit Systems'.
		14 February 2006 Bill Lilley, Research Scientist Division of Energy Technology, CSIRO Assessing environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Abstract: Addressing air pollution impacts of ITS is important because air quality rates as a major environmental concern in urban areas, especially with regards to health impacts on vulnerable people. Estimation of the outcomes of ITS on air pollution may show potential benefits and allay fears that improved traffic efficiency will just increase traffic volumes and hence increase air pollution. This presentation describes the application of a planning tool using a Lagrangian Wall Model (LWM) to estimate levels of air pollution within and around major roads and changes resulting from the implementation of generic ITS measures. Bio: Bill is a research scientist at the CSIRO Division of Energy Technology. He began his career at CSIRO as a field experimentalist specialising in the measurement of emissions from sources including diesel locomotives and motor vehicles. More recently Bill has worked in the field of atmospheric modelling and is responsible for the development of a high resolution model used to assess the dispersion of emissions from roadways.
		31 January 2006 Professor Werner Delfmann, ITLS Visiting Professor, Director, Department for Business Policy and Logistics University of Cologne Organizational efficiency in European transport networks – A quantitative analysis Abstract: Challenged by a high level of dynamics and competition, the management of transportation companies is more and more forced to allocate resources as efficient as possible. Though this issue has received considerable attention in academic discussion, the flow of information between and within organizational units in transportation networks is often disregarded. This research paper presents a method of distributing and bundling information systematically within the transportation networks and analyses its impact on efficiency. The objective is to identify optimal organizational structures depending on possibilities and limits of information technology in transportation networks. Based on a framework of hypotheses a simulation model is developed and applied to empirical data. Bio: Werner Delfmann (born 1949) graduated in mathematics and business administration (Dipl.-Math.) at the University of Muenster, Germany, where he also received the PhD (Dr. rer. pol.) with a dissertation in logistics in 1976 and the “venia legendi” (Habilitation) for Business Administration in 1982. After being professor at the universities of Osnabruck and Frankfurt/Main, he became senior professor at the University of Cologne, Germany, and director of the Department of Business Planning and Logistics in 1988. From 1999 till 2001 he was Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Social Sciences. Since 2003 he has been academic director of the Center for Continuous Education. From 1999 till 2003 he was chairman of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS), the network of 17 leading European management schools and more than 50 international companies. In 2004 he was awarded doctor honoris causa (Dr. h. c.) by CORVINUS University Budapest, Hungary. Prof. Delfmann’s main research activities focus on strategic and international logistics and supply chain management, aviation management, e-commerce and information management, controlling and operations research. He has published 10 books and more than 100 scientific articles. Furthermore he has been member of the board or editorial board of several scientific journals, e.g. European Business Forum, Logistik Management, DBW (Die Betriebs-wirtschaft). Prof. Delfmann has been a visiting professor and invited lecturer at several European universities, e.g. HEC Paris, Stockholm School of Economics and Copenhagen Business School, as well as at universities and business schools overseas like University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada, National University of Singapore (NUS), Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Manila. In 1997, he held the ASEAN-EU chair in Management at the AEMC in Brunei Darussalam. Furthermore, he has been acting as a lecturer and scientific coordinator at several institutions for executive management education, e.g. at GSBA Zurich, ISA, Paris and USW, Germany and is academic director of the Global Executive MBA Programme (GEM). He is also member of the International Advisory Boards of Group HEC, Paris and CORVINUS University, Budapest. Prof. Delfmann is founder and head of national and international working-groups in Strategic Management and Logistics with academics and senior executives. He is a member of numerous scientific organisations and management associations, e.g. of the research committees of the European Logistics Association (ELA), the German Logistics Association (BVL) and the German Society for Business Administration (SG-DGfB). Furthermore Prof. Delfmann has close relationships with leading companies in industry and trade by holding mandates as counsellor, consultant and member of the supervising board, as well as in a broad scope of cooperative research projects.