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Paper

Structuring a Definition of Resilience for the Freight Transportation System

 
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Publication: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Volume: 2097
Pages: 19-25
Publication Date: 2009
Summary:

This paper summarizes a broad literature review on system resilience. After these interpretations of resilience are considered, a definition of resilience in the context of freight transportation systems is provided. The definition of resilience offered here captures the interactions between managing organizations—namely, state departments of transportation, the infrastructure, and users—which is critical considering that the freight transportation system exists to support economic activity and production. A list of properties of freight transportation system resilience is outlined. These properties of resilience can contribute to the overall ability of the freight transportation system to recover from disruptions, whether exhibited at the infrastructure, managing organization, or user dimension. This contribution provides a framework that can serve as a starting point for future research, offering a shared language that promotes a more structured conversation about freight transportation resilience.

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Chilan Ta, Kelly Pitera
Recommended Citation:
Ta, Chilan. Anne V. Goodchild, and Kelly Pitera. "Structuring a definition of resilience for the freight transportation system." Transportation Research Record 2097, no. 1 (2009): 19-25.
Paper

Would Being Driven by Others Affect the Value of Travel Time? Ridehailing as an Analogy for Automated Vehicles

 
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Publication: Transportation
Volume: 46
Pages: 2103–2116
Publication Date: 2019
Summary:

It is widely believed that vehicle automation will change how travelers perceive the value of travel time (VoTT), but the magnitude of this effect is still unknown. This study investigates how highly automated vehicles (AVs) may affect VoTT, using an existing mode—ridehailing services (RHS)—as an analogy for AVs.

Both AVs and RHS relieve travelers from the effort of driving and allow them to participate in other activities while traveling. In a stated choice experiment, respondents chose between driving a personal vehicle or taking an RHS, with each mode characterized by a cost and travel time.

Analysis results using a mixed logit model indicated that the VoTT was 13% lower when being driven in an RHS than when driving a personal car. We also told half the respondents (randomly selected) that the RHS was driverless; and for half (also randomly selected) we explicitly mentioned the ability to multitask while traveling in an RHS. Mentioning multitasking explicitly led to a much lower VoTT, approximately half that of driving oneself. However, the VoTT in a driverless RHS was 15% higher than when driving a personal car, which may reflect a lack of familiarity and comfort with driverless technology at present.

These results suggest sizable reductions in VoTT for travel in future AVs, and point to the need for caution in making forecasts based on consumers’ current perceptions of AV technology.

Authors: Dr. Andisheh Ranjbari, Jingya Gao, Don MacKenzie
Recommended Citation:
Gao, J., Ranjbari, A. & MacKenzie, D. Would being driven by others affect the value of travel time? Ridehailing as an analogy for automated vehicles. Transportation 46, 2103–2116 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-019-10031-9
Paper

Defining Urban Freight Microhubs: A Case Study Analysis

 
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Publication: Sustainability
Volume: 14 (1), 532
Publication Date: 2021
Summary:

Urban freight distribution has confronted several challenges, including negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. Many city logistics initiatives that use the concept of Urban Consolidation Centers (UCCs) have failed.

The failure of many UCCs does not mean that the idea of additional terminals or microhubs should be rejected. There is limited knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of using microhubs, requiring further exploration of this concept.

To expand this knowledge, this research combines 17 empirical cases from Europe and North America to develop a framework for classifying different microhubs typologies. This research presents an integrated view of the cases and develops a common language for understanding microhub typologies and definitions. The research proposes microhubs as an important opportunity to improve urban freight sustainability and efficiency and one possible step to manage the challenge of multi-sector collaboration.

Authors: Şeyma GüneşTravis FriedDr. Anne Goodchild, Konstantina Katsela (University of Gothenburg), Michael Browne (University of Gothenburg)
Recommended Citation:
Katsela, Konstantina, Şeyma Güneş, Travis Fried, Anne Goodchild, and Michael Browne. 2022. "Defining Urban Freight Microhubs: A Case Study Analysis" Sustainability 14, no. 1: 532. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010532
Paper

Finding Service Quality Improvement Opportunities Across Different Typologies of Public Transit Customers

Publication Date: 2018
Summary:

Existing approaches dealing with customer perception data have two fundamental challenges: heterogeneity of customer perceptions and simultaneous interrelationships between attitudes that explain customer behavior. This paper aims to provide practitioners with a methodology of service quality (SQ) evaluation based on public transit customers behavioral theory and advanced market segmentation that deals with these two fundamental challenges. The original contributions of this paper are: the definition of customer typologies based on advanced customer segmentation with latent class clustering; analysis of the effect of SQ perceptions on behavioral intentions within the behavioral theory framework that considers multiple attitudes simultaneously affecting customers’ intentions; identification of transit service improvement opportunities for specific customer typologies as well as common to most customers. Our research shows practitioners and researchers that specific needs and perceptions of customers can be identified by using advanced segmentation. We applied our method to a light-rail transit service in Seville, Spain. We measured the direct effects on behavioral intentions of the LRT SQ, customer satisfaction and, in the case of some customers, the available transportation alternatives. Other observed that attitudes of customers were indirectly related to behavioral intentions as well. We found customer agreement around these LRT SQ aspects of tangible service equipment, accessibility, information, individual space and environmental pollution. Customers clearly showed different opinions related to safety, customer service and availability.

Authors: José Luis Machado León, Rocio de Ona, Francisco Diez-Mesa, Juan De Ona
Recommended Citation:
Machado, J. L., de Oña, R., Diez-Mesa, F., & de Oña, J. (2018). Finding service quality improvement opportunities across different typologies of public transit customers. Transportmetrica A: Transport Science, 14(9), 761-783.
Paper

Activity Modeling of Freight Flows in Washington State: Case Studies of the Resilience of Potato and Diesel Distribution Systems

 
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Publication Date: 2009
Summary:
This paper describes the development and use of a network model using publicly available industry data to analyze the resilience of two important Washington state industries. Modeling of freight activity in support of the potato and diesel industry in Washington state demonstrates how individual industries utilize the road network and how they are affected by a transportation disruption. We estimate the potato industry, which relies entirely on trucks for intra-state deliveries, generates about 50 cross-Cascade truck trips per day. Roughly 90 percent of the trucks deliver potatoes from processing facilities on the east side of the state to markets on the west side, while 10 percent carry fresh potatoes from the west to the east for processing. The coupled origins and destinations do not vary unless there is a disruption to the network. The diesel distribution system in Washington state also relies heavily on trucks, but only for the final segment of the logistics chain because both barge transport and pipelines are more cost effective modes. By necessity, trucks deliver from terminals to racks, but there is an established flexibility in these distribution operations as routes and travel distances regularly change because of variations in commodity price at each terminal and the presence of multiple terminals. As a consequence, we demonstrate that the diesel distribution system is much more resilient to roadway disruptions, especially those which occur along the cross-Cascades routes. These examples demonstrate the necessity of understanding industry practice as it relates to analyzing needed infrastructure and operational improvements to reduce economic impacts resulting from transportation disruptions.

 

 

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Sunny Rose, Derik Andreoli, Eric Jessup.
Recommended Citation:
Goodchild, Anne. Sunny Rose, Derik Andreoli, and Eric Jessup. "Activity Modeling of Freight Flows in Washington State: Case Studies of the Resilience of Potato and Diesel Distribution Systems." 
Paper

Rails-Next-to-Trails: A Methodology for Selecting Appropriate Safety Treatments at Complex Multimodal Intersections

 
Publication: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Volume: Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
Publication Date: 2018
Summary:

There are more than 212,000 at-grade railroad crossings in the US. A number of them features paths running adjacent to the railroad tracks, and crossing a highway; serving urban areas, recreational activities, light rail station access and a variety of other purposes. Some of these crossings see a disproportionate number of violations and conflicts between rail, vehicles and pedestrians and bikes. This research focuses on developing a methodology for appropriately addressing the question of treatments in these complex, multi-modal intersections. The methodology is designed to be able to balance a predetermined, prescriptive approach with the professional judgment of the agency carrying out the investigation. Using knowledge and data from literature, field studies and video observations, a framework for selecting treatments based on primary issues at a given location is developed. Using such a framework allows the agency to streamline their crossing improvement efforts; to easily communicate and inform the public of the decisions made and their reasons for doing so; to secure stakeholder buy-in prior to starting a project or investigation; to make sure that approach and selected treatments are more standardized; ensure transparency in the organization to make at-grade crossings safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, without negatively impacting trains or vehicles.

Recommended Citation:
Alligood, Anna Bovbjerg, Manali Sheth, Anne Goodchild, Edward McCormack, and Polina Butrina. "Rails-next-to-trails: a methodology for selecting appropriate safety treatments at complex multimodal intersections." Transportation research record 2672, no. 10 (2018): 12-27.
Paper

The Rise of Mega Distribution Centers and the Impact on Logistical Uncertainty

 
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Publication: Transportation Letters: The International Journal of Transportation Research
Volume: 2 (2)
Pages: 75-88
Publication Date: 2010
Summary:

Between 1998 and 2005, employment in the U.S. warehousing industry grew at a compound annual growth rate of 22.23%, and the number of establishments increased at compound annual growth rate of 9.48%. Over this same period of time, the price for transportation fuels increased dramatically and became much more volatile. In this paper we examine the microeconomic and macroeconomic forces that have enabled such rapid growth in the warehousing industry. We also analyze structural change through employment and warehouse construction starts data and show that a new breed of warehouse has emerged – the mega distribution center, or mega DC. Mega DCs serve mega markets, which allows them to gain advantage through economies of scale and by employing push-pull supply chain strategies that decrease the uncertainty associated with forecasting market demand. Our geographical analyses suggest that this new breed of mega DC is attracted to locations that optimize access to multiple regional markets (and possibly national markets) at the expense of optimizing access to any single market. On average the length of the final leg of the supply chain becomes longer. Because the last leg must be made by truck — which is the least fuel-efficient mode of transport by far — the location requirements of this new breed of mega DC increase supply chain exposure to the related risks of rising and increasingly volatile fuel prices.

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Derik Andreoli, Kate Vitasek
Recommended Citation:
Andreoli, Derik, Anne Goodchild, and Kate Vitasek. "The Rise of Mega Distribution Centers and the Impact on Logistical Uncertainty." Transportation Letters 2, no. 2 (2010): 75-88.
Paper

Evaluating Two Low-Cost Methods of Collecting Truck Generation Data Using Grocery Stores

 
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Publication: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Journal
Volume: 81 (6)
Pages: 34–40
Publication Date: 2011
Summary:

Despite their heavy use of the road transportation system, little data is available on trip generation rates for trucks. In this paper, truck trip rates from grocery stores are used in a case study to evaluate and compare two simple methods for collecting data on truck trip generation: telephone interviews and manual counts. The findings from this study showed that grocery stores generated an average of 18 truck trips per day on a typical peak period weekday. The results also showed that a combination of telephone interviews and manual counts was more effective than telephone interviews alone. Information from the telephone interview guided the manual counts and provided a baseline measurement of counts. However, the interviews underreported truck trips when compared to the manual observations.

Authors: Dr. Ed McCormack, Alon Bassok
Recommended Citation:
McCormack, Edward, and Alon Bassok. "Evaluating Two Low-Cost Methods of Collecting Truck Generation Data Using Grocery Stores." Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal 81, no. 6 (2011): 34.
Paper

Building Resilience into Freight Transportation Systems: Actions for State Departments of Transportation

 
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Publication: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Volume: 2168
Pages: 129-135
Publication Date: 2010
Summary:

The management of transportation systems for resilience has received significant attention in recent years. Resilience planning concerns the actions of an organization that reduce the consequences of a disruption to the system the organization manages. Little exploration has been made into the connections between resilience planning and the actions of a state department of transportation (DOT) that contribute to resilience of a freight transportation system. Conclusions are presented from collaborative research between the Washington State DOT Freight Systems Division (WSDOT FSD) and researchers at the University of Washington. Activities of the WSDOT FSD that contribute to resilience are identified, and one such activity undertaken by WSDOT to improve communication with system users is described. This and other activities can be undertaken by other DOTs that want to improve the resilience of their freight transportation systems at relatively low cost.

Authors: Dr. Anne GoodchildBarbara Ivanov, Chilan Ta
Recommended Citation:
Ta, Chilan, Anne V. Goodchild, and Barbara Ivanov. "Building Resilience into Freight Transportation Systems: Actions for State Departments of Transportation." Transportation Research Record 2168, no. 1 (2010): 129-135.
Paper

What is the Right Size for a Residential Building Parcel Locker?

 
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Publication: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Publication Date: 2022
Summary:

Common-carrier parcel lockers present a solution for decreasing delivery times, traffic congestion, and emissions in dense urban areas through consolidation of deliveries. Multi-story residential buildings with large numbers of residents, and thus a high volume of online package orders, are one of the best venues for installing parcel lockers. But what is the right size for a residential building locker that would suit the residents’ and building managers’ needs?

Because of the novelty of parcel lockers, there is no clear guideline for determining the right locker size and configuration for a residential building given the resident population. A small locker would result in packages exceeding capacity and being left in the lobby, increasing the building manager’s workload and confusing and inconveniencing users. On the other hand, a large locker is more expensive, more difficult to install, and unappealing to residents.

To answer this question, we installed a common-carrier parcel locker in a residential building in downtown Seattle, WA, U.S.A. Through collecting detailed data on locker usage from the locker provider company, we studied and quantified carriers’ delivery patterns and residents’ online shopping and package pickup behaviors. We then used this information to model the locker delivery and pickup process, and simulated several locker configurations to find the one that best suits the delivery needs of the building.

These findings could aid urban planners and building managers in choosing the right size for residential building lockers that meet delivery demand while minimizing costs and contributing to environmental benefits.

Recommended Citation:
Ranjbari, A., Diehl, C., Chiara, G. D., & Goodchild, A. (2022). What is the Right Size for a Residential Building Parcel Locker?. Transportation Research Record, 03611981221123807. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981221123807