Evaluating the Impacts of Passenger Rail Service: Case Study and Lessons Learned

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Sperry ◽  
Curtis Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Urban Transit ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
Grant Programs ◽  
Rail Network ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Transit Services ◽  
Potential Applications

One common yet effective method used by planners to evaluate the impacts of mass transportation modes is an on-board survey of modal users. An abundance of research exists on this topic from the perspective of evaluating urban transit services; however, background literature on the application of on-board surveys for intercity passenger rail is limited. This paper contributes to passenger rail planning by reporting on the lessons learned during a research project which included an on-board survey of passengers on the Heartland Flyer, a passenger rail route between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Fort Worth, Texas. Transit on-board survey literature and insight gained from past on-board surveys of intercity rail passengers were used to guide the design of this case study. Lessons learned during the on-board data collection and quality control review process are also reported. Renewed investment in the nation’s intercity passenger rail network will likely result in the need to answer critical questions about how infrastructure funds are being distributed. To answer these critical questions, the lessons learned from this case study can be used to guide the development of future on-board surveys of intercity passenger rail routes. Potential applications include the evaluation of on-board service and amenities or data to support funding requests for state appropriations or grant programs established by the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act of 2008. Measuring these impacts will play a critical role in the strength of funding applications, particularly in a policy environment with a renewed sense of accountability and transparency in the use of scarce public resources for transportation investment.

scholarly journals An integrated method for urban transit evaluation and optimization

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 168781401770814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Teng ◽  
Xiong-fei Lai
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Sample Volume ◽  
Urban Transit ◽  
Good Efficiency ◽  
Integrated Method ◽  
Transit Services ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Timetable Optimization

Public transit services should be fast and reliable. Complex road conditions, however, make them slow and fluctuate. Therefore, to reflect the impact of road traffic conditions for buses running, we should take both fast and reliable into consideration. This article uses GPS data of buses, proposes an integrated method for urban transit evaluation and optimization, including a bus running index calculation method which based on bus planning travel time and focusing on bus main roads, as well a bus timetable optimization method which faces a bus corridor. In order to verify the effectiveness, this article selects a bus main road on Yan’an Road between Shimen Road No. 1 Stop to Kaixuan Road Stop in Shanghai, China, as a case. Through this case study, this article verifies that the proposed bus running index can objectively and sensitively evaluate bus running conditions. Meanwhile, the result of bus timetable optimization shows good efficiency. On top of that, by contrast with the traditional single-line-based transit evaluation and optimization method, the proposed integrated evaluation and optimization method has an advantage in the sample volume size and calculation effectiveness.

Case Study of Cluster Analysis in Intercity Passenger Rail Planning and Marketing

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Sperry ◽  
Curtis Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Rail Service

Recent policy and regulatory initiatives have established new momentum for intercity passenger rail among planners, policymakers, and the general public. As a result, there is a great interest in developing new passenger rail lines and expanding existing routes in intercity corridors across the country. Moving forward, there exists a need to understand how current passenger rail services are being utilized, who is riding them, and what changes could be implemented to existing routes to attract ridership — as well as to document lessons learned from existing lines that can aid service development planning for newly proposed routes. In this paper, cluster analysis is applied to passenger survey data obtained in 2007 from riders of three Amtrak routes in the state of Michigan, USA. Cluster analysis is a multivariate data analysis method used extensively in marketing and customer profile research which seeks to identify similarities among potential customers that are not immediately evident using traditional grouping techniques. Data used in the formation of the passenger clusters include traveler alternatives to the passenger rail service and the importance of service attributes, on-board activities, and station amenities. These variables and other data from the passenger survey are then used to characterize the identified clusters in terms of what kinds of passengers are in each cluster and how these passengers benefit from the rail service. The passenger clusters are also analyzed for their potential response to service improvements such as reduced travel time, increased service frequencies, or improved intermodal connections. The findings of this case study can be applied in a number of activities related to intercity passenger rail service planning for existing as well as proposed routes. The findings provide valuable insight into the needs and preferences of current passengers and can be used to formulate strategies for equipment investments or the development of new on-board amenities. From a policy perspective, passengers’ preferences for alternative travel modes in the absence of the rail service reveal how the rail service supports intercity mobility for each of the clusters. Finally, from the cluster profile, potential strategies to attract new riders can be identified. The results show that clustering analysis methodology applied in this case study is a valuable tool for intercity passenger rail planning.

scholarly journals Lessons learned from implementing remotely invigilated online exams

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Cramp ◽  
◽  
John F. Medlin ◽  
Phoebe Lake ◽  
Colin Sharp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Service Access

This paper outlines the key issues of remotely invigilated online exams (RIOEs) and presents ways to avoid and resolve the issues for educators who are considering implementing them. The purpose of this paper is to share the lessons learned during the process of implementing and evaluating RIOEs and highlight the key considerations required to conduct RIOEs more seamlessly, whilst minimising students’ cognitive load. With the continued growth, and future importance of online tertiary education, this paper provides an important contribution to the understanding of the best methods and practices by which to conduct online examinations and provides a foundation for continued research and enhancement of effective RIOEs. The paper follows an extensive Action Learning process to develop and present a case study that was conducted across nine fully online business courses in a start-up venture for the University of South Australia. Cognitive load theory underpins the case study, which enabled the researchers to gain profound understanding into the RIOE process, identify issues and offer resolutions. RIOEs require more systematic and effective design compared to traditional paper-based exams and should be supplemented by early and clear communication with students. Educators should enable and encourage students to rehearse the exam service access procedures prior to their exams and students should be provided with real-time responsive technical support for any ad hoc issues that may present during the exam. These factors play a critical role in ensuring the successful implementation of RIOEs.

Faculty Development: A Stage Model Matched to Blended Learning Maturation

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Fetters ◽  
Tova Garcia Duby
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Development ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Technology Enhanced Learning ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Curriculum Innovation ◽  
Enhanced Learning

Faculty development programs are critical to the implementation and support of curriculum innovation. In this case study, the authors present lessons learned from ten years of experience in faculty development programs created to support innovation in technology enhanced learning. Stages of curriculum innovation are matched to stages of faculty development, and important lessons for success as well as current challenges are delineated and discussed.

Radical Subject Acceleration for Gifted Students: One School's Response

2019 ◽  
pp. 29-46
Author(s):  
Kaye Chalwell ◽  
Therese Cumming
Keyword(s):  
Gifted And Talented ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Gifted Student ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Mathematically Gifted ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Insight Into

Radical subject acceleration, or moving students through a subject area faster than is typical, including skipping grades, is a widely accepted approach to support students who are gifted and talented. This is done in order to match the student’s cognitive level and learning needs. This case study explored radical subject acceleration for gifted students by focusing on one school’s response to the learning needs of a ten year old mathematically gifted student. It provides insight into the challenges, accommodations and approach to radical subject acceleration in an Australian school. It explored the processes and decisions made to ensure that a gifted student’s learning needs were met and identified salient issues for radical subject acceleration. Lessons learned from this case study may be helpful for schools considering radical acceleration.

Two mechanisms for accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 outbreaks in regions with high intensity of population and polluting industrialization: the air pollution-to-human and human-to-human transmission dynamics (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Coccia
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Meteorological Condition ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Low Wind Speed

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is viral infection that generates a severe acute respiratory syndrome with serious pneumonia that may result in progressive respiratory failure and death. OBJECTIVE This study has two goals. The first is to explain the main factors determining the diffusion of COVID-19 that is generating a high level of deaths. The second is to suggest a strategy to cope with future epidemic threats with of accelerated viral infectivity in society. METHODS Correlation and regression analyses on on data of N=55 Italian province capitals, and data of infected individuals at as of April 2020. RESULTS The main results are: o The accelerate and vast diffusion of COVID-19 in North Italy has a high association with air pollution. o Hinterland cities have average days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) equal to 80 days, and an average number of infected more than 2,000 individuals as of April 1st, 2020, coastal cities have days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 equal to 60 days and have about 700 infected in average. o Cities that average number of 125 days exceeding the limits set for PM10, last year, they have an average number of infected individual higher than 3,200 units, whereas cities having less than 100 days (average number of 48 days) exceeding the limits set for PM10, they have an average number of about 900 infected individuals. o The results reveal that accelerated transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in specific environments is due to two mechanisms given by: air pollution-to-human transmission and human-to-human transmission; in particular, the mechanisms of air pollution-to-human transmission play a critical role rather than human-to-human transmission. o The finding here suggests that to minimize future epidemic similar to COVID-19, the max number of days per year in which cities can exceed the limits set for PM10 or for ozone, considering their meteorological condition, is less than 50 days. After this critical threshold, the analytical output here suggests that environmental inconsistencies because of the combination between air pollution and meteorological conditions (with high moisture%, low wind speed and fog) trigger a take-off of viral infectivity (accelerated epidemic diffusion) with damages for health of population, economy and society. CONCLUSIONS Considering the complex interaction between air pollution, meteorological conditions and biological characteristics of viral infectivity, lessons learned for COVID-19 have to be applied for a proactive socioeconomic strategy to cope with future epidemics, especially an environmental policy based on reduction of air pollution mainly in hinterland zones of countries, having low wind speed, high percentage of moisture and fog that create an environment that can damage immune system of people and foster a fast transmission of viral infectivity similar to the COVID-19. CLINICALTRIAL not applicable

Paper2Wire – A Case Study of User-Centred Development of Machine Learning Tools for UX Designers

i-com ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Daniel Buschek ◽  
Charlotte Anlauff ◽  
Florian Lachner
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Development Process ◽  
User Study ◽  
Concept Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Interface Elements ◽  
Industry Partner

Abstract This paper reflects on a case study of a user-centred concept development process for a Machine Learning (ML) based design tool, conducted at an industry partner. The resulting concept uses ML to match graphical user interface elements in sketches on paper to their digital counterparts to create consistent wireframes. A user study (N=20) with a working prototype shows that this concept is preferred by designers, compared to the previous manual procedure. Reflecting on our process and findings we discuss lessons learned for developing ML tools that respect practitioners’ needs and practices.

scholarly journals Trusting the Corona-Warn-App? Contemplations on trust and trustworthiness at the intersection of technology, politics and public debate

2021 ◽  
pp. 026732312110283
Author(s):  
Judith Simon ◽  
Gernot Rieder
Keyword(s):  
Technology Development ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Debates ◽  
Moral Duties ◽  
Moral Demands

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions of whom or what to trust have become paramount. This article examines the public debates surrounding the initial development of the German Corona-Warn-App in 2020 as a case study to analyse such questions at the intersection of trust and trustworthiness in technology development, design and oversight. Providing some insights into the nature and dynamics of trust and trustworthiness, we argue that (a) trust is only desirable and justified if placed well, that is, if directed at those being trustworthy; that (b) trust and trustworthiness come in degrees and have both epistemic and moral components; and that (c) such a normatively demanding understanding of trust excludes technologies as proper objects of trust and requires that trust is directed at socio-technical assemblages consisting of both humans and artefacts. We conclude with some lessons learned from our case study, highlighting the epistemic and moral demands for trustworthy technology development as well as for public debates about such technologies, which ultimately requires attributing epistemic and moral duties to all actors involved.

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