Melbourne Metropolitan Area Research Articles

A Decision Support System for Prioritised COVID-19 Two-dosage Vaccination Allocation and Distribution

Global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is one of the world's most challenging logistics tasks. A timely mass vaccination during a pandemic is a matter of life and death. This study proposes a decision support system (DSS) that integrates GIS, analytics, and simulation methods to help develop a priority-based distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in a large urban setting. The methodology applies novel hierarchical heuristic-simulation procedures to create a holistic algorithm for prioritising the process of demand allocation and optimising vaccine distribution. The Melbourne metropolitan area in Australia with a population of over five million is used as a case study. Three vaccine supply scenarios, namely limited, excessive, and disrupted supply, were formulated to operationalise a two-dose vaccination program. Vaccine distribution with hard constraints were simulated and then further validated with sensitivity analyses. The results show that vaccines can be prioritised to society's most vulnerable segments and distributed using the current logistics network with 10 vehicles. Compared with other vaccine distribution plans with no prioritisation, such as equal allocation of vaccines to local government areas based on population size or one on a first-come-first-serve basis, the plans generated by the proposed DSS ensure prioritised vaccination of the most needed and vulnerable population. The aim is to curb the spread of the infection and reduce mortality rate more effectively. They also achieve vaccination of the entire population with less logistical resources required. As such, this study contributes to knowledge and practice in pandemic vaccine distribution and enables governments to make real-time decisions and adjustments in daily distribution plans. In this way any unforeseen disruptions in the vaccine supply chain can be coped with.

Protocol for the methamphetamine approach-avoidance training (MAAT) trial, a randomised controlled trial of personalised approach bias modification for methamphetamine use disorder

BackgroundGlobally, methamphetamine use has increased in prevalence in recent years. In Australia, there has been a dramatic increase in numbers of people seeking treatment, including residential rehabilitation, for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). While residential rehabilitation is more effective for MUD than withdrawal treatment (i.e. “detoxification”) alone, relapse rates remain high, with approximately half of rehabilitation clients using methamphetamine within 3 months of rehabilitation. “Approach bias modification” (ABM) is a computerised cognitive training approach that aims to dampen automatically triggered impulses to approach drugs and drug-related stimuli. ABM has been demonstrated to reduce alcohol relapse rates, but no randomised controlled trials of ABM for MUD have yet been conducted. We aim to test whether a novel “personalised” form of ABM, delivered during rehabilitation, reduces post-treatment methamphetamine use, relative to a sham-training control condition. Secondary outcomes will include dependence symptoms, cravings, and approach bias.MethodsWe aim to recruit 100 participants attending residential rehabilitation for MUD at 3 sites in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Participants will complete baseline measures of methamphetamine use, craving, dependence severity, and approach bias before being randomised to receiving 6 sessions of ABM or “sham” training. In the active condition, ABM will be personalised for each participant, using those methamphetamine images that they rate as most relevant to their recent methods of methamphetamine use as “avoidance” images and using positive images representing their goals or healthy sources of pleasure as “approach” images. Approach bias and craving will be re-assessed following completion of training, and methamphetamine use, dependence, and craving will be assessed 4 weeks and 3 months following discharge from residential treatment.DiscussionThis study is the first randomised controlled trial of ABM for MUD and also the first ABM study to test using a personalised set of both approach and avoid images for ABM training. If effective, the low cost and easy implementation of ABM means it could be widely implemented as a standard part of MUD treatment.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000072910. Registered on 30 January 2020 (prospectively registered): https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378804&isReview=true

Simulation of land use land cover change in Melbourne metropolitan area from 2014 to 2030: using multilayer perceptron neural networks and Markov chain model

ABSTRACT The explosive growth of the Melbourne metropolitan area (MMA) population in the last two decades and the spatial expansion of the city to the periphery have necessitated the analysis of land use land cover (LULC) changes. To this end, Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks, Markov chain model, GIS and TerrSet software package were used. Initially, nine driving variables affecting the future development of the city were identified. Then, using the maximum probability estimation model, land uses were classified into six categories in the MMA with an area of 8819.6 km2 for 2014, 2017 and 2020. During 2014–2020, two land uses have experienced positive changes (residential and cultivated land uses with 16.48% and 11.56% respectively) and four of them (forest cover with −5.74%, grass and green space with −9.72%, barren lands with −11.14% and water body with −1.45%) have experienced a decrease in area. To validate the prediction of land use changes until 2030, the kappa coefficient (0.617) was used. The result of using Cramer's V statistics (above 0.15) to measure the effect of driving variables on land use forecast was acceptable. LULC change was predicted by MLP and Markov chain model for 2030. The results showed that two land uses (residential and industrial land use with 26.3% and cultivated land with 6.99%) will have positive change and four of them (forest coverage with −17.11%, barren land with −9 29%, grass and green space with −5.33% and water bodies with −1.38%) should have negative growth. Spatial changes of land use will occur mostly in the northern and north-western regions on barren land, and on the east and southeast on forest and green spaces. Findings are useful for planning authorities in MMA where it is highly affected by population growth and LULC change.

Changing Melbourne Metropolitan Area through the Spatial Analysis with Census Costomised Data

Changing Melbourne Metropolitan Area through the Spatial Analysis with Census Costomised Data

Wind climate of the Melbourne metropolitan area

This paper describes a probabilistic analysis of data recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) for the wind climate of the Melbourne metropolitan area. It is based on 10-minute average wind data from four automatic weather stations (AWS) ‒ at Melbourne and Essendon airports, Fawkner Beacon in Port Phillip Bay, and Moorabbin Airport. Corrections to the data were made to adjust to standard terrain conditions and height. For the land stations, these were based on estimates of the surface roughness length at each site as a function of wind direction, making use of recorded gust factors. For the Fawkner Beacon, which is completely surrounded by open water, the surface roughness length is a function of mean wind speed, and the Charnock relationship was used in determining the corrections. For each station the terrain-corrected wind data were fitted with Weibull probability distributions, as an all-direction group and for sixteen direction sectors. Directional probabilities were also determined. The parameters of the all-direction Weibull distributions are very similar for all four stations, but there are differences in directional probabilities for some directions, with a geographic trend from north to south in the region being apparent. Some possible explanations based on the general topography are given.

An Intra-City Analysis of House Price Convergence and Spatial Dependence

This paper seeks to test the intra-city convergence of house prices using the comprehensive suburban house price and census data for a key Australian city. It applies the regression-based β-convergence test combined with spatial econometric models to examine the conditional convergence of house prices across 300+ suburbs in the Melbourne metropolitan area. This paper finds evidence of house price convergence when the econometric model controls for spatial effects and a few other suburban characteristics, such as population size, economic profile, education and employment profile, and crime rate. However, the convergence rate is found to be decelerated in the post-GFC periods. The estimation results suggest a faster convergence rate for units/apartments than for freestanding houses. There is also evidence of spatial effects, implying that house price growth in Melbourne suburbs is spilling over into the neighboring suburbs. These findings are expected to shed new light on understanding the residential real estate market and price dynamics within a city in the context of a developed nation and help design relevant housing policies.

A spatial-temporal analysis of urban growth in melbourne; Were local government areas moving toward compact or sprawl from 2001–2016?

In most cities, urban growth follows a sprawl pattern. In the Melbourne metropolitan area, the Plan Melbourne (2017–2050) was formulated with the aim of reducing sprawl and encouraging sustainable growth. However, the Internet research has shown that in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, no studies aiming to investigate the urban growth using satellite images and analyzing compact urban growth drivers (CUGDs) have been conducted. The objectives of this study of the Melbourne metropolitan area are as follows: 1) Analyzing spatial-temporal changes of normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) 2) Analyzing CUGDs 3) Evaluating the relationship between NDBI and CUGDs. 4) Determining the type of growth in metropolitan area divisions regarding NDBI and CUGDs (2001–2016). To calculate NDBI and urban built-up areas Landsat satellite images were used. Five indicators of population density, separate house density, apartment house density, public transportation usage ratio and distance from the city center were analyzed as CUGDs. The relationship between NDBI and CUGDs was assessed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). GIS and ENVI software packages were used for these analyses. The findings revealed that outer Melbourne has experienced the highest rate of change in built-up areas and the direction of developments are toward west, north and south-east in conformity with the government policies. The highest annual rate of change belongs to apartment house density. During 2001–2006, it was 67%, during 2006–2011 45%, during 2011–2016 58%, and during 2001–2016, 61% of the variation in NDBI was explained by the variables. Changes in NDBI under various CUGDs conditions led to the formation of patterns conceptualized at the level of thirty-one local governments (LGs). Based on this study's findings, practical strategies should be formulated to guide the future development of the city and to achieve the Plan Melbourne (2017–2050) objective.

Immersive visualization with bar graphics

ABSTRACT Augmented reality (AR) enables the creation of immersive situated visualizations. These visualizations blend with the real world so that the user perceives the virtual objects as physically present. We propose two novel immersive situated visualizations for geospatial quantitative point data that link AR bar graphics in the real environment with a virtual AR chart or map. The Egocentric Bar Chart combines virtual bars placed in a real landscape with a virtual 360° bar chart arranged around the user. The Circular Map with Bars combines bars in a real landscape with a 360° virtual map showing bar graphics. These visualizations are designed for inspecting the location and attributes of individual points, as well as understanding the spatial and non-spatial patterns of a set of points. We conducted a study with 12 participants to evaluate reading accuracy and efficiency of the two visualizations, with a view from a skyscraper at the center of the Melbourne metropolitan area. To better control confounding factors, the study used a virtual environment instead of an AR setup. We found that the two suggested visualizations performed better than bars placed in a landscape, and received positive feedback from study participants. The Egocentric Bar Chart visualization was most accurate when estimating and comparing values, and we identified promising improvements for the Circular Map with Bars visualization. Our results demonstrate the potential of AR technology for the communication of geospatial point data with immersive situated bar graphics in an outdoor environment.

Groundwater Buffers Drought Effects and Climate Variability in Urban Reserves

AbstractGroundwater can have a critical role in sustaining the functioning of natural ecosystems during droughts, especially in dry and seasonally dry climates. However, the response to droughts of ecosystems embedded in urban areas is not well known. This study investigates how different scenarios of groundwater availability control the water balance and vegetation productivity of two urban reserves hosting native vegetation in the Melbourne metropolitan area, Australia. Using a mechanistic ecohydrological model supported by field observations, long‐term simulations were run to explore the impact of groundwater flow on water, carbon, and energy fluxes under present climatic conditions, including the Millennium Drought (2001–2009), and in response to perturbations in key environmental variables (air temperature, atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and rainfall). It was found that the presence of a water table and its capillary fringe within the root depths supports ecosystem transpiration and vegetation productivity. The effects of declining groundwater were found to be more severe in predominantly sandy soils because of the lower water holding capacity, identifying that the water status of vegetation differs significantly depending on soil type. Differences in rooting strategies and groundwater availability also had a pivotal role in helping plants soften the impacts of increased air temperature (Ta) and make use of higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Increased Ta strongly affected evapotranspiration, enhancing the competition for water between different vegetation types. These results provide quantitative insights of how vegetation responds to groundwater depletion and climate variability, highlighting the essential role of groundwater resources in urban ecosystems characterized by seasonally dry climates.

Which Melbourne Metropolitan Areas Are Vulnerable to COVID-19 Based on Age, Disability, and Access to Health Services? Using Spatial Analysis to Identify Service Gaps and Inform Delivery

Aging adults (65+) with disability are especially vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and on contracting, they are a cohort most likely to require palliative care. Therefore, it is very important that health services—particularly health services providing palliative care—are proximately available. Treating the Melbourne metropolitan area as a case study, a spatial analysis was conducted to clarify priority areas with a significantly high percentage and number of aging adults (65+) with disability and high barriers to accessing primary health services. Afterward, travel times from priority areas to palliative medicine and hospital services were calculated. The geographic dispersion of areas with people vulnerable to COVID-19 with poor access to palliative care and health services is clarified. Unique methods of health service delivery are required to ensure that vulnerable populations in underserviced metropolitan areas receive prompt and adequate care. The spatial methodology used can be implemented in different contexts to support evidence-based COVID-19 and pandemic palliative care service decisions.

Predominance of Trichophyton interdigitale Revealed in Podiatric Nail Dust Collections in Eastern Australia.

Toenail onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes is a significant medical and financial worldwide burden. Relatively scant research has been undertaken as to the predominant species and strains causing this condition in Australia, which is a unique isolated continent with diverse geographical, climatic and population regions. Four regions were selected in Eastern Australia: Far North Queensland, Rural Victoria, Melbourne Metropolitan and Tasmania. From each of these areas, communal nail dust bags from podiatric physicians' work were collected and analysed. A total of 32 dust bags were collected: 10 from Far North Queensland, 8 from Melbourne Metropolitan, 8 from Rural Victoria and 6 from Tasmania. Dermatophyte test medium was used to isolate dermatophytes from the dust, and the colonies were subcultured to Potato Dextrose Agar. Of the bags collected, in total 69% were positive for dermatophytes: 40% from Far North Queensland, 75% from Melbourne Metropolitan, 88% from Rural Victoria and 83% from Tasmania. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA was used to identify and compare isolates. A total of 148 dermatophyte strains were identified. The predominant species isolated was Trichophyton interdigitale (125 isolates), which was found in all four regions. This species was further subdivided into four ITS genotypes: the first two were present in all regions, but the third was found only in the Melbourne Metropolitan area and the fourth only in Tasmania. Only one strain of Trichophyton rubrum was found and only in Rural Victoria. Eighteen isolates of Arthroderma quadrifidum were cultured from Rural Victoria and Tasmania and were further classified into three ITS genotypes. Some isolates rarely reported in clinical material were identified as Paraphyton cookei, Arthroderma tuberculatum and Arthroderma crocatum. A potentially new species of Arthroderma was also found in Melbourne Metropolitan. These findings reveal a unique dermatophyte fingerprint in toenails for Eastern Australia.

Water balance and tree water use dynamics in remnant urban reserves

During the expansion of urban areas, small natural reserves have often been left intact within the built environment as central elements of biodiversity conservation, ecological connectivity, landscape sustainability, and quality of life of urban dwellers. Consequently, the surrounding urbanized landscape may impact the environmental conditions of these reserves (e.g., high temperatures, low moisture conditions), resulting in the need for extensive maintenance. This study presents an estimation of the water balance over two years (2017–2018) in three small urban reserves (between 2 and 30 ha) within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Australia, for the purpose of understanding tree water use. Measurements of micrometeorological variables, soil moisture content profiles, water-table levels, sap flow velocities, and stem diameter variations were used to quantify the water sources of tree transpiration in these reserves. Results revealed that, despite the urban surroundings and the climate variations, these reserves have enough water to sustain tree transpiration. In two of the three reserves, groundwater was pivotal in sustaining transpiration rates; specifically, groundwater was estimated to contribute about 30–40% of the total transpiration amount during the driest periods of the year. Groundwater also played an essential role during nights with temperatures above 25 °C, helping trees to maintain night-time water use from 3 to 16% of the daily water use. In the third reserve, the presence of a shallow layer of heavy clay supplied water to the trees, which were able to maintain relatively constant transpiration rates throughout the year. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the water regime of each urban reserve in order to support government authorities in preserving these ecosystems.

Real-time city-scale ridesharing via linear assignment problems

In this paper, we propose a novel, computational efficient, dynamic ridesharing algorithm. The beneficial computational properties of the algorithm arise from casting the ridesharing problem as a linear assignment problem between fleet vehicles and customer trip requests within a federated optimization architecture. The resulting algorithm is up to four times faster than the state-of-the-art, even if it is implemented on a less dedicated hardware, and achieves similar service quality. Current literature showcases the ability of state-of-the-art ridesharing algorithms to tackle very large fleets and customer requests in almost near real-time, but the benefits of ridesharing seem limited to centralized systems. Our algorithm suggests that this does not need to be the case. The algorithm that we propose is fully distributable among multiple ridesharing companies. By leveraging two datasets, the New York city taxi dataset and the Melbourne Metropolitan Area dataset, we show that with our algorithm, real-time ridesharing offers clear benefits with respect to more traditional taxi fleets in terms of level of service, even if one considers partial adoption of the system. In fact, e.g., the quality of the solutions obtained in the state-of-the-art works that tackle the whole customer set of the New York city taxi dataset is achieved, even if one considers only a proportion of the fleet size and customer requests. This could make real-time urban-scale ridesharing very attractive to small enterprises and city authorities alike. However, in some cases, e.g., in multi-company scenarios where companies have predefined market shares, we show that the number of vehicles needed to achieve a comparable performance to the monopolistic setting increases, and this raises concerns on the possible negative effects of multi-company ridesharing.

Spatial structure of surface urban heat island and its relationship with vegetation and built-up areas in Melbourne, Australia

Due to the intensity of urban development around the world, there is an increasing body of studies attempting to investigate urban heat island (UHI) in various spatial and temporal scales. In surface heat urban island (SUHI) studies, extended periods of time, broader regions and local government area (LGA) level have become more crucial and will shed light on causes of UHI. Moreover, the spatial pattern and structure of SUHI will be useful for policy-makers to develop mitigation strategies. This study focused on three objectives. Firstly, analyzing land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference built-up (NDBI) and vegetation (NDVI) indices. Secondly, investigating interrelationships among LST, NDVI, and NDBI. Thirdly, identifying LST patterns in the Melbourne metropolitan area. These objectives were achieved through three different methods. The modified automatic mapping method for the first objective, the correlation analysis for the second, and spatial statistical methods for the third. The methodological innovations of this study were considering LGA in interrelationship analysis among LST, NDBI and NDVI, and calculation of NDVI for each acquisition date. The results indicated that the clustering pattern of LST expanded toward the north-west and south-east during the period of the study. Furthermore, the north-west part of the city has the highest positive (0.6) correlation between NDBI and LST, and the south-east part of the city has the lowest negative (−0.8) correlation between NDVI and LST. The most significant increase and decrease in mean LST happened respectively from January 6th to 22nd 2017, and January 14th to 30th January 2014. The temperature degree altered from 19.61 °C to 27.86 °C in inner western suburbs, and from 35.49 °C to 26.88 °C in most LGA's. These findings are critical for planners to localize UHI mitigation action plans, target hot spots in LGA's and allocate resources to respond to the adverse effect of UHI.

Longitudinal nutritional changes in aging Australian women.

The importance of diet for the maintenance of health during aging is attracting a growing body of research interest. Given dietary intakes, along with BMI, are substantial contributors to disease burden, this study aimed to investigate prospective changes in dietary patterns and nutrient intakes in a sample of mid to late-life women over 14 years. Participants were from the Women's Healthy Ageing Project (WHAP); a longitudinal cohort of Australian-born women within the Melbourne metropolitan area. 173 participants were included in this analysis, their mean age in 1998 was 55 years (range 51-62) and in 2012 was 70 years (range 66-76). Diet was assessed using the Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies Version 2 in 1998 and 2012. Nutritional intakes, Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) scores, Mediterranean Diet (MD) scores, sociodemographic and physical measures were calculated for all participants at both time points. Energy intake was found to significantly decrease over time (p<0.005). Energy-adjusted (i.e., energy density) total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and cholesterol intakes increased over time (all p<0.002), while energy-adjusted and absolute carbohydrate intake decreased (p<0.002). Adherence to the MD decreased over time (p<0.001) whilst DII scores increased slightly over time, although this result was not significant. This study shows significant changes in the intake of energy and several nutrients in a cohort of aging Australian women in the Melbourne metropolitan area over a period of 14 years. Between 1998 and 2012, changes in indices reflecting overall diet were consistently in the direction of a poorer diet.

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of cognitive bias modification training during inpatient withdrawal from alcohol use disorder

BackgroundPeople with alcohol use disorders often exhibit an “alcohol approach bias”, the automatically triggered action tendency to approach alcohol. Approach bias is likely to persist following withdrawal from alcohol, and contribute to the high rate of relapse following withdrawal treatment. Cognitive bias modification (CBM) training has been shown to attenuate approach biases and lead to reduced relapse rates. However, no large multisite trial of CBM specifically within a residential withdrawal treatment setting has previously been conducted. This study aims to test whether CBM delivered during residential withdrawal treatment leads to reduced relapse rates and reduced use of acute health services following discharge, and to test possible moderators of CBM’s effect on alcohol use.MethodsThree hundred alcohol-dependent inpatients are being recruited from three withdrawal treatment units in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Participants complete baseline measures of alcohol approach bias and cue-evoked desire for alcohol, followed by four daily sessions of computerised CBM training (or sham training if randomised to the control group). Approach bias and cue-evoked desire are re-assessed following the fourth training session. Follow-up assessments administered 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months following discharge from the withdrawal treatment unit compare abstinence rates and acute and emergency healthcare service use between conditions. Pre-admission and follow-up substance use is derived from the timeline follow-back method, and approach bias towards alcohol with a computerised Approach Avoidance Task.DiscussionThis study is the first multisite randomised controlled trial of cognitive bias modification delivered during acute alcohol withdrawal treatment. Withdrawal is theoretically an ideal period to deliver neurocognitive interventions due to heightened neuroplasticity and cognitive recovery. If effective, the low cost and easy implementation of CBM training means it could be widely used as a standard part of alcohol withdrawal treatment to improve treatment outcomes. Moderation analyses may help better determine whether certain subgroups of patients are most likely to benefit from it and therefore should be prioritised for CBM during alcohol withdrawal treatment.Trial RegistrationVersion 4 of the protocol (dated 1 August 2017) is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617001241325. Registered on 25 August 2017 (retrospectively registered).

Bi-objective multi-resource scheduling problem for emergency relief operations

Resource scheduling for emergency relief operations is complex as it has many constraints. However, an effective allocation and sequencing of resources are crucial for the minimization of the completion times in emergency relief operations. Despite the importance of such decisions, only a few mathematical models of emergency relief operations have been studied. This article presents a bi-objective mixed integer programming (MIP) that helps to minimize both the total weighted time of completion of the demand points and the makespan of the total emergency relief operation. A two-phase method is developed to solve the bi-objective MIP problem. Additionally, a case study of hospital network in the Melbourne metropolitan area is used to evaluate the model. The results indicate that the model can successfully support the decisions required in the optimal resource scheduling of emergency relief operations.

Estimates of potential childhood lead exposure from contaminated soil using the USEPA IEUBK model in Melbourne, Australia.

Soils in inner city areas internationally and in Australia have been contaminated with lead (Pb) primarily from past emissions of Pb in petrol, deteriorating exterior Pb-based paints and from industry. Children can be exposed to Pb in soil dust through ingestion and inhalation leading to elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). Currently, the contribution of soil Pb to the spatial distribution of children's BLLs is unknown in the Melbourne metropolitan area. In this study, children's potential BLLs were estimated from surface soil (0-2cm) samples collected at 250 locations across the Melbourne metropolitan area using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model. A dataset of 250 surface soil Pb concentrations indicate that soil Pb concentrations are highly variable but are generally elevated in the central and western portions of the Melbourne metropolitan area. The mean, median and geometric soil Pb concentrations were 193, 110 and 108mg/kg, respectively. Approximately 20 and 4% of the soil samples exceeded the Australian HIL-A residential and HIL-C recreational soil Pb guidelines of 300 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. The IEUBK model predicted a geometric mean BLL of 2.5 ± 2.1µg/dL (range: 1.3-22.5µg/dL) in a hypothetical 24-month-old child with BLLs exceeding 5 and 10µg/dL at 11.6 and 0.8% of the sampling locations, respectively. This study suggests children's exposure to Pb contaminated surface soil could potentially be associated with low-level BLLs in some locations in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

User satisfaction with taxi and limousine services in the Melbourne metropolitan area

Taxis are an essential mode of transport in many jurisdictions, and yet compared to more conventional public modes such as bus and train, are typically ignored in the debate on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of non-private modes as part of delivering greater connectivity. To obtain better insights into the role and performance of the taxi (and hire car/limousine) sector, the Victorian Government, in 2012, commissioned a study into the demand for taxi services, which included an investigation of attitudes towards the various public transport, taxis and hire car modes, as a way of identifying the important attributes that influence customer opinions about various modes and how satisfied they are with actual modal services that they had experienced. The evidence is used to refocus the effort of the regulator and other organisations such as taxi associations and vehicle owners in improving service levels that accord with customer expectations. Surveys were undertaken for a sample of travellers in central Melbourne, those using the airport and in regional centres of Victoria for five segments (i.e., tourists, day to day activity, business, night time travel, and disability and pensioner card holders). Based on the sample, a model is proposed and operationalised that provides insights into the degree of satisfaction respondents hold for both taxi and hire car services in Melbourne, with suggestions on where improvement are warranted.

“Blended” therapy: The development and pilot evaluation of an internet-facilitated cognitive behavioral intervention to supplement face-to-face therapy for hoarding disorder

Mixed findings regarding the long-term efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of hoarding has led to the investigation of novel treatment approaches. “Blended” therapy, a combination of face-to-face (f2f) and online therapy, is a form of therapy that enables longer exposure to therapy in a cost-effective and accessible format. Blended therapy holds many benefits, including increased access to content, lower time commitment for clinicians, and lower costs. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a “blended” treatment program for hoarding disorder (HoPE), involving 12-weeks of face-to-face group therapy, and an 8 week online therapist assisted program. A sample of 12 participants with hoarding symptomology were recruited from the Melbourne Metropolitan area, and were involved in one of two conditions; 12 weeks group therapy +8 weeks online therapy (bCBT) or 12 weeks group therapy +8 weeks waitlist +8 weeks online therapy. Questionnaires were completed at all time points. The 8-week online component consists of 8 CBT-based modules, addressing psychoeducation, goal setting, motivation, relapse prevention and other key components. No significant differences were found over time between the bCBT group and waitlist control group, however trends suggested continued improvement in overall hoarding scores for the bCBT group, when compared to the waitlist control group. There were significant differences in scores from pre-treatment to 28 weeks, suggesting that all participants who were involved in the online intervention showed continued improvement from pre-treatment to post-treatment. This study highlights the potential benefit of novel formats of treatment. Future research into the efficacy of blended therapy would prove beneficial.