Suburban Service Research Articles

Socio-environmental factors associated with small mammal assemblage and Leptospira prevalence in Suburban Areas of Terengganu, Malaysia

Objective: To examine the socio-environmental factors associated with the assemblage of small mammals and the prevalence of Leptospira pathogen in poor suburban communities of Terengganu, Malaysia. Methods: We trapped small mammals from 119 trapping points scattered around three suburban communities of Terengganu using sausage-baited live traps. On the average, we set up five traps for three nights at each sampling point during the trapping period. Kidneys of captured animals were harvested and processed for Leptospira investigation. Additionally, environmental survey was conducted at each trapping point to obtain information about possible variables supporting small mammal assemblage. We used a generalized linear model to evaluate the effect of different socio-environmental variables on small mammals’ assemblage. Results: A total of 89 small mammals, specifically, Rattus norvegicus (n=39), Rattus rattus (n=27), Rattus exulans (n=10), Suncus murinus (n=11), and Tupaia glis (n=2) were captured from 1 385 trap nights. Fourteen individuals (15.7%) of the captured animals tested positive for Leptospira bacteria using PCR detection. Results of our generalized linear model showed only residences bordering vacant lots as the variable positively associated with small mammal occurrence in the three study sites. Conclusions: Small mammal community, especially the often neglected species, could harbour and potentially contribute towards pathogenic Leptospira maintenance in the study sites. To adequately control small mammals’ population and subsequent human zoonoses transmission, it is critical to advocate and promote appropriate infrastructure and suburban services, together with good hygiene practices that can reduce the animals’ access to food and harborage.

Indian Railways: Train Set Assignment Problem in Suburban Services

Indian Railways: Train Set Assignment Problem in Suburban Services

FORECASTING PASSENGER TRAFFIC BASED ON STRUCTURE IDENTIFICATION OF NON-STATIONARY TIME SERIES

The article proposes to consider the change in the volume of passenger traffic as non-stationary time series which is characterized by the presence of transients moments that lead to a significant change in the overall trend over time. Studies of changes in demand for passenger traffic in suburban service on bus routes of Cherkasy region in 2019–2021 showed that in the period up to 2020, the daily amount of presented demand on weekdays ranged from 4.1 thousand to 6.4 thousand passengers, and on the second half of 2020, the volume of demand decreased due to applying quarantine restrictions in 1.9–2.1 times (up to 2.1 thousand to 4.1 thousand passengers). Based on the analysis of fluctuations in the actual volume of traffic, the structural and logical inter-component relationship of the formation of demand for transportation was identified, which consists of the allocation of the main groups of transport classes forming the volume of passengers. By adapting the methodological provisions of singular spectral analysis, the main stages of the procedure for identifying the elemental structure of the non-stationary time series of changes in the volume of transportation have been formalized. Based on the analysis of the preconditions for the emergence of transients information on demand for passenger traffic allocated structure elements of the time series of the actual volume of passenger traffic that is based on the features and factors of its occurrence. Implementation of the procedure of using the singular spectral method analysis in the study of changes in the volume of passenger traffic is proposed to do by converting a one-dimensional time series into a matrix of elements that determine the trend, harmonic and random components demand. Based on the analysis of the materials of the passenger survey, it was established that the trend component of the change in demand in the Cherkasy – Smila connection contains two types of labor movements: permanent nature of formation and temporary. For the studied combination during 2019–2021, the share of worker transfers with a permanent character increased from 46.5% to 53.1%, with temporary character – decreased by 30.2% to 20.3%, and the harmonic component - increased from 11.5% to 15.3%, and the random component - remained stable within 11.9% to 11.2%. Based on the synthesis of predicted values of time components series for the connection Cherkasy – Smila found that in terms of implementation positive development scenario, there is a tendency to gradual short-term growth in traffic by 3.5%.

Geologistic aspects of railway passenger transportation in Ukraine

The passenger economy of the Ukrainian railway in the context of long-distance and suburban services has been analyzed. The basis of long-distance research is the share of certain categories (night speed, regional, night express, high-speed express Intercity+ and Intercity). Particular attention is paid to the distance of night high-speed trains over 1000 km within Ukraine. Regional routes are distinguished by length and route in different economic regions. This contributes to the selection of cities in nearby regions between which there is no direct connection. To characterize high-speed trains of the Intercity+ category, speed indicators are used, which allows to determine the best routes by speed. The reasons for the slow movement of some express trains have also been identified. The material shows the difference between the categories Intercity+ and Intercity. Only one of the class of night passenger trains is briefly mentioned, which is considered to be the most picturesque from the tourist point of view. Suburban service after the resumption of passenger traffic in early summer 2020 is described in detail. The most important indicator of this analysis is the number of suburban train pairs that were destined for transportation. Stations in each region are presented in tabular format, from which the movement to the endpoints is carried out. During the writing of the article, the largest passenger-intensive points were investigated in terms of the number of suburban transport flights and their administrative-territorial subordination to certain units was identified. In addition, areas with relatively low traffic of suburban trains and the causes of this socio-economic phenomenon are given. The problem of elongated routes serving sparsely populated areas, especially in the regions of southern Ukraine, has been identified. On the example of the longest suburban service, a human-geographical approach to reducing the number of stops has been proposed.

Optimization of Stop Plan for Skip-Stop Operation on Suburban Railway Line

A combination of express and local trains (E/L mode) is generally used to operate a suburban rail service, it can meet the rapid and direct service needs of long-distance travelers as well the needs of short-distance travelers. Generally, a stop plan is the core of the E/L mode. A stop plan optimization model in E/L mode, which aims to minimize the total passenger travel time and the number of operating trains during the peak period with the safe headway and departure frequency constraints, is proposed in this study. Meanwhile, an algorithm based on a genetic algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model. A case study of the Jiangjin Line, a suburban railway in Chongqing, China, is carried out. The results show the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed method. The calculation results also show that the total passenger travel time under E/L mode with the overtaking condition is significantly reduced compared with the all-stops (AS) mode and E/L mode without overtaking condition. The superiority of the E/L mode can be enhanced by reducing the dwell time at stations and adopting the overtaking condition.

An Accelerated-Time Simulation of Queues at Ticket Offices at Railway Stations

Although nowadays many railway tickets are bought online, still many are bought through rail appointed travel agents and ticket offices at stations. There are several works on microscopic and accelerated-time simulations, some of them related to the topic of this paper, treating passengers movements in railway stations (both of general purpose and also with a focus on specific topics like evacuation, stations design, ticketing, etc.). We focus on a very specific topic: modelling queuing at ticket offices at a main Spanish station where “AVE” (“High-Speed”), “Larga Distancia” (“Long-Distance”), “Media Distancia” (“Middle-Distance”), and “Cercanías” (“Suburban Services”) dedicated windows exist. The existence of “Last Minute” desks is also considered. The goal is to provide the user with a tool that allows to choose the best option for windows distribution along time, after different microscopic simulations based on given data and windows possible distribution are performed (as done in a previous work of one of the authors for airport terminals check-in counters). Special attention is paid to “Last Minute” windows and shared windows (for example simultaneously selling tickets for “Larga Distancia” and “Media Distancia”). Input is given by arrival curves or can be generated by the package. The output is the detailed situation of any window at any moment and the evolution of queues by train or window type. There are different further possible extensions of this work. The implementation has been developed in a computer algebra system in order to minimize the development time.

Assessment of the level of intra-industry competition in the regional suburban passenger transport market

The suburban passenger rail transport sector plays a significant role in the country’s economy, ensuring the freedom of movement of citizens, contributing to the increase of transport accessibility of certain areas and the functioning of advanced development zones. Improving suburban services in the largest agglomerations is identified as the most important task in the development Strategy of the “Russian Railways” holding for the period up to 2030. Increasing speeds on the main routes will attract significant passenger traffic and improve the economic and social condition of the regions. All these reasons, in addition to the significant sustainability challenges that this priority sector is currently facing in all aspects, justify the interest in research through strategic analysis based on the traditional Porter’s Five Force model. The application of this model will allow getting a general strategic vision that will provide a deeper knowledge of the object under study, which will serve as the basis for the subsequent development of a strategy for the development of suburban passenger transport by rail. The purpose of the paper is to assess the level of intra-industry competition in the regional market of suburban passenger transport in order to develop a strategy for the development of suburban passenger transport by rail.

Land Use Change, Spatial Interaction, and Sustainable Development in the Metropolitan Urban Areas, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Metropolitan Urban Mamminasata South Sulawesi, Indonesia as the object of study is explored in the core-peripheral spatial interaction towards the formation of suburban service centers. The problems raised in this study are (i) is there a relationship/correlation between spatial integration, spatial interaction, and urban agglomeration to the formation of urban activity systems and (ii) how the formation of urban activity systems works as a determinant of economic growth, land use change and environmental quality degradation towards sustainable development in the metropolitan city of Mamminasata. Comparative studies of suburban areas have been carried out over three time periods (2001, 2015 and 2019). Data elaboration on observations, surveys and documentation is done to describe urban dynamics in terms of economic, social and environmental aspects. Path analysis is used to address direct effects, indirect effects, differences, and dependencies between urban elements. The gravity model is used to analyze the spatial interactions of the core city with the periphery. The study results show that spatial integration, spatial interaction and urban agglomeration have a positive effect on the system of urban activity and economic growth in the outskirts of the Mamminasata Metropolitan area. The results of this study recommend policy makers and urban planners that land use change, spatial integration and urban spatial interactions on the spatial scale of metropolitan cities to require the implementation of sustainable development concepts oriented towards saving the environment, ensuring fairness in economic access and creating social cohesion, in line with meeting national Metropolitan city development targets by 2030.

A social justice narrative detailing university-community-government collaboration: improving health and human services delivery

ABSTRACT This narrative provides a description of the authors’ collaborative efforts, experiences, and reflections on the development and implementation of an initiative to assess the quality of service delivered to consumers at a suburban social services department located on Long Island, New York.

Развитие ускоренных пригородных пассажирских перевозок с применением инновационного подвижного состава «Ласточка»

В статье анализируется реализация национального проекта России «О скоростном и высокоскоростном движении» на Свердловской железной дороге. Рассматривается использование инновационного подвижного состава «Ласточка» в пригородных пассажирских перевозках.

Performance Analysis of Trans-Jakarta Bus Suburban Service Move-Across Greater Jakarta

Trans-Jakarta have developed their services scope as Suburban Service or Feeder move-across service that operate from greater Jakarta into Jakarta central vice versa. One of the route is Ciputat – Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (Tosari) and integrated with corridor 1 (one) and 8 (eight). This service is not travel on the exclusive lane or bus-way. Objective of Government Jakarta to provide this service is to decrease private car to enter the central of Jakarta. The objective of this study is to find the performance of the service. Survey have conducted static and dynamic on work day to get variable of travel time and delay, waiting time of passenger at the bus stop, headway and ridership of the bus. Service Standard Minimum of Trans-Jakarta have compared with the result of variable headway, travel speed, and waiting time at bus stop as concern of all the passengers. Analysis use correlation test method and linear regression model have done. The performance of Trans-Jakarta bus suburban service, based on travel speed indicator is fairly bad, only 8.1% of trip could comply with Minimum Service Standard. Bus performance based on the indicator of density in the bus is good, where all points are below the maximum limit i.e. 8 people/m2 at peak hour and 5 people/m2 at off-peak hour.

Suburban Infill to Redevelop Suburbia—Retrofitting Post-Suburban Business Locations in the Zürich Metropolitan Area as a Component of Growth Management

Regional growth management has become a significant component of sustainable urban land development in many European metropolitan areas. Particularly in rapidly growing metropolitan regions, increasing population and job numbers require strategic planning management, but there is little knowledge about which planning instruments influence or direct these processes most effectively. Based on an analysis of spatial development in the Zürich metropolitan region, particularly in suburban areas, over the past several decades, this article examines the opportunities for the infill, revitalization and retrofitting of suburban business locations as key elements of growth management. In doing so, this article focuses on one central question: To what extent does (cantonal) regional planning and its specific instruments (cantonal structure plan) influence and control the spatial development and urban design quality in the retrofitting of suburban locations? The Glattal region was chosen as a case study as it experienced a significant change in terms of its urban structure during the last 10–15 years. In this context, suburban service locations were examined and analysed in depth using two case studies. The Hochbord area in Dübendorf and the Glattpark area in Opfikon demonstrate the conversion of formerly mono-functional areas (Hochbord) to mixed-use neighbourhoods and the development of new mixed-use locations (Glattpark). The article demonstrates how the suburban office stock transformed to strategic spots for mixed-use in both locations and explores how the retrofitting process could be directed at the cantonal level. In this context, spatial planning instruments at the regional level, such as the cantonal structure plan, seem to play a significant role in the transformation of the urban periphery.

Model-based comparison of hybrid propulsion systems for railway diesel multiple units

ABSTRACTIn order to reduce operating costs, railway vehicle operators need to find technical solutions to improve the efficiency of railway diesel multiple units on non-electrified railway routes. This can be achieved by hybridization of diesel multiple unit propulsion systems with electrical energy storage systems to enable brake energy recuperation. After highlighting the state of the art of hybrid railway vehicles and electrical energy storage systems, a simulation model of a generic diesel multiple unit in a 3-car formation is developed and equipped with three types of hybrid power transmissions. Simulations on realistic service profiles with different driving strategies show the potential for fuel consumption reduction for the different transmission types. On a suburban service profile, a 3-car diesel multiple unit is able to achieve simulated fuel savings of up to 24.1% and up to 18.9% on a regional service profile.

Analysis of long-term climate change on per capita water demand in urban versus suburban areas in the Portland metropolitan area, USA

We investigated the impacts of long-term climate variability and change on per capita water demand in urban and suburban service areas that have different degrees of development density in the Portland metropolitan area, USA. Together with historical daily weather and water production data, socioeconomic data such as population and unemployment rate were used to estimate daily per capita water demand in the two service areas. The structural time series regression model results show that the sensitivity of per capita water demand to both weather and unemployment rate variables is higher in suburban areas than in urban areas. This is associated with relatively higher proportional demand by the residential sector in the suburban area. The estimated coefficients of the historical demand model were used to project the mid-21st century (2035–2064) per capita water demand under three climate change scenarios that represent high (HadGEM2-ES), medium (MIROC5), and low (GFDL) climate changes. Without climate adaptation, compared to the historical period between 1983 and 2012, per capita water demand is projected to increase by 10.6% in the 2035–2064 period under the HadGEM2-ES in suburban areas, while per capita demand is projected to increase by 4.8% under the same scenario in urban areas. Our findings have implications for future urban water resource management and land use planning in the context of climate variability and change. A tight integration between water resource management and urban planning is needed for preparing for climate adaptation in municipal water planning and management.

Abstract T P277: Time Out: Safe Patient Transition Pre-Hospital to Hospital

Background and Purpose: Historically, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Department (ED) nursing staff have had no standardized method of hand-off reporting, and documentation of the communication has been difficult to locate in the medical record. Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSC) are called to collaborate and communicate with all care delivery partners, including providers from transferring facilities. A standardized method of communication and documentation sets the stage for safe patient care transitions. Methods: Regional community discussion began in 2011. Proposals were made and no early adopters came forward. Internal discussion was readdressed. A team was assembled consisting of researchers and frontline staff from ED, EMS and the CSC. A hand-off communication tool was developed using Situation, Background, Assessment, and Treatments format. The tool includes stroke specific data points important to care and pilot data will be collected during fourth quarter of 2013. Metrics include compliance of tool use and an accurate medical history with home medications. Three EMS providers representing urban, suburban and rural services have been recruited. Each Paramedic-RN team involved in a hand-off will receive an electronic survey measuring engagement and satisfaction. Results: A standardized method for communicating important hand-off information was developed and will be demonstrated. Final analysis of the data at the end of the quarter will provide direction to further improve the tool with the goal of permanent implementation within the region. Ongoing data analysis will be communicated to all providers monthly via electronic communication. Sharing the story with the region on a regular basis presents a road-map for successful safe patient transitions. Conclusions: The development of consistent standardized hand-off communication between pre-hospital and hospital staff is essential to patient safety. Collaboration empowers best practice solutions. Accurate medical history assists in rapid emergent evaluation. Engaged pre-hospital and hospital personnel using standardized tools are likely to provide consistent safe patient transitions. Safe hand-off communication is paramount for all CSC partners.

Rapid Sequence Induction on trauma patients performed by a rural and suburban air ambulance service: a 16-month audit of practice

This poster describes the first 16 months experience of pre-hospital RSI in a rural and sub-urban helicopter-based doctor-paramedic service after the introduction of a standard operating procedure already proven in an urban trauma environment.

Austria's Koralm tunnel: one of the world's largest tunnel projects

AbstractThe Koralm railway line is currently one of the most prestigious construction projects of ÖBB‐Infrastruktur Bau AG. In 2018 the new 130 km long two‐track electrified route is supposed to raise the capacities and reduce travel times along this important northsouth railway axis. The 33 km long, ambitious Koralm tunnel forms the core piece of this line. Forcing the track development in Austria, ÖBB‐Infrastruktur Bau AG focuses on the development of the main connections to high performance routes such as the Koralm railway line, the four‐track development of the Danube line and of the Lower Inn Valley route. Furthermore, ÖBB invests in the modernisation of its largest stations, many suburban service projects, enhanced tunnel safety, noise protection measures as well as park & ride facilities and extensive reinvestments in the existing rail network.

Measurement of Strain Distribution around Weld Zone for Railway Carbody Structure Using High-Energy Synchrotron Radiation

The railway carbody structure for commuter and suburban train services in Japan is often made of austenitic stainless steel, which is used in the form of thin metal sheets manufactured by cold rolling. Spot welding and laser welding at lapped joints are used in the construction of such carbodies, but it is difficult to observe the strain distribution around these weld zones, which represent the critical area of the body structure’s strength. The objective of this study is to ascertain the strain distribution in the stainless steel around the weld zone of the carbody structure. To enable observation of this distribution, a strain scanning method using high-energy synchrotron radiation was applied to the strain measurement of austenitic stainless steel. The transmission method was applied in order to observe the internal weld zone. Using this method, we can measure the strain distribution from the surface to the inside of the weld zone. A lapped joint specimen, prepared by welding 2-mm-thick plates using the laser welding method, was used for measurement. Austenitic stainless steel generally poses problems in the measurement of strain due to its coarse grain and crystal texture. The gage volume in this measurement had a width of 3 mm and a height of 0.15 mm. The measurement provides the strain distribution of both residual strain and strain under loading, and the results obtained successfully show the distribution of strain in the weld zone. In addition, the differing tendency between the distribution of residual strain and that of strain under loading is clarified. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) value shows a difference between the tendency of the measured value of the weld zone and that of the base material.

Strain Measurement under Loading in Laser Weld on Austenitic Stainless Steel Using High-Energy Synchrotron Radiation

The railway carbody structure for commuter and suburban services in Japan is often made of austenitic stainless steel, which is used in the form of the thin metal sheets by cold rolling. It is difficult to observe the strain distribution around the weld zone, which is the critical area of the body structure strength. The objective of this study is to get the strain distribution in stainless steel around the weld zone. To observe the distribution, the strain scanning method by using high-energy synchrotron radiation was applied to the strain measurement of austenitic stainless steel. The transmission method was applied in order to observe internal weld zone. Using this method, we could measure the distribution from surface to inside of the weld zone. The specimen of lapped joint prepared by welding 2mm thick plates by laser weld method was used for measurement. This measurement provides the strain distribution of both residual strain and strain under loading. The result by this measurement shows strain distribution in the weld zone successfully. In addition, the different tendency between the distribution of residual strain and that of strain under loading made be clear. The full width of half maximums, FWHM, of measurement shows a difference between the tendency of measured value of weld zone and that of base material.

How “Deserving” Are the Most Vulnerable Homeless?

ABSTRACT These thoughts on poverty relate to the strengths and needs of shelter programs that lead people who are homeless to self-sufficiency. Demographic data from 4,000 homeless shelter guests over a 4-year period gave evidence that the shelter was an important part of a suburban social service delivery system. It met the short-term needs of many who were homeless. The irony is that the same program developed to help homeless individuals attain self-sufficiency appears to set up many of the most vulnerable to fail, specifically mothers and their children and those addicted to alcohol and drugs.