THE TRANSPORT PLANNER AND THE COMPUTER: GETTING TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT?

The paper will discuss how the advent of the relatively inexpensive desk top micro computer has resulted in a resurgence of interest in transport modelling but in a form dramatically different from the big modelling exercises of the 60's and early 70's. The types of models, project timescales and budgets and the role of the professional transport planner have all changed. Much of the work now being undertaken seems to be characterised by: very short timescales for model building and testing, minimal collection of new data, smaller professional teams, simpler models, - closer involvement of the transport simpler models, closer involvement of the transport computer. The paper will discuss these points drawing upon transport modelling exercises recently conducted by Steer, Davies & Gleave Ltd in India and Indonesia to illustrate the approaches which are now in use. The new situation makes it possible to enjoy some of the advantages of modelling which were not forthcoming with the complex and costly models of the previous two decades. Models can be made more responsive and designed to produce results which are fully comprehensible to decision makers. The results can be produced more quickly and the lost cost of processing positively invite experimentation, sensitivity testing etc. What, however, should the response of the professional transport planner be to these new demands and opportunities? The paper will draw upon current project work to define guidelines to assist transport planners to adapt to the new challenges. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860501124
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at Seminar N, Developing Countries, held at the PTRC Annual Summer Meeting, University of Sussex, England, 4-7 July, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  110 Strand
  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • DAVIES, T J
  • TWELFTREE, P
• Conference:
  • Planning & Transport Res & Comp, Sum Ann Mtg, Proc
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 31-45

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Costs; Digital computers; Guidelines; Income; Mathematical models; Modal split; Motor vehicles; Ownership; Planning; Regions; Simulation; Transportation; Transportation planning; Travel; Trip generation; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Micro
• Geographic Terms: India; Indonesia
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 8673: Digital computer; 663: Generated traffic; 256: Income; 8045: India; 8046: Indonesia; 698: Journey; 696: Journey purpose; 6473: Mathematical model; 9045: Micro; 675: Modal split; 143: Planning; 378: Region; 1155: Transport; 315: Vehicle ownership
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I71: Traffic Theory; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382847
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-112-4
• Report/Paper Numbers: Volume P240
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM