Jônatas Augusto Manzolli , Jiangbo Yu , Luis Miranda-Moreno
{"title":"Synthetic multi-criteria decision analysis (S-MCDA): A new framework for participatory transportation planning","authors":"Jônatas Augusto Manzolli , Jiangbo Yu , Luis Miranda-Moreno","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Participatory multi-criteria decision analysis plays a vital role in transportation planning by integrating diverse stakeholder views and balancing conflicting objectives. However, it faces high costs, time demands, and coordination difficulties. This paper introduces the Synthetic Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (S-MCDA) framework, which utilizes large language models to generate synthetic actors to support participatory decision-making in transportation planning. A literature review combining bibliometric and content analysis highlights current methods across logistics, road, rail, maritime, and transit sectors. Based on these findings, the S-MCDA framework addresses stakeholder complexity and streamlines tasks like structuring analyses, eliciting preferences, and evaluating results. While the framework has the potentially to significantly improve consistency and decision quality, it raises concerns regarding computation, ethics, and AI over-reliance. Thus, the paper offers best practices for managing data quality, reducing bias, ensuring human oversight, and promoting transparency. Future research should further explore the use of synthetic agents to support collaborative decision-making in complex transport systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101463"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143932230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An analysis of pedestrian crossings through deep learning models and crash data","authors":"Lorenzo Mussone , Omar el Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focusses on pedestrian crossing (crosswalk) analysis and classification in urban contexts. Deep learning models and graph theory tools serve as the foundation for the proposed approach. Deep learning models are used to identify and regress crosswalk images based on specific indices that assess pedestrian exposure to crash events, as well as raw crashes. The crosswalk images were captured using Google Earth’s capabilities and are from the entire set in Città Studi, Milan, Italy. Additionally, 5-year pedestrian crash data are evaluated and linked to crosswalks when applicable. Classification produces good results, with an accuracy of approximately 60–70%. Regression models work well with exposure indices but poorly with raw crashes. Correlations between exposure indices and crash data are negative and very low.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101449"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143903868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Simpson’s paradox: A collection of examples from road safety studies and emergency medicine","authors":"Rune Elvik","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Simpson’s paradox, first described in 1951, denotes a reversal of a difference or ratio when data for several groups are added up. This paper illustrates the paradox by means of examples taken from road safety studies and emergency medicine. These examples are only intended to show how the paradox can arise. It is not known how common the paradox is or how often it goes undetected. If undetected, it can lead to erroneous conclusions, for example that women have a higher accident rate than men, when in each group formed according to annual driving distance the opposite is the case. The reversal of the difference occurs because there is an interaction between gender, driving distance and accident rate. Women drive shorter than men, and shorter driving distances are associated with higher accident rates than longer driving distances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101471"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of integrated rail and bus transport network design: Equity and efficiency perspectives","authors":"Mudassar Shafiq , Marco Amorim , António Couto","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recognizing the vital role of public transport (PuT) in accessibility, inclusivity, and quality of life, its planning must balance efficiency with equitable service coverage. This study examines PuT network design, integrating rail and bus services while incorporating equity considerations for a more efficient and socially equitable system. Despite extensive research on PuT network design (PTND), balancing these objectives remains a key challenge in transit planning. This paper presents a methodological framework that integrates PTND with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to design and evaluate multiple PTND scenarios. These scenarios are assessed using equity-based perspectives: potential demand (PD), adjusted demand (AD), and transport needs (TN). The approach identifies efficient designs that maximize service coverage and social equity, addressing varying population demands and needs. The methodology is demonstrated through a case study in the metropolitan area of Porto (AMP), offering policymakers insights into PuT equity implications for the infrastructure planning and decision-making process. Two output-oriented DEA models were developed: one using service coverage adequacy (SCA) as output and another incorporating both SCA and the GINI coefficient (equity) to assess the impact of different equity perspectives on system efficiency. Results indicate that network designs based on AD performed better with higher efficiency scores than PD and TN, suggesting that AD better captures PuT demand needs and supports equitable service distribution. The findings emphasize the need to integrate population equity perspectives and multimodal transport to create more balanced and efficient PuT systems, ensuring fair access to mobility for diverse populations in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101450"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ye Hong , Yanan Xin , Simon Dirmeier , Fernando Perez-Cruz , Martin Raubal
{"title":"A causal intervention framework for synthesizing mobility data and evaluating predictive neural networks","authors":"Ye Hong , Yanan Xin , Simon Dirmeier , Fernando Perez-Cruz , Martin Raubal","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deep neural networks are increasingly utilized in mobility prediction tasks, yet their intricate internal workings pose challenges for interpretability, especially in comprehending how various aspects of mobility behavior affect predictions. This study introduces a causal intervention framework to assess the impact of mobility-related factors on neural networks designed for next location prediction — a task focusing on predicting the immediate next location of an individual. To achieve this, we employ individual mobility models to synthesize location visit sequences and control behavior dynamics by intervening in their data generation process. We evaluate the interventional location sequences using mobility metrics and input them into well-trained networks to analyze performance variations. The results demonstrate the effectiveness in producing location sequences with distinct mobility behaviors, thereby facilitating the simulation of diverse yet realistic spatial and temporal changes. These changes result in performance fluctuations in next location prediction networks, revealing impacts of critical mobility behavior factors, including sequential patterns in location transitions, proclivity for exploring new locations, and preferences in location choices at population and individual levels. The gained insights hold value for the real-world application of mobility prediction networks, and the framework is expected to promote the use of causal inference to enhance the interpretability and robustness of neural networks in mobility applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Márk Miskolczi, László Kökény, Melinda Jászberényi
{"title":"Rethinking the road ahead – generation Z’s perspectives on AI-based mobility services","authors":"Márk Miskolczi, László Kökény, Melinda Jászberényi","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Empirical studies project that autonomous vehicles (AVs) with SAE Levels 4/5 will become widely available for passenger transport by the early 2030s. However, consumer expectations and perceived risks related to this technology remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by exploring how Generation Z – arguably the most receptive segment to Industry 4.0 innovations – perceives highly automated vehicles. Focus group interviews (n<sub>discussions</sub> = 5, n<sub>subject</sub> = 25) were conducted and analysed following the three-stage Grounded Theory method developed by Corbin – Strauss (1990). The resulting conceptual model – <strong>TRACE</strong> (<em>Technology-related Repertoires of Attitudes, Control, and Engagement</em>) – identifies critical yet under-researched factors such as <em>alternative vehicle usage patterns, AI-scepticism, and shifting human–machine (AI) interdependence</em> that may significantly shape AV acceptance. This research offers a theoretical contribution to the field of human–technology interaction and practical insights for stakeholders aiming to accelerate the socially responsible diffusion of AVs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101475"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144134590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dillip Kumar Das , Boiki J Mokobori , Rakesh Gopinath
{"title":"Exploring balanced modal split for freight transportation system: A case of the central region of South Africa","authors":"Dillip Kumar Das , Boiki J Mokobori , Rakesh Gopinath","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring sustainability in transportation systems demands a harmonious distribution of freight. In the regional context of South Africa, road and rail transportation play pivotal roles, yet a significant imbalance exists, posing sustainability challenges. This study aims to identify key factors influencing freight transport, develop empirical cost models, and simulate scenarios to achieve equilibrium in regional freight distribution. Employing survey research, data was collected from freight companies and analysed using inferential statistics and empirical modelling. It employed a utility choice function model for simulating scenarios conducive to achieving a balanced freight transport system. Findings suggest that currently, compared to rail freight, road freight transport dominates, leading to an imbalanced system. Critical factors that influence include load cost, loading/offloading times, fuel expenses, and travel duration. However, sensitivity analyses revealed that targeted reductions in travel time, loading/offloading times, load cost, and fuel expenses could lead to a substantial shift towards rail transport, promoting a more balanced system. This study provides actionable insights for stakeholders. By addressing influential variables, such as load cost, loading/offloading times, fuel expenses, and travel duration, the freight industry can work towards equitable coexistence of road and rail transport. This study highlights the prevalence of road-based freight transport in the region and demonstrates the potential for equilibrium through interventions in key variables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101479"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of urban block shape on traffic and air quality: A SUMO-based comparative study of rectangular, radial, and triangular forms","authors":"Ismail Essamlali, Hasna Nhaila, Mohamed El Khaili","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101413","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban transportation emissions significantly contribute to air quality degradation in cities. Traffic patterns and air quality are known to be interconnected, highlighting the critical role of urban form in influencing both. This study employs Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO), a traffic simulation software to investigate how urban block form (rectangular, radial and triangular) affects traffic flow and potential air pollution. We analyze three cities (Barcelona, Paris and Curitiba) representing each block shape. The results indicate that rectangular block layouts, as exemplified by Barcelona, promote optimal traffic flow and potentially lower emissions. Conversely, triangular block configurations exhibit the least favorable performance. These findings emphasize the importance of urban form, particularly block shape, as a tool for managing traffic flow and potentially improving air quality in cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101413"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nora Studer , Dorothea Schaffner , Nicole Haiderer , Annalisa Stefanelli , Michael A.B. van Eggermond , Alexander Erath
{"title":"Pool more, drive less: An investigation of barriers and motivators of ridepooling in autonomous vehicles","authors":"Nora Studer , Dorothea Schaffner , Nicole Haiderer , Annalisa Stefanelli , Michael A.B. van Eggermond , Alexander Erath","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of on-demand ridepooling services provided by autonomous vehicles into transportation systems offers a solution to mobility challenges in the future. If such services effectively enable travellers to share a vehicle instead of driving alone, higher vehicle occupancy rates would lead to a more efficient use of existing road infrastructure. This in turn could help alleviate traffic congestion and its associated drawbacks. The acceptance of such autonomous ridepooling (aRP) services by prospective users is essential for their successful adoption. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to uncover the relevant factors that determine aRP acceptance and to better understand the drivers and barriers of aRP acceptance using a user-centered approach. Through 18 semi-structured in-depth interviews with a diverse range of participants, the study revealed the significance of performance expectations with regards to safety, comfort, flexibility, sustainability, and social aspects in shaping acceptance for aRP. Notably, ambivalent attitudes and controversial perceptions of these factors as well as differences between public transport and private car users underscore the importance of customer segmentation and tailored strategies for the design and promotion of aRP services. Findings emphasize the need for aRP services to prioritize user-centric approaches to enable the adoption and facilitate the integration of aRP as a more sustainable option into future transportation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101427"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francisca M. Padilla , Mario A. Trógolo , Cándida Castro
{"title":"Two drinks and drive: Assessing the average driver’s ability to self-restrain from alcohol and drug use while driving","authors":"Francisca M. Padilla , Mario A. Trógolo , Cándida Castro","doi":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trip.2025.101391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, participants answered 7<!--> <!-->questions about their ability to restrain from substance use while driving, as well as socio-demographic questions. A total of 360 non-offender drivers completed the questionnaires. Slightly more than half (51.8%) of the non-offender drivers admitted to driving after consuming 1<!--> <!-->or 2 beers or glasses of wine. Moreover, 15% of drivers also said they had taken other drugs, including cocaine, amphetamines or designer drugs (8%), and medications that cause drowsiness. Additionally, experienced drivers showed a higher tendency to not restrain from substance use while driving compared to novice drivers. An important link was found between reports of driving shortly after consuming more than 3 beers or glasses of wine and an AUDIT diagnosis of either moderate risk or alcohol use disorder. Moreover, significant relationships were found between reports of driving after consuming cannabis, hashish or marihuana and an AUDIT and DAST diagnosis in addition to an affirmative response to the question about driving after taking drugs or non-prescription medications. Furthermore, drivers who reported driving after consuming 1<!--> <!-->or 2<!--> <!-->beers or glasses of wine also reported a higher number of accidents with material damage. The number of fines was also higher for those who reported driving after consuming 5<!--> <!-->or more spirit drinks. Additionally, drivers who drink and drive also self-reported a higher rate of violations, aggressive violations, errors and lapses. Finally, unsafe behaviours, violations and errors were also associated with the use of a second substance, mainly cannabis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36621,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101391"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}