El espesor del camino, visto a través de dos proyectos de transporte en Argelia

Lane and pathway thickness: definition essay based on two case studies of Algerian transport projects. Planning and transport engineering have for a long time considered pathways and lanes as continuous lines connecting a point A to a point B. In terms of transport, those points are considered as places located in the space-time, while the link between them is considered as a "no-place" that should be reduced in terms of travel time or distance.This transport and mobility representation does not take into consideration the reality of pathways' territorial thickness. The latter relates on the first hand to the multiplicity of activities, temporalities and representations that are overlaid on each other like a palimpsest. On the other hand, thinking in terms of lines is quite reductive. It denies the fact that a line has a thickness that includes a part of the crossed territory on both sides of the line itself. This paper will contribute first to define the territorial thickness of pathways or lanes. It will distinguish between vertical and horizontal thickness. Then, the text will explore methods to identify and characterize it. Finally, through two case studies in Algeria, we will show how transport planning at local as well as regional scales denies this thickness and disturbs lanes and pathways systems.

An exploration of moving walkways as a transport system in urban centers

Farzaneh Bahrami, Michel Bierlaire, André Ourednik, Riccardo Scarinci

Moving walkways (MW) have been imagined as a possible means of transport since the late 19th century, and this system has fascinated urban planners and engineers ever since. Contrary to what has been imagined, moving walkways are only used in transportation hub corridors, and not as a main transport mode in city centers. Today however, MWs are receiving increasing attention as a possible solution to congestion and pollution, as well as a catalyst for soft mobility. This paper explores the role of moving walkways as a transport system. We review historical MWs, current installations and future possibilities, using different perspectives, from geography to urban planning to transport engineering. We discuss the way in which MWs influence how people inhabit the urban space, and we review this system in the context of history of urban planning. Then, we describe a technological development called accelerating moving walkways (AMW), i.e. MWs able to reach a higher speed than traditional ones. We develop an optimization framework to design a network of AMWs, and we apply it to a real case study. The results of the network design are a reference useful to discuss the feasibility of the system starting from an engineering perspective. We conclude that the use of MWs can facilitate the flexibility and spontaneity typical of pedestrian movements, and this system could be integrated in the mix of urban transport modes in city centers.

2016

An exploration of moving walkways as a transport system in urban centers

Farzaneh Bahrami, Michel Bierlaire, André Ourednik, Riccardo Scarinci

Moving walkways (MW) have been imagined as a possible means of transport since the late 19th century, and this system has fascinated urban planners and engineers ever since. Contrary to what has been imagined, moving walkways are only used in transportation hub corridors, and not as a main transport mode in city centers. Today however, MWs are receiving increasing attention as a possible solution to congestion and pollution, as well as a catalyst for soft mobility. This paper explores the role of moving walkways as a transport system, and it presents an optimized design of a network of MWs in a city center. We review historical MWs, current installations and future possibilities, using different perspectives, from geography to urban planning to transport engineering. We discuss the way in which MWs influence how people inhabit the urban space, and we review this system in the context of history of urban planning. Then, we describe a technological development called accelerating moving walkways (AMW), i.e. MWs able to reach a higher speed than traditional ones. We develop an optimization framework to design a network of AMWs, and we apply it to a real case study. The results of the network design are a reference useful to discuss the feasibility of the system starting from an engineering perspective. We conclude that the use of MWs can facilitate the flexibility and spontaneity typical of pedestrian movements, and this system could be integrated in the mix of urban transport modes in city centers.

Editorial Board Ejtir2017

How to cope with the planning process of public transport in Latin American cities?

Regina Witter

Planning and designing an efficient public transport system represents an important but difficult challenge for public authorities. Frequently, the lack of coordination between different public and private stakeholders involved affect serious obstacles. Considering related problems experienced in the city Santiago de Chile, this paper suggests a comprehensive planning approach that integrates diverging interests, such as engineering and social sciences. Accepting the important role of existing planning tools (Origin-Destination surveys leading to mathematical models, purely qualitative studies), further additional methods are taken into consideration, i.e. specific motility surveys and detailed GIS-based observations. The overall goal consists in the development of a comprehensive mobility information system that integrates the various methods and tools and forms a central platform for planners and decision makers in the transport and urban development field. Besides, this exercise offers an adequate opportunity to reflect about the advantages of new technology use, facilitating the process of information collection and analysis. The paper consists of four parts. After an introduction into the topic, the dilemma and tensions between existing methodological streams are sketched, ande their various strengths and limitations are emphasized. Then possible solutions are developed, such as the further development of existing methods, the integration of new ones, as well as the combination of all tools in the context of an integrated mobility information platform exposing adequate indicators. Finally, the paper concludes, exposing the strengths and drawbacks of the proposals.

2010