An iterative approach to an integrated land use and transportation planning tool for small urban areas

There has been increasing interests in developing land use models for small urban areas for various planning applications such as air quality conformity analysis. The output of a land use model can serve as a major input to a transportation model; conversely, transportation model output can provide a critical input to a land use model. The connection between the two models can be achieved by an accessibility measure. This paper presents an iterative approach to solving a regression-based land use model and a transportation model with combined trip distribution- assignment. A case study using data from a small urban area is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed modeling framework. Tests show that the procedures can converge, and the modeling framework can be a valuable tool for planners and decision-makers in evaluating land use policies and transportation investment strategies.

Contrasting Impacts of Three Types of ENSO Event on Boreal Autumn Rainfall over Southwest China

The autumn precipitation over southwest China is one of the main causes of meteorological disasters. Using observed monthly station rainfall data and HadISST and NCEP/NCAR analysis data, the impacts of three types of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the boreal autumn rainfall over southwest China were determined. Over southwest China, autumn rainfall constitutes > 20% of the total annual rainfall and a marked decline in autumn rainfall commenced around 1990. During La Niña events, there is surplus (deficit) over the middle (northwest and southeast) of southwest China. In cnetral Pacific (CP) El Niño events, the autumn rainfall anomaly shows a deficiency over China. The large-scale atmospheric circulation anomalies in the three ENSO categories also exhibit distinct characteristics. During CP El Niño autumns, the pressure anomaly over the North Pacific Ocean displays a “” structure, with a high-pressure anomaly over the Asian continent. An anomalous cyclone appears over the western North Pacific (WNP). In EP El Niño autumns, the pressure anomaly over the North Pacific Ocean has a “” structure, with a low-pressure anomaly over the Asian continent. An anomalous anticyclone appears over the WNP and the 500-hPa anomalies are opposite to those of CP El Niño events. During La Niña autumns, the characteristics of circulation present the opposite structure to those of CP El Niño events. This work is of certain significance for an in-depth understanding of the impacts of ENSO on the autumn precipitation over southwest China.

Urban Transport and Sustainable Transport Strategies： A Case Study of Karachi, Pakistan

The uncontrolled growth in urbanization and motorization generally contributes to an urban land use and transportation system that is socially, economically, and environmentally unsustainable. This paper uses Karachi as a case study, which is the largest urban and economic centre of Pakistan, passing through an uncontrolled phase of rapid urbanization and motorization. The paper first reviews research related to sustainable transportation systems to comprehend the concept of sustainable development and transportation. The paper then evaluates the existing transportation and infrastructure system, national transportation policies, and urban transportation projects to determine if the current paradigm is moving toward or away from sustainable transportation. Furthermore, the principles for sustainable urban transportation are developed to see what significance national transportation policies have given to urban transportation from a sustainable transportation point of view. Finally some strategies are suggested, adoption of which may lead to a sustainable urban development and transportation system in Karachi.