Calibration methodology for microscopic traffic simulation models of land ports of entry along the US-Mexico border

Non-commercial Land Ports of Entry(LPOEs)are unique transportation facilities controlling the ingress and egress of passenger vehicles from Mexico to the United States and vice versa.The calibration of microscopic traffic simulation models of non-commercial LPOEs requires a deep understanding of operational processes and driving behavior at these facilities.This paper provides a methodology to guide modelers in calibrating microscopic traffic simulation models of non-commercial LPOEs.The methodology establishes a common framework for modeling operational processes and traffic operations.Moreover,the methodology includes the value of four state variables that characterizes operations of passenger vehicles at non-commercial LPOEs.These variables are speed,acceleration,deceleration,and headway.The authors evaluated this methodology using the Otay Mesa non-commercial LPOE as a case study.Results showed that this methodology could be potentially used to model non-commercial LPOEs along the US-Mexico border and other border regions worldwide.

BORDER PORT MANZHOULI:URBAN FUNCTION AND SPACE DEVELOPMENT

Manzhouli is the largest land port city on the Sino-Russia border,transit cargo through the land port amount -ed to 5.95million tons,transit tour ists were 304500in 2000.It stands at the joint place of China,Mongolia an d Russi-a,faces to Siberia area of Russia,re ceives direct support from the North east China and Bohai Sea Rim Area,and possess-es priorities in geographical location,land port infrastructure,wate r resources,coal resources,touris t resources and great potentiality in economic coop eration with Russia.The future urban function is a key port on the First Eurasia Continen-tal Bridge.Manzhouli Port will keep its first place between China and Russia land transport,and it is forecasted that the transit amount through Manzhouli Port will go up to 10million tons in 2005and 20million tons in 2010.It will be construct-ed to be a trade center of the peripheral area extending to Russia and Mongolia,a key export-oriented processing industri-al zone supported by industries such as export processing industries,export agriculture,trade services,t echnology trad-ing and the other service industries.It keeps being a well-known touring city for trade,shopping,sightseeing,vocation,local food,recreation and cultural events.To build Manzhouli Export Pr ocessing Industry Zone will improve city econom-ic structure,and the main sectors are organic food processing,livestock products processing,garment and f urniture indus-try.Moreover,Manzhouli Export Pro cessing Industry Zone will eventually be upgraded to be a border free trad e zone.The city functional transition will inevitably affect urban spatial restructure and its expansion.The city space transforma-tion will develop as such:one develo pment axis of No.301highway paralle ling with Bin -Zhou(Harbin -Manzhouli)rail-way which cuts through central part o f Manzhouli City,and links Zhalainuoer District with central city;thre e urban units including central city,Zhalainuoer District and Manzhouli Interchange Trade Zone;cohesion with Aoerjin a nd Cuogang pastures;regional dual-nuclei str ucture of Hailaer City and Manhzouli City;and the Manzhouli-Zabaykalsk Free Trade Zone.