Current Research Projects
Centre for Urban Freight Analysis
Principal Investigator: M. J. Roorda
The Centre for Urban Freight Analysis is a multi-purpose facility for the advancement of freight research. The Centre consists of the following new physical infrastructure:
- A dedicated space in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Centre & Testbed at the University of Toronto, featuring a new interactive video wall for the display of real-time truck location data
- A series of 30 “Base-stations” installed on traffic camera poles along freeway corridors throughout the Toronto Area. These units receive route tracking and engine information from 20,000+ trucks enrolled in the fleet management program of Turnpike Global Technologies, a project partner. This large number of base-stations will result in truck location data that is very close to “real-time”
- Electronic links to the ITS Centre & Testbed for the transmission and integration of real-time “public-sector” traffic flow information with real-time “private-sector” truck routing information.
The Centre performs the following functions:
1) Gathers and archives real-time truck location and engine data
2) Provides real-time GPS-based traffic information to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
3) Provides an interactive space for research
Developing Urban Goods Movement Data in the GTHA: Framework and Preliminary Implementation
Principal Investigator: M. J. Roorda
Co-investigator: Pavlos Kanaroglou (McMaster University)
The objective of this project is to address the need for coordinated Urban Goods Movement (UGM) data collection and data management that is suitable to support modelling, analysis and benchmarking with the ultimate purpose of informing UGM-related public policy and measuring UGM performance in the GTHA.
A comprehensive framework is being developed for ongoing UGM data assembly, consolidation, collection and management in the GTHA that meets the information needs for UGM planning and policy development. The framework will establish clear links between the data and the modelling, planning and policy development applications for the data. The framework will include a plan for consolidating data from existing data programs where possible, and an implementable plan for new data collection where necessary. The framework will identify an organizational structure for data consolidation, collection and management so that the value of all individual data investments (made by Metrolinx and other stakeholders) are maximized and synergies between data sources are exploited.
The organizational structure is being formed, data from existing UGM data programs is being consolidated / documented and a preliminary data collection effort will be implemented, consistent with the framework above. The result will be a tangible, coordinated and accessible information base for UGM planning and policy development in the GTHA, and a demonstrated program for ongoing extensions to the UGM information base.
Dynamic microsimulation modelling of urban commercial vehicle operations using GPS data.
Principal Investigator: M.J. Roorda
The purpose of this project is to use electronic on-board recorder data to develop a public sector decision-support tool that has the capability of predicting patterns of commercial vehicle tours, incorporating dynamics of business operations over time.
A new source of Global Positioning System (GPS) data from 30,000 trucks tracked by a partnering fleet management firm is being used to estimate dynamic integrated models of shipment frequency, stop dwell time, and tour formation. Novel techniques are being developed for processing GPS data for model estimation, modelling dynamic tour behaviour, and microsimulating truck operations using parallel computing. Decision-support software are being developed to assess parking policy, truck route restrictions and incentives for off-peak deliveries. Robust policy analysis, using inexpensive GPS data, has strong potential to reduce congestion and improve the competitiveness of Ontario’s urban economies.
Principal Investigator: M. J. Roorda
This research addresses the issue of GHG emissions and community exposure to air pollutants emitted by trucks. Air pollution is a major health (and health cost) issue for Ontarians, especially those living adjacent to congested areas in the City of Toronto and the surrounding Regions. The research builds an innovative integrated tool that models traffic at the individual vehicle level, estimates individual truck emissions, estimates dispersion of pollutants to neighbouring communities under different weather conditions, and estimates the exposed population at times of peak emissions.
Agent Based Microsimulation of Freight Transport and Firm Behaviour
Principal Investigator: M. J. Roorda
The objectives of this research are to (a) Develop the conceptual and computational architecture for an agent-based microsimulation framework for goods movement and firm behaviour, and (b) Formulate and estimate a set of behavioural models for goods movement and firm behaviour.
The modelling framework being developed in this research attempts to replicate the behaviour of individual firms and carriers in response to economic and technological trends, model the shipments of goods throughout the city and the movement of trucks on urban roads. With this information, it will be possible to test policy scenarios (such as road restrictions, zoning bylaws, or investment in new infrastructure), in a “virtual” setting. The tool will help various government agencies, when making policy decisions, to be more informed about the resulting impacts on traffic congestion, road safety, air quality, noise and the economic impacts on affected firms.