Safety Forecasting and Early Warning of Highly Aggregated Tourist Crowds in China

[[abstract]]With tourism development in China, the influx of tourists in popular tourist attractions has become more frequent. However, space cannot accommodate such a large influx of tourists. Through empirical testing, this research identified 23 variables that influence the safety of tourists in crowded spaces. We divided 23 variables into three factors: pressure factors, state factors, and crowd management actions. Based on the data collected, this study proposes a system model that includes a feedback mechanism to evaluate the safety of highly aggregated tourist crowds (HATCs) and identify moments requiring security warnings. System simulation results showed that the safety level of HATCs presented a complex process of change in different situations. Thus, management can take corrective actions. We tested this model by simulating different crowding conditions and assessing the safety level of tourists. Different warning plans were proposed based on the simulated security level.[[notice]]補正完

Tourists perceived crowding and destination attractiveness: the moderating effects of perceived risk and experience quality

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Training of Crisis Mappers and Map Production from Multi-sensor Data: Vernazza Case Study (Cinque Terre National Park, Italy)

This aim of paper is to presents the development of a multidisciplinary project carried out by the cooperation between Politecnico di Torino and ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). The goal of the project was the training in geospatial data acquiring and processing for students attending Architecture and Engineering Courses, in order to start up a team of "volunteer mappers". Indeed, the project is aimed to document the environmental and built heritage subject to disaster; the purpose is to improve the capabilities of the actors involved in the activities connected in geospatial data collection, integration and sharing. The proposed area for testing the training activities is the Cinque Terre National Park, registered in the World Heritage List since 1997. The area was affected by flood on the 25th of October 2011. According to other international experiences, the group is expected to be active after emergencies in order to upgrade maps, using data acquired by typical geomatic methods and techniques such as terrestrial and aerial Lidar, close-range and aerial photogrammetry, topographic and GNSS instruments etc.; or by non conventional systems and instruments such us UAV, mobile mapping etc. The ultimate goal is to implement a WebGIS platform to share all the data collected with local authorities and the Civil Protectio

Crowdsensing-driven route optimisation algorithms for smart urban mobility

Urban rörlighet anses ofta vara en av de främsta möjliggörarna för en hållbar statsutveckling. Idag skulle det dock kräva ett betydande skifte mot renare och effektivare stadstransporter vilket skulle stödja ökad social och ekonomisk koncentration av resurser i städerna. En viktig prioritet för städer runt om i världen är att stödja medborgarnas rörlighet inom stadsmiljöer medan samtidigt minska trafikstockningar, olyckor och föroreningar. Att utveckla en effektivare och grönare (eller med ett ord; smartare) stadsrörlighet är en av de svåraste problemen att bemöta för stora metropoler. I denna avhandling närmar vi oss problemet från det snabba utvecklingsperspektivet av ITlandskapet i städer vilket möjliggör byggandet av rörlighetslösningar utan stora stora investeringar eller sofistikerad sensortenkik. I synnerhet föreslår vi utnyttjandet av den mobila rörlighetsavkännings, eng. Mobile Crowdsensing (MCS), paradigmen i vilken befolkningen exploaterar sin mobilkommunikation och/eller mobilasensorer med syftet att frivilligt samla, distribuera, lokalt processera och analysera geospecifik information. Rörlighetavkänningssdata (t.ex. händelser, trafikintensitet, buller och luftföroreningar etc.) inhämtad från frivilliga i befolkningen kan ge värdefull information om aktuella rörelsesförhållanden i stad vilka, med adekvata databehandlingsalgoriter, kan användas för att planera människors rörelseflöden inom stadsmiljön. Såtillvida kombineras i denna avhandling två mycket lovande smarta rörlighetsmöjliggörare, eng. Smart Mobility Enablers, nämligen MCS och rese/ruttplanering. Vi kan därmed till viss utsträckning sammanföra forskningsutmaningar från dessa två delar. Vi väljer att separera våra forskningsmål i två delar, dvs forskningssteg: (1) arkitektoniska utmaningar vid design av MCS-system och (2) algoritmiska utmaningar för tillämpningar av MCS-driven ruttplanering. Vi ämnar att visa en logisk forskningsprogression över tiden, med avstamp i mänskligt dirigerade rörelseavkänningssystem som MCS och ett avslut i automatiserade ruttoptimeringsalgoritmer skräddarsydda för specifika MCS-applikationer. Även om vi förlitar oss på heuristiska lösningar och algoritmer för NP-svåra ruttproblem förlitar vi oss på äkta applikationer med syftet att visa på fördelarna med algoritm- och infrastrukturförslagen.La movilidad urbana es considerada una de las principales desencadenantes de un desarrollo urbano sostenible. Sin embargo, hoy en día se requiere una transición hacia un transporte urbano más limpio y más eficiente que soporte una concentración de recursos sociales y económicos cada vez mayor en las ciudades. Una de las principales prioridades para las ciudades de todo el mundo es facilitar la movilidad de los ciudadanos dentro de los entornos urbanos, al mismo tiempo que se reduce la congestión, los accidentes y la contaminación. Sin embargo, desarrollar una movilidad urbana más eficiente y más verde (o en una palabra, más inteligente) es uno de los temas más difíciles de afrontar para las grandes áreas metropolitanas. En esta tesis, abordamos este problema desde la perspectiva de un panorama TIC en rápida evolución que nos permite construir movilidad sin la necesidad de grandes inversiones ni sofisticadas tecnologías de sensores. En particular, proponemos aprovechar el paradigma Mobile Crowdsensing (MCS) en el que los ciudadanos utilizan sus teléfonos móviles y dispositivos, para nosotros recopilar, procesar y analizar localmente información georreferenciada, distribuida voluntariamente. Los datos de movilidad recopilados de ciudadanos que voluntariamente quieren compartirlos (por ejemplo, eventos, intensidad del tráfico, ruido y contaminación del aire, etc.) pueden proporcionar información valiosa sobre las condiciones de movilidad actuales en la ciudad, que con el algoritmo de procesamiento de datos adecuado, pueden utilizarse para enrutar y gestionar el flujo de gente en entornos urbanos. Por lo tanto, en esta tesis combinamos dos prometedoras fuentes de movilidad inteligente: MCS y la planificación de viajes/rutas, uniendo en cierta medida los distintos desafíos de investigación. Hemos dividido nuestros objetivos de investigación en dos etapas: (1) Desafíos arquitectónicos en el diseño de sistemas MCS y (2) Desafíos algorítmicos en la planificación de rutas aprovechando la información del MCS. Nuestro objetivo es demostrar una progresión lógica de la investigación a lo largo del tiempo, comenzando desde los fundamentos de los sistemas de detección centrados en personas, como el MCS, hasta los algoritmos de optimización de rutas diseñados específicamente para la aplicación de estos. Si bien nos centramos en algoritmos y heurísticas para resolver problemas de enrutamiento de clase NP-hard, utilizamos ejemplos de aplicaciones en el mundo real para mostrar las ventajas de los algoritmos e infraestructuras propuestas

Investigating the Management of Visitor Experiences in Recreational Boating

Recreational boating is a popular activity on public waterways. Boaters enjoy a multitude of natural lakes and rivers, but these waterways are a limited natural resource. In some cases, crowding caused by high rates of boating participation has strained the capacity of this natural resource base, generating conflict between participants and environmental impacts. Therefore, waterway managers may develop regulations for the number or types of boats allowed at one time. This is often referred to as visitor capacity. With many waterways in the U.S. located in protected areas (PAs), their management are guided by legal regulations or statutory frameworks such as the Wilderness Act (1964) and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968). Therefore, waterway managers need to develop and implement comprehensive visitor use strategies that cover various visitor types and address a wide range of possible impacts on resources and visitor experiences. In defining the quality of boating experiences, consideration is given to the safety and enjoyment of boaters. To better understand acceptable boating conditions, waterway managers need to investigate 1) the maximum amounts and types of boating use that an area can accommodate while achieving and maintaining the desired conditions and experiences (i.e., boating thresholds), and 2) how boaters respond to various weather and climatic conditions. This dissertation represents a substantial contribution to the outdoor recreation field because past studies about the on-site experiences of recreational boaters in public waterways are often dated or underexplored. Specifically, the influence of weather on recreation-particularly water-based recreation-is often assumed rather than demonstrated. Boaters are often exposed to the elements of weather with minimal protection, therefore it is important to understand how weather influences boating use levels. Additionally, weather and climate research has mainly focused on tourism while paying little attention to recreation. With regards to boating thresholds, they are in some cases from sources that may be out of date, with some being more than 20 years old. These thresholds are still being used by agencies to manage boating. Also, by simulating current and projected recreational boat use levels, waterways managers may begin to better understand boaters’ patterns of use and how they intersect with empirically-based thresholds for boating. In the dissertation two distinct sites (i.e., reservoirs from a hydro-power project, and a wild and scenic river system) were selected. A quantitative approach was applied in this study. Surveys, field cameras and Global Positioning System devices were used to collect data. The study findings update and provide context-specific standards for boating density based on boaters’ perceptions. Additionally, the findings can help waterway agencies better manage short-term boater demand because of changes in weather, and adapt to long-term climate changes in visitor use patterns. The findings may also help managing agencies identify areas that experiential capacities are being exceeded, and the points in time when these violations take place. Therefore, these findings may inform the development of visitor use management plans

Assessing the social impacts of extreme weather events using social media

The frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as flooding, hurricanes/storms and heatwaves are increasing as a result of climate change. There is a need for information to better understand when, where and how these events are impacting people. However, there are currently limited sources of impact information beyond traditional meteorological observations. Social sensing, which is the use of unsolicited social media data to better understand real world events, is one method that may provide such information. Social sensing has successfully been used to detect earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, heatwaves and other weather hazards. Here social sensing methods are adapted to explore potential for collecting impact information for meteorologists and decision makers concerned with extreme weather events. After a review of the literature, three experimental studies are presented. Social sensing is shown to be effective for detection of impacts of named storms in the UK and Ireland. Topics of discussion and sentiment are explored in the period before, during and after a storm event. Social sensing is also shown able to detect high-impact rainfall events worldwide, validating results against a manually curated database. Additional events which were not known to this database were found by social sensing. Finally, social sensing was applied to heatwaves in three European cities. Building on previous work on heatwaves in the UK, USA and Australia, the methods were extended to include impact phrases alongside hazard-related phrases, in three different languages (English, Dutch and Greek). Overall, social sensing is found to be a good source of impact information for organisations that need to better understand the impacts of extreme weather. The research described in this project has been commercialised for operational use by meteorological agencies in the UK, including the Met Office, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Designing and Operating Safe and Secure Transit Systems: Assessing Current Practices in the United States and Abroad, MTI Report 04-05

Public transit systems around the world have for decades served as a principal venue for terrorist acts. Today, transit security is widely viewed as an important public policy issue and is a high priority at most large transit systems and at smaller systems operating in large metropolitan areas. Research on transit security in the United States has mushroomed since 9/11; this study is part of that new wave of research. This study contributes to our understanding of transit security by (1) reviewing and synthesizing nearly all previously published research on transit terrorism; (2) conducting detailed case studies of transit systems in London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.; (3) interviewing federal officials here in the United States responsible for overseeing transit security and transit industry representatives both here and abroad to learn about efforts to coordinate and finance transit security planning; and (4) surveying 113 of the largest transit operators in the United States. Our major findings include: (1) the threat of transit terrorism is probably not universal—most major attacks in the developed world have been on the largest systems in the largest cities; (2) this asymmetry of risk does not square with fiscal politics that seek to spread security funding among many jurisdictions; (3) transit managers are struggling to balance the costs and (uncertain) benefits of increased security against the costs and (certain) benefits of attracting passengers; (4) coordination and cooperation between security and transit agencies is improving, but far from complete; (5) enlisting passengers in surveillance has benefits, but fearful passengers may stop using public transit; (6) the role of crime prevention through environmental design in security planning is waxing; and (7) given the uncertain effectiveness of antitransit terrorism efforts, the most tangible benefits of increased attention to and spending on transit security may be a reduction in transit-related person and property crimes