Transport and Land Use Interaction: A French Case of Suburban Development in the Lille Metropolitan Area (LMA)

AbstractTransit Oriented Development as sustainable mobility strategy is not part of French policy, in practice or in academic literature, even though a certain number of projects follow some of its principles. Reciprocally, from abroad, French experiences are not recognized as TOD, even when they could be. Scientific literature is needed in this direction. This is the focus of this paper.This paper identifies two realizations that can be qualified as TOD implementations according to criteria that we have defined previously in a Franco-German research program (Bahn.Ville). For each of these two cases, while their transport network is examined, we also study their insertion into the urban environment at a local level. The interaction between land use and transport system is the focal point of this study through a reading of planning documents, geospatial data specific processing and analysis, and on-site investigations. Parallel analysis is undertaken on the processes of realization. In both cases, we look into cooperation between public and private actors from multiple sectors and on different scales. Combining actual planning strategies, we examine policies of metropolitan level that support similar realizations in the future, not only in the field of transport, but also on housing and economic activities. Therefore, we present existing and future instruments for the implementation of TOD in the Lille Metropolitan Area. New planning tools, such as “DIVAT” and “Contrat d’axe”, are designed in the intent of defining intersectoral policies of transport and urbanism. These tools are currently being introduced and put into practice in Lille Metropolis

Using contact potential measurements to analyse future intercity links made possible by the Tours–Bordeaux High-Speed Rail line

New high-speed rail transport infrastructures produce profound time-space changes that make new activities possible. Our aim is to measure the impact of such changes on potential business or leisure travel between cities.We develop a contact potential indicator (Törnqvist, 1970) that measures the possibility of making a trip to a distant location within the desirable time-space prism. The indicator is developed in the context of the high-speed rail line between Tours and Bordeaux.The results demonstrate the possibility of contact from a series of key cities affected by new high-speed rail infrastructure, both before and after project completion. Our analysis shows that Bordeaux benefits greatly from the extension of the rail line: the preferred method of contact to Paris will switch to rail from the current air preference, and several cities that cannot be reached in the current pre-project conditions will become “contactable”. Other cities that benefit are Angoulême, Tours and Poitiers.Les nouvelles infrastructures de transport ferroviaire provoquent de profondes transformations de l’espace-temps qui rendent de nouvelles activités possibles. Notre but est de mesurer les impacts de telles transformations sur le potentiel de déplacement pour motif affaires ou tourisme entre villes.Nous développons l’indicateur du potentiel de contact (Törnqvist, 1970) qui mesure la possibilité d’effectuer un déplacement vers un lieu distant dans les contraintes du prisme d’espace-temps de la time geography. L’indicateur est mis en œuvre dans le contexte de l’ouverture de la ligne ferroviaire à grande vitesse entre Tours et Bordeaux.Les résultats démontrent la possibilité de contact entre un ensemble de villes clés affectées par la nouvelle infrastructure de transport rapide, avant et après son ouverture. Notre analyse montre que Bordeaux bénéficie grandement de l’extension de la ligne : le mode le plus favorable pour réaliser le potentiel de contact avec Paris bascule de l’aérien au ferroviaire, et plusieurs villes qui ne pouvaient pas être rejointes dans les conditions précédant la réalisation du projet ferroviaire, deviennent « contactables ». Les autres villes bénéficiaires sont Angoulême, Tours et Poitiers

Babesia sp. EU1 from Roe Deer and Transmission within Ixodes ricinus

We report in vitro culture of zoonotic Babesia sp. EU1 from blood samples of roe deer in France. This study provides evidence of transovarial and transstadial transmission of the parasite within Ixodes ricinus, which suggests that this tick could be a vector and reservoir of EU1

Babesiosis in Immunocompetent Patients, Europe

We report 2 cases of babesiosis in immunocompetent patients in France. A severe influenza-like disease developed in both patients 2 weeks after they had been bitten by ticks. Diagnosis was obtained from blood smears, and Babesia divergens was identified by PCR in 1 case. Babesiosis in Europe occurs in healthy patients, not only in splenectomized patients

Electroactive biofilms: new means for electrochemistry

This work demonstrates that electrochemical reactions can be catalysed by the natural biofilms that form on electrode surfaces dipping into drinking water or compost. In drinking water, oxygen reduction was monitored with stainless steel ultra-microelectrodes under constant potential electrolysis at )0.30 V/SCE for 13 days. 16 independent experiments were conducted in drinking water, either pure or with the addition of acetate or dextrose. In most cases, the current increased and reached 1.5–9.5 times the initial current. The current increase was attributed to biofilm forming on the electrode in a similar way to that has been observed in seawater. Epifluorescence microscopy showed that the bacteria size and the biofilm morphology depended on the nutrients added, but no quantitative correlation between biofilm morphology and current was established. In compost, the oxidation process was investigated using a titanium based electrode under constant polarisation in the range 0.10–0.70 V/SCE. It was demonstrated that the indigenous micro-organisms were responsible for the current increase observed after a few days, up to 60 mA m)2. Adding 10 mM acetate to the compost amplified the current density to 145 mA m)2 at 0.50 V/SCE. The study suggests that many natural environments, other than marine sediments, waste waters and seawaters that have been predominantly investigated until now, may be able to produce electrochemically active biofilm

Misunderstanding geographical distances: two errors and an issue in the interpretation of violations of triangle inequality

We investigate the meaning of the mathematical properties of distances in the fields of geography and economics. The key property of metrics for spatiality is triangle inequality (TI), which is closely related to the distance optimality. We identify three different situations where several authors identify violations of TI. We consider two of them to be errors of interpretation.The first error consists in considering sub-optimal measurements as distances. Yet distances are necessarily optimal if they obey TI.The second set of errors, which is the most widespread, entails a confusion between the Euclidean straight line and the shortest path. The errors lie in treating a detour as a violation of TI, whereas this situation simply corresponds to a non-Euclidean distance.The third problem concerns the additivity of distances. The commonplace situation in geographical space where a break is needed to provide the energy necessary to renew movement, is considered by some authors as another violation of TI. We argue that if these routes are optimal, TI should hold

Mobility Hubs, an Innovative Concept for Sustainable Urban Mobility?

International audiencehttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35664-3_14Mobility hubs bring together, connect and provide users with several modes of transport. Cities adopt them to help reach many objectives simultaneously, mainly the reduction of air pollution, congestion, and car ownership. Each mobility hub is unique, but many of them have similar characteristics that allow them to be classified. Various typologies exist. Although the mobility hub concept is flexible, the implementation of a mobility hub adapted to the needs and objectives can sometimes be complicated, as it requires many steps and may face difficulties at each step. Despite the simplicity of the mobility hub concept. They seem to be an interesting, complex, and challenging topic to investigate. As part of the Interreg Mobi-Mix project, we have taken a close look at mobility hubs. Based on bibliographic research and discussions with experts and cities, we established a state of the art that will help to better understand the concept. Without focusing on economic aspects, cities will benefit from different European experiences and a number of recommendations for a better implementation of mobility hubs

Visualising Transformations of Geographical Time–Space by Transport Systems. The Case of Germany, 1990–2020

International audienceDurch die Beschleunigung der Raumüberwindung auf konkreten Relationen können Transportsysteme die Erreichbarkeit von Orten und somit insgesamt das geografische Raum-Zeit-Gefüge verändern. Insbesondere im Falle hierarchischer und unstetiger Transportsysteme wie Hochgeschwindigkeitsbahnnetze sind Effekte auf das Raum-Zeit-Gefüge oftmals trennscharf und somit herausfordernd für deren Visualisierung. Die vorliegende Studie vergleicht verschiedene Methoden der Operationalisierung und Visualisierung von durch Veränderungen in der Infrastruktur oder im Betrieb von Transportsystemen ausgelösten Effekten auf das Raum-Zeit-Gefüge. Die Stärken und Schwächen der Methoden werden anhand des Beispiels der Entwicklung des deutschen Eisenbahnnetzwerks zwischen 1990 und 2020 untersucht und beleuchtet. Unter den Methoden sind bewährte Ansätze wie Isochronen, netzwerktheoretische Maße visualisierende Choroplethenkarten, Anamorphosen (Kartogramme), sowie weniger bekannte wie Federkarten (Spring Maps) oder Schrumpfkarten (Shrivelling Maps). Wir präsentieren relevante Eigenschaften für die Untersuchung der Lesbarkeit von Raum-Zeit-Karten. Die Ergebnisse vermitteln, dass konventionelle Methoden zwar leichter zu interpretieren sind, aber wichtige Eigenschaften nicht darstellen können. Seltener genutzte Methoden setzen die Eigenschaften in der Visualisierung besser um, sind allerdings schwieriger zu lesen.By accelerating the overcoming of space on certain relations, transport systems alter the accessibility of places and distort geographical time–space. Particularly in the case of discontinuous and tiered transport systems such as (high-speed) rail networks, effects on time–space can be highly selective and difficult to visualise. This paper compares different methods of operationalisation and visualisation of the effects of new transport systems (infrastructures and services) on time–space, and examines their strengths and weaknesses, using the example of the evolution of the German rail network between 1990 and 2020. The methods are well-known ones such as isochrones, choropleths using measures from network theory, anamorphosis (cartograms) and less-known ones as spring maps and the shrivelling model. For the examination of the readability of the methods, we present relevant properties for time–space maps. The results suggest that conventional methods are simpler to interpret, but fail to convey certain properties, while less frequently used methods may be better at incorporating the properties at the cost of being more difficult to read

Disposing of Daily Life Resources by Active Modes

International audiencehttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35664-3_13Today, many cities are promoting sustainable mobility. Their policies have already reduced the car’s place, developed pedestrian and bicycle facilities, or renewed public transport. This raises the question of the effects of these policies on the conditions of access to everyday resources. Are the facilities for sustainable mobility configured in such a way as to enable the population’s needs to be met? Globally or selectively? Do active modes (walking and cycling) offer a credible alternative to the car in order to effectively provide the resources necessary for daily life throughout the urban agglomeration? To answer these questions, this chapter presents a geographical analysis approach based on the concept of spatial ergonomics. The application to 12 test areas, using a geographic information system, has revealed cleavage situations within the Eurométropole de Strasbourg, to study finely differentiated situations and to put them in perspective with socio-demographic profiles to analyze socio-spatial disparities. The various levels of information shed light on leeway available to inhabitants, wherever they are located, to change their mode of travel. The method makes it possible to produce territorial diagnoses and to help local authorities to promote effective sustainable development policies