Congestion prediction on motorways:a comparative analysis

The paper reports on the evaluation of the performance of various short-term congestion prediction methods, i.e. multi-linear regression, time series analysis, multi-layer perceptrons, radial basis function networks, self-organising systems, and fuzzy logic. Data were gathered through dual induction loops on a A10 motorway section in the Netherlands during a fourweek period. The data consist of 1 minute aggregated time bins of volume, occupancy, speed, and both a reliability and a congestion indicator. The method's results are similar, except for multi-linear regression. Self-organising systems were omitted due to huge error production

Design and evaluation of a new generation fuel efficiency support tool

An effective way to reduce fuel consumption in the short run is to induce a change in driver behaviour. In this project, a new-generation fuel-efficiency support tool has been designed. The support tool includes a normative model that formulates optimal driver behavior minimising fuel consumption. If actual behaviour deviates from this optimal behaviour, the support tool presents advice to the driver on how to change driver behaviour. Evaluation of the new support tool by means of a driving simulator experiment revealed that drivers were able to reduce fuel consumption by 16% compared with ‘normal driving’ and by 7% compared with driving fuel-efficiently without support. Within the urban environment, reductions of up to 23% were found. In addition the new support tool was evaluated with regard to secondary effects

Mechanophysiological study on the lateral line of the ruff

This thesis describes the results of a study on the lateral line of the ruff. The lateral line organ is an organ, found in aquatic amphibians and fishes, used to detect water motions. The elementary detection units are neurornasts: groups of hair cells (depending on the species and the location of the neuromast from about ten to about ten thousand) and supporting cells, covered by a translucent structure, the so-called cupula. The mechanotransduction - the conversion of a mechanical signal into an electrical one - takes place in the hair cells. Tilting of the "hairs" (cilia), caused by cupular motion, results in a change of the spike rate in the afferent nerve fibre, which has a synapse at the basal end of the hair cell. The cupula couples the surrounding fluid to the hair bundles. (zie Summary