This paper proposes a new bus signal priority model which takes into account the delay caused by the existing queues at the intersection. In existing methods, a bus sometimes experiences delay even under the bus priority control because bus travel time between the upstream beacon and the downstream intersection is fixed. On the other hand, in our method, bus arrival time at the intersection is more precisely as well as dynamically estimated based on the upstream infrared beacon and traffic detector information. It is confirmed that the proposed method provides the better priority service than the conventional method. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   This article uses Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) data for analysing travel time variability and results of travel time variability analysis are utilised for identifying routes used by different drivers. Drivers departing from the same origin for same destination at same time can have significantly different travel times owing to routes taken as well as their personal characteristics such as aggressiveness and/or lane choice decisions. Two route identification models namely deterministic and stochastic route identification are proposed. It has been found that both these models can correctly identify the routes for more than 70% of the vehicles. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   Little is known on the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils during seismic loading conditions. In addition, it takes extremely long time to conduct laboratory tests on unsaturated soils, since the permeability of the ceramic disk that is employed for controlling pore water pressure is significantly low. In the present study, therefore, a porous membrane with high permeability was introduced to a pedestal of triaxial test apparatus, by which the testing time could be shortened successfully. The liquefaction properties of unsaturated Inagi sand were measured with this modified apparatus and were compared with those of saturated Inagi sand. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   There is often a conflict of interests when considering urban and regional development, one example being “development” versus “environmental protection.” The field of sociology focuses on social issues related to this conflict, and main research concerns usually focus on the ideas and strengths related to social issues and movements. However, there is little research regarding strategy. In this research, the strategies of social movement organizations in the public works field are discussed. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   Concrete plays an important role in the construction of the world's infrastructure. Perhaps because of this role, the concrete industry should also serve as a leader in adopting sustainable concepts. Sustainability will drive changes in the way the concrete industry operates, with a shift away from pure engineering to an integration of multiple sciences. Actors from these other fields can contribute the knowledge necessary to innovate practices in the concrete industry towards a more sustainable future, but the means by which their knowledge is integrated into the concrete construction process should be clearly understood to facilitate cooperation and collaboration. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   “Deployment of Sustainable ITS Project”, an academic-industrial alliance project of the ITS Center, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo has approached to improvement of realistic sensation on the Universal Driving Simulator. Some functions like a turntable mechanism and a brake system of actual vehicle were added before now.
   Moreover, four functions for upgrading realistic sensation were added to this simulator as follows: new visual system with the target projector to improving visibility, change of turning center with moving a cabin to improving driving feeling, improvement of sound system, and implementation of a car navigation system. In this paper, these are introduced. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   “Deployment of Sustainable ITS Project”, the academic-industrial alliance project of ITS Center, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo has approached to improvement of realistic sensation on the Universal Driving Simulator. This simulator has a 6-DOF motion platform with a turn table mechanism. This enabled reduction of a motion sickness, driving feeling like a vehicle and a simulated motion of a vehicle in turning. However, lack of lateral acceleration caused uncomfortable feeling about simulator driving.
   In this paper, effect of drivers’ evaluation based on largeness of yaw motion in vehicle turning is described. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   At the onset of the amber signal, a driver approaching a signalized intersection has to decide to either stop or to proceed to cross the stop line. A dilemma zone refers to a highly hazardous situation. To prevent drivers from being caught in the zone, Dilemma-Free Actuated Control has been introduced. This paper describes a study of the behavior of drivers in the zone using a driving simulator. Is is found that the driver’s decision in the zone is heavily influenced by the road-surface conditions and vehicle’s distance to the stop line. Results of this study also show that under the same road surface condition there is no clear difference in approaching speeds between stopped and passing vehicles. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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   For damage detection in composite laminates, the authors constructed a broadband ultrasonic propagation system combining an MFC actuator and an FBG sensor. Then this system was applied to a CFRP quasi-isotropic laminate. We obtained the frequency dispersion characteristic of propagation velocities by sending ultrasonic waves with different frequencies, and compared the results with theoretical dispersion curves. As a result, the modes of Lamb waves could be identified. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the dispersion characteristic was changed due to the thickness change in the laminate that included an artificial delamination. Hence this system proved to be able to obtain more effective information for damage detection. [This abstract is not included in the PDF]

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