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Financial constraints and lack of availability of traffic-related information significantly hinder the development of driving cycles in developing countries. This paper proposes an economical, practical, accurate methodology for the development of driving cycles, including the development of a driving cycle for Colombo, Sri Lanka. The proposed methodology captures regional traffic and road conditions and selects a model that represents the collected data sample with minimum available traffic-related information. Existing methods were modified for route selection by dividing routes into links using nodes or physical junctions to minimize the number of trips required for data collection. Speed-time data for respective links were used to reconstruct speed-time profiles of identified origin-destination pairs. The on-board method was used for data collection, and the Markov chain theory was used to develop a transition probability matrix of state changes. An additional matrix was introduced to the existing method to improve model representativeness to the collected data sample. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications capability can continuously update its knowledge on traffic conditions using its own experience and anonymously obtained travel experience data from other such equipped vehicles without any central coordination. In such a V2V communications-based advanced traveler information system (ATIS), the dynamics of traffic flow and intervehicle communication lead to the time-dependent vehicle knowledge on the traffic network conditions. In this context, this study proposes a graph-based multilayer network framework to model the V2V-based ATIS as a complex system which is composed of three coupled network layers: a physical traffic flow network, and virtual intervehicle communication and information flow networks. To determine the occurrence of V2V communication, the intervehicle communication layer is first constructed using the time-dependent locations of vehicles in the traffic flow layer and intervehicle communication-related constraints. Then an information flow network is constructed based on events in the traffic and intervehicle communication networks. The graph structure of this information flow network enables the efficient tracking of the time-dependent vehicle knowledge of the traffic network conditions using a simple graph-based reverse search algorithm and the storage of the information flow network as a single graph database. Further, the proposed framework provides a retrospective modeling capability to articulate explicitly how information flow evolves and propagates. These capabilities are critical to develop strategies for the rapid flow of useful information and traffic routing to enhance network performance. It also serves as a basic building block for the design of V2V-based route guidance strategies to manage traffic conditions in congested networks. Synthetic experiments are used to compare the graph-based approach to a simulation-based approach, and illustrate both memory usage and computational time efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term traffic flow forecasting is a critical function in advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) and advanced traveler information systems (ATIS). Accurate forecasting results are useful to indicate future traffic conditions and assist traffic managers in seeking solutions to congestion problems on urban freeways and surface streets. There is new research interest in short-term traffic flow forecasting due to recent developments in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies. Previous research involves technologies in multiple areas, and a significant number of forecasting methods exist in the literature. However, most studies used univariate forecasting methods, and they have limited forecasting abilities when part of the data is missing or erroneous. While the historical average (HA) method is often applied to deal with this issue, the forecasting accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This article makes use of the spatial relationship of traffic flow at nearby locations and builds up two multivariate forecasting approaches: the vector autoregression (VAR) and the general regression neural network (GRNN) based forecasting models. Traffic data collected from U.S. Highway 290 in Houston, TX, were used to test the model performance. Comparison of performances of the three models (HA, VAR, and GRNN) in different missing ratios and forecasting time intervals indicates that the accuracy of the VAR model is more sensitive to the missing ratio, while on average the GRNN model gives more robust and accurate forecasting with missing data, particularly when the missing data ratio is high. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Travel information continues to receive significant attention in the field of travel behaviour research, as it is expected to help reduce congestion by directing the network state from a user equilibrium towards a more efficient system optimum. This literature review contributes to the existing literature in at least two ways. First, it considers both the individual perspective and the network perspective when assessing the potential effects of travel information, in contrast to earlier studies. Secondly, it highlights the role of bounded rationality as well as that of non-selfish behaviour in route choice and in response to information, complementing earlier reviews that mostly focused on bounded rationality only. It is concluded that information strategies should be tailor-made to an individual's level of rationality as well as level of selfishness in order to approach system-optimal conditions on the network level. Moreover, initial ideas and future research directions are provided for assessing the potential of travel information in order to improve network efficiency of existing road networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses the contrast between the information transportation companies provide to travellers and that of their brand messaging. Companies’ brand messaging often portrays the service they provide as pleasant, stress free and perfect. Customers and users of the service, on the other hand, often describe their experience of the service as a negative one. This article suggests that the brand value would be greater if transportation companies paid more attention to the users’ experience when designing their information systems, particularly in worst case scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to develop a conceptual model demonstrating the antecedents and outcomes of consumers’ online tourism information confusion. Design/methodology/approach – A deductive approach was utilized to propose eight variables as antecedents of online confusion and five confusion reduction strategies as outcomes of consumers’ online tourism confusion. The underlying mechanisms in which these variables might lead to consumers’ online tourism information confusion are elaborated using elaboration likelihood model (ELM) (Petty and Cacioppo, 1986) as the major theoretical underpinning. Findings – The model indicates that consumers could experience overload, similarity and ambiguity confusion when the information acquired is too much, too similar and/or too vague. In addition, as suggested by the ELM (Petty and Cacioppo, 1986), online users who are low in learning orientation, price consciousness, cognition need and Internet experience and high in ambiguity tolerance are more likely to experience confusion because of their lower motivation/ability to process external stimuli. Research limitations/implications – One limitation of this study is the lack of empirical test of the proposed model. Another limitation is that only five individual characteristics that might make online consumers prone to confusion were included. Other variables related to individual differences that could influence confusion should be explored as well. Practical implications – This paper provides valuable implications for online tourism marketers to address consumers’ confusion during information search process. Five individual characteristics proposed as important antecedents of consumers’ confusion can be utilized by online tourism marketers to develop customized online communication strategies for different segments. Originality/value – This paper is one of the few studies that connect the concept of consumers’ confusion to the online tourism field as well as discuss the concept of consumers’ confusion through the integration of information provider and recipients’ perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of an experimental study of route choice in congestible networks with a common origin and common destination. In one condition, in each round of play network users independently committed themselves at the origin to a three-segment route; in the other condition, they chose route segments sequentially at each network junction upon receiving en route information. At the end of each round, players received ex-post complete information about the distribution of the route choices. Although the complexity of the network defies analysis by common users, traffic patterns in both conditions converged rapidly to the equilibrium solution. We account for the observed results by a Markov adaptive learning model postulating regret minimization and inertia. We find that subjects' learning behavior was similar across conditions, except that they exhibited more inertia in the condition with en route information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Objected-Oriented Recommender System (ORS) for personalized travel package recommendations to tourists. The ability of the ORS to import additional context information to the travel package recommendation process in a cost-effective way is highlighted. The Object that collects the feature-value pairs is discussed. The use of two models in the ORS framework for extracting the implicit relationships among Objects is discussed.

With the development of economic and people's living standards, more and more people join the ranks of backpackers, which have brought a lot of pressures to the society. It's the emergence of an enhanced hybrid location-based services (LBS) to solve this problem. LBS are classified into three categories, i.e. Reactive LBS, Proactive LBS, and Hybrid LBS (H-LBS). The prototype of H-LBS for supporting backpackers in Beijing was discussed. There are several services to support backpackers by H-LBS, for example travel insurance services, tourism planning services, in which kernel density estimation was used to calculate the hotspots, and travel process support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a formal model of the acquisition of ex-post travel information concerning nonchosen alternatives. It is argued that this decision is fundamentally different from the decision to acquire pre- or in-trip information, because the reception of ex-post information on nonchosen alternatives can trigger regret. Psychological theories of regret regulation suggest that when provided with ex-post information, the traveler will make a tradeoff between wanting to ignore information to avoid regret associated with the already executed choice, and wanting to learn from information to minimize regret in future decisions. The presented model captures this tradeoff and predicts under what circumstances ex-post information is likely to be acquired or ignored. An illustrative example, based on parameter estimates from a stated choice experiment, shows how model predictions are in line with intuition and with theories of regret regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many previous studies have investigated the information search behavior in some specific age groups of tourists, few of them comprehensively examined the relationships between cross-generational tourists and their preferences for various types of trip-planning resources. This study aimed to fill this research gap. The authors employed correspondence analysis to assess and visually display the correlations between four generational groups—the Silent Generation (aged over 65), the Baby Boomers (aged 50–64 years), Generation X (aged 30–49 years), and Y (aged 18–29 years)—and 10 primary travel information sources for the Shanghai international tourist market. The results indicated that tourists in the Baby Boomers and Silent Generation groups rely most on travel agencies and tour operators. The Generation X tourists are inclined to search websites for their travel information. Generation Y tourists are more likely to consult friends and/or relatives and travel guidebooks. The study has both theoretical and practical contributions. The core values of generations are used to explain their preference of information sources from a theoretical perspective. This study assists destination marketers to design effective promotional strategies suited for different generational segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transport is increasingly recognised as having a significant impact upon quality of life for people with disabilities. The ability to access opportunities, services, social networks and other goods is highly dependent upon the ability to access private and/or public transport. However, there are many barriers to transport access for people with disabilities. This paper considers access to the transport system for those with a specific learning disability, namely, dyslexia. The paper reports results from a series of focus groups, which highlight the problems accessing and using travel information for this group. The contribution of inaccessible information to mobility-related social exclusion is highlighted. It is argued that there is a need for accessible information as a component of strategies to tackle mobility-related social exclusion. In this context, the paper presents a number of recommendations that may facilitate greater ease of use of private and public transport for those with dyslexia, with an emphasis upon actions to create more accessible information systems. Such improvements are likely to benefit those with other learning disabilities, while also improving the usability of information systems for non-disabled travellers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tourist information search is a complex issue. This study contributes to the understanding of tourist information sources by comparing three online sources, that is, non-commercial travel blogs, Wikipedia and Yahoo! Knowledge+. A common denominator of a popular tourist information source is the presence of credible travel-oriented information, preferably in the form of personal experience or, if not so, carefully edited information. Entertainment and social networking elements can further enhance the information sources. If the destination is expensive and friends and relatives are not familiar with it, sources with strong networking element such as travel blog or edited information such as Wikipedia will be plus points. Online and non-online sources will co-exist and leisure tourists will continue to use a mixture of both to suit their needs in the foreseeable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mitigation of congestion on a two-lane highway with an off-ramp and an on-ramp is simulated with three-phase traffic theory. Advanced travel information–the average velocity of vehicles near the bottleneck at an on-ramp–is used to divert vehicles at an upstream off-ramp. If enough vehicles divert, previously expanding synchronous flow congestion can be stalled and isolated to the region between the ramps. The introduction of lane restrictions (forbidding lane changing on the portion of highway between the ramps) in addition to diversion substantially reduces and essentially eliminates the congestion, restoring flow to nearly free-flow conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study proposed a holistic approach to understanding the usage of travel guidebooks. Guidebooks were revealed to outperform other travel information sources in the stages of “during” and “post-travel” but lost their competitiveness in the pre-trip planning to the Internet, especially on the search for information on destination and accommodation. A factor analysis on an 18-item instrument concluded that travelers possess six underlying need dimensions when using guidebooks: reflective, security, confirming, destination, itinerary, and functional needs. Therefore, recommendations were provided for practitioners to reconsider the positioning of travel guidebooks when formulating product development and marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study which examines the preferences of consumers on package tours to China, the differences among consumers' cognition on these tours and web travel advertisements, the similarities among travel web sites, and the cognitive structure that may help marketers on web content design. It compares the contents of travel sites and the search engine results using a means-end chain theory and travel web site content to identify similarities and differences, search results, and user cognition. It shows that greater variety of package tours provided by travel sites could mean higher possibility of offering discount incentives. It also suggests that knowledge on written web content preferred by consumers can help marketers in improving their web design.

The article presents an empirical study which examines the marketing potential of electronic-travel (e-travel) web sites in Taiwan. It explores the factors that contribute to the customers' acceptance or rejection of e-travel sites and how their acceptance is affected by the sites' features including relevant web information content, information quality, and functionality. It indicates that information quality, relevant content, and functionality and assistance service of e-travel sites determine customers' perceptions of usefulness and convenience that lead to acceptance of these sites. It suggests that web information content must be sufficiently provided and constantly updated to maintain correct information to meet users' needs.

The article presents a study which examines the weather and calendar effects on the patterns of tourism web site usage citing the data from the Korea Tourism Organisation and the Korean Meteorological Administration in South Korea. It analyses weather factors including rain, snow, and cloud cover, and calendar factors including seasons and holidays from a yearlong log in the Korean tourism web site. It shows that the number of visitors to the tourism web site increases during rainy and cloudy weather conditions or during workdays or summer seasons. It suggests that tourism managers should set up appropriate marketing strategies with considerations on the weather and calendar variables and run their web sites efficiently with updated information.

In this paper, archived Automatic Vehicle Location and Automatic Passenger Counter data are used to evaluate actual bus running time variation in relation to scheduled service for Tri-Met, the transit provider for the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Given observed variation in running times, scheduled recovery times are found to be generally (though not universally) excessive. This results in an under-investment of resources in revenue service relative to non-revenue service. Analysis of trip level data reveals that bus operators are an important source of running time variation after controlling for such factors as route design, time of day and direction of service, and passenger activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an effort to estimate potential benefits of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) by combing regional travel demand and microscopic simulation models. The approach incorporates dynamic features not yet available in the commercial software market. The suggested technique employs data that are readily available to most urban planning organizations, and is straightforward in its application. The key reported measure of effectiveness is corridor and local system delay, and is sensitive to both the level of penetration of traveler information and the pre-trip and en-route choices drivers make based on this information. The technique is demonstrated on an urban freeway corridor in a medium sized mid-west city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the credibility of TripAdvisor LLC's website tripadvisor.co.uk which provides holiday and travel consumer reviews with the statement, read reviews from real travellers. It says that TripAdvisor is the largest travel site worldwide that enables travellers to plan their trip through the site's advice from real travellers and various travel choices and planning features offered to consumers. It examines the site's features on travel reviews and traveller opinions.