Maryland Shared Open Access Repository
MD-SOAR is a shared digital repository platform for twelve colleges and universities in Maryland. It is currently funded by the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) Library Consortium (usmai.org) and other participating partner institutions. MD-SOAR is jointly governed by all participating libraries, who have agreed to share policies and practices that are necessary and appropriate for the shared platform. Within this broad framework, each library provides customized repository services and collections that meet local institutional needs. Please follow the links below to learn more about each library's repository services and collections.
Browse
Communities and Collections | By Issue Date | Author | Titles | Subjects | TypeSubmit
Institutions in MD-SOAR
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Investigating the Effect of Connected Vehicles (CV) Route Guidance on Mobility and Equity
(2022-02-25) Jeihani, Mansoureh; Ansariyar, Alireza; Sadeghvaziri, Eazaz; Ardeshiri, Anam; Kabir, Md Muhib; Haghani, Ali; Jones, Anita; Urban Mobility & Equity Center/National Transportation Center
Traffic congestion is a serious and increasing national problem, especially for urban commuters. Providing
accurate real-time traffic information is a key tool to reduce congestion. Recent studies have shown that connected
vehicles (CVs) can help improve traffic mobility and safety while saving energy and reducing emissions. The
research initially evaluates the gradual deployment of CVs and their effect on mobility, energy consumption, and
the amount of pollutants. Then, our research investigates the CV guidance system as an emerging form of
dynamic route guidance. This research develops and calibrates a microscopic traffic simulation model to replicate
the fairly realistic behavior of such vehicles in the traffic simulation environment. Unlike the majority of prior
studies that used hypothetical study areas with simple networks, this study develops a real-world medium urban
road network. Different penetration rates of CVs (0%-100%) are developed, and the system-wide effects of CV equipped vehicles with route guidance features on mobility and equity are analyzed. The results showed that as
the market penetration rate (MPR) of CVs increases, traffic parameters (e.g., total delay time), total emissions, and
average travel time of re-routing paths decreases. In order to find the effects of new traffic reduction policies for
mass public transportation systems, dynamic CV bus lanes were suggested. The results showed that increasing the
service time of a dynamic CV bus lane may improve average travel time for CV buses, but it negatively affects
the average travel time of non-CV and CV cars. Finally, a network-wide average travel time analysis is proposed.
Based on the proposed methodology, 85% MPR was determined as a critical breakpoint of the network-wide
weighted average travel time chart. The results of network-wide equity analysis highlighted that, as the MPR of
CVs increases, the percentage of critical breakpoint decreases, and that point shifts to the left of the chart
Multi-depot and Multi-school Bus scheduling Problem with School Bell Time Optimization
(2022-04-12) He, Qinglian; National Transportation Center Urban Mobility & Equity Center Morgan State University 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane CBEIS 327 Baltimore, MD 21251 (443) 955-2729
Abstract
Public school systems are responsible for transporting students to and from schools safely and promptly. For a multi-school system, given all the bus trips of schools, the school bus scheduling problem aims at developing an efficient schedule of operation for buses to serve all the trips at minimum operation costs while satisfying some necessary constraints. As for school buses, they usually operate from multiple depots and are required to return to the same depot as they started from. However, most existing studies have concentrated on the single-depot school bus scheduling problem, which assumes that all the buses start from the same depot.
This research studies the multi-depot and multi-school bus scheduling problem with school bell time optimization (MDBSPBO) with the goal of minimizing the total number of buses and the total deadhead duration. Spreading bell times, which change the bell times within a reasonable time window, makes more trips become compatible and could reduce the total number of buses. We will develop appropriate models and solution algorithms for this very important real-world problem. We will use real-world data supplied by one of the public school systems in the state of Maryland for testing and evaluation of the model.
EQUITABLE COMPLETE STREETS: Data and Methods for Optimal Design Implementation
(2022-04-12) Cirillo, Cinzia; Jehiani, Mansoureh; Schonfeld, Paul; National Transportation Center Urban Mobility & Equity Center Morgan State University 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane CBEIS 327 Baltimore, MD 21251 (443) 955-2729; National Transportation Center
The Complete Streets concept references roads designed to accommodate: (1) diverse modes, including walking, cycling, public transit, and automobile; (2) different users, e.g. affluent and low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and senior citizens; (3) and a mix of land uses such as office, retail, businesses, and residential to ensure streets are safe, balanced and inclusively support diverse economic, cultural and environmental uses. Today most of our streets are poorly designed and do not offer safe places to walk, bike, or take public transportation. Such streets are particularly dangerous for disadvantaged segments of the population, including people of color, older adults, children, and those living in low-income communities. Successful Complete Streets projects prioritize multi-modal transport systems and have been demonstrated to be effective in fostering more livable communities, increasing equity, and improving public health. This project analyzes different components of Complete Streets' design and uses with the goal of creating fast, low-cost, and high-impact (transportation) changes in our communities. In recent years, “complete streets” has been an emerging concept in North American transportation planning and design. To be considered a “complete street”, a road should be designed to be safe for users of all traffic modes. This report presents three studies: safety evaluation on the complete streets by simulating different modes, quantifying the benefits of complete streets in terms of equity and improved access across different segments of the population (especially low-income), and road space allocation on the complete streets.
Shared Bus-Bike Lane Safety Analysis: Assessing Multimodal Access and Conflicts
(Morgan State University 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, MD 21251, 2022-07-01) Chavis, Celeste. Ph.D.; Bhuyan, Istiak, Ph.D.; Cirillo, Cinzia, Ph.D.
Dedicated bus facilities are being installed across the country with many jurisdictions allowing cyclists to use
these facilities. Known as shared-bus bike lanes (SBBLs), these facilities are built with two, often opposing,
goals in mind: (1) provide a high-speed travel lane for buses and (2) provide a safe travel lane for cyclists.
Using video observation and survey data, the aim of this study is to analyze cyclist safety on SBBLs as a
function of geometric configuration, bus frequency, and level of service. The safety of cyclins on SBBLs will
be compared with separated bike facilities with adjacent bus routes.
Quantum Readiness in Healthcare and Public Health: Building a Quantum Literate Workforce
(2024-02-29) VanGeest, Johnathan B; Fogarty, Kieran J; Hervey, William G; Hanson, Robert A; Nair, Suresh; Akers, Timothy A
Quantum technologies, including quantum computing, cryptography, and sensing, among others, are set to revolutionize sectors ranging from materials science to drug discovery. Despite their significant potential, the implications for public health have been largely overlooked, highlighting a critical gap in recognition and preparation. This oversight necessitates immediate action, as public health remains largely unaware of quantum technologies as a tool for advancement. The application of quantum principles to epidemiology and health informatics, termed quantum health epidemiology and quantum health informatics, has the potential to radically transform disease surveillance, prediction, modeling, and analysis of health data. However, there is a notable lack of quantum expertise within the public health workforce and educational pipelines. This gap underscores the urgent need for the development of quantum literacy among public health practitioners, leaders, and students to leverage emerging opportunities while addressing risks and ethical considerations. Innovative teaching methods, such as interactive simulations, games, visual models, and other tailored platforms, offer viable solutions for bridging knowledge gaps without the need for advanced physics or mathematics. However, the opportunity to adapt is fleeting as the quantum era in healthcare looms near. It is imperative that public health urgently focuses on updating its educational approaches, workforce strategies, data governance, and organizational culture to proactively meet the challenges of quantum disruption thereby becoming quantum ready.