Council for Advanced Transportation Studies (1972-1979)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2152/20120

The Council for Advanced Transportation Studies (CATS) was formed in 1972 by the President of The University of Texas at Austin as a multidisciplinary transportation research and educational organization, focusing on national, state, and local transportation problems while providing an academic background for the development of professional careers in several fields of transportation.

In addition to Engineering, the university colleges and schools that were active in the Council included: Architecture and Planning, Business Administration, Communication, Education, General and Comparative Studies, Humanities, Law, The LBJ School of Public Affairs, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

CATS was merged with the Center for Highway Research (1963-79) in March of 1979 to become the Center for Transportation Research. CATS is a predecessor of CTR. CATS reports are housed in the Center for Transportation Research Library.

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    Monitoring the Effects of the Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport. Volume I, Ground Transportation Impacts
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1976-12) Dunlay, William J., Jr; Henry, Lyndon; Caffery, Thomas G.; Wiersig, Douglas W.; Zambrano, Waldo A.
    The report presents new conceptual and methodological approaches to developing models to interrelate airline schedules, airport-based employee work-shift schedules, and airport access ground traffic volumes in any time period for a given report. The results of a survey of ground travel at the Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport are presented and analyzed. Specific ground transportation impacts of the installation of this relatively new airport are assessed. Models are described which (1) express volumes of automobiles carrying airline passengers and visitors as a function of airline schedules and (2) transform existing or future employee work-shift schedules into estimates of incoming and outgoing employee vehicle volumes in any time interval. Preliminary research toward the development of a model to estimate public transit passenger volumes as a function of airline passenger volumes is also described.
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    Lateral Steering Dynamics Model for the Dallas/Fort Worth Airtrans
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1976-12) Smith, Craig C.; Tsao, Steven
    A lateral dynamic steering model of the automatically steered AIRTRANS vehicle at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is developed. The general nonlinear model is linearized and presented in a form suitable for ride quality investigation. A set of independent, non-dimensional vehicle parameters is identified. Basic system natural frequencies and modes are identified, and the sensitivity of system response to basic system design parameters is presented. It was found that vehicle steering gain and speed have a greater effect upon vehicle ride quality than other vehicle parametes.
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    Psychological Analysis of Degree of Safety in Traffic Environment Design
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1979-02) Holahan, Charles J.
    Recent on-site accident investigation studies have estimated that between 10 and 25 percent of automobile accidents involve distraction as a principal causative factor. This report presents the findings of a research project designed to study the relationship between visual dis tractors in the roadside environment, such as advertising signs, neon lights, and gaudy billboards, and traffic safety. This project has involved the definition, operationalization, and measurement of visual distractibility in the traffic environment, including an analysis of distractions attributable to private signs and lights in the Vicinity of public signs and signals and of distractions caused by an overload or improper placement of public signs.
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    Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1978-10) Valentine, Deborah; Hales, Gary D.; Williams, Martha; Young, Robert K.
    This report reviews the literature generated by the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation (MDAI) studies, sponsored under the Highway Act of 1966. The use of a wide variety of professional disciplines to evaluate accident causation produced detailed information and suggestions relating to human factors, vehicular factors, and environmental factors as causes of accidents. Results of MDAI studies will continue to be useful for generating further research and decisions related to highway safety.
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    An Evaluation of the Utilization of Psychological Knowledge Concerning Potential Roadside Distractors
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1979-05) Holahan, Charles J.
    This report presents the findings of a project designed: (1) to evaluate the effect of nighttime distractors on accidents at signalized intersections, and (2) to facilitate the implementation at the local level of traffic safety standards. The findings of Part I, based on a study of nighttime accidents occurring at 30 metropolitan intersections, offer tentative data that both the color and the proximity of lights may be important in determining their distractibility with respect to the traffic signal. Part II describes the procedures followed by the project team to disseminate psychological knowledge concerning environmental distractors in the traffic environment to appropriate local agencies and includes an evaluation of the utilization of this information by these agencies.
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    A Data Base for the U.S. Forest Service Pavement Management System
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1981-05) Hernandez, Jorge E.; McCullough, B. Frank; Hudson, W. Ronald
    This report is the first phase of a proposed three-phase project developing and implementing a database for the Pavement Design Management System (PDMS) which was developed by The University of Texas at Austin in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. PDMS may be used to design asphalt concrete, surface treatment, and aggregate surfaced pavement structures. Results from the implementation of PDMS in certain Forest Service design offices indicate good performance of PDMS regarding the asphalt concrete and surface treatment pavement designs. However, the implementation results also indicate that the models used in PDMS for the design of aggregate surfaced roads need to be improved. This is not surprising, since these models were not developed with data from Forest Service roads. The characteristics of the Forest Service road system make it truly unique in the world. Because of this, roadway structure design and management methodologies developed by other transportation agencies are not adequate for Forest Service needs. To improve these methodologies in PDMS, performance information on Forest Service roads must be collected and analyzed. Even a small improvement in the management of pavement structures system-wide will result in the saving of millions of dollars annually. Therefore, a data base is a necessary and valuable tool.
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    Automobile Collision Reconstruction: A Literature Survey
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1979-02) Olson, Barry D.; Smith, Craig C.
    A great number of papers have been written dealing with the characteristics of automobile collisions. In this report, the principal research methods which are used are reviewed and the major papers dealing with each method are surveyed. Computer techniques which have been developed within the past few years are reviewed, and their utility and limitations are discussed. A modular approach, in which individual computer modules are used interactively by an investigator to reconstruct an accident in separate phases, is suggested.
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    Land Value Modeling in Rural Communities
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1974-06) Skorpa, Lidvard; Dodge, Richard; Walton, C. Michael
    Investment in transportation systems has mainly been directed at the goal of reducing the cost of travel and increasing user benefits. This has been considered the best way to enhance production activities and thereby growth within the sphere of influence of the transportation system. In the recent years, however, the need for studies of all facets of transportation impact has been stressed, but until now impact studies have not been able to reveal the complex cause/effect relationship that exists between growth and development in a rural community and changes in the transportation system. This report concentrates on the impact on land values. It discusses why land values can be used as an indicator of community impact and evaluates a technique for modeling land values in a rural community. The technique is used in a case study of Sealy, Texas. Land value is expressed as a function of factors describing characteristics both of the transportation system provided and the community itself. Indices are evaluated in order to measure or rank qualitative levels of the factors, and the best regression models are found by regression analysis. In the case study a total of 611 land transactions in Sealy, Texas, are analyzed. These transactions took place between 1955 and 1973, throughout the entire community. Conclusions about how variance in land values can best be described are drawn, and areas where future research is needed are specified. For the convenience of the reader an annotated list of previous studies included.
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    Regional and community transportation planning issues : A selected annotated bibliography
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-09) Huddleston, John; Linehan, Ronald; Sayyari, Abdulla; Dodge, Richard; Walton, C. Michael; Hamby, Marsha
    "This memorandum is a by-product of the research effort currently being conducted under the topic, "The Influence of Interurban Transportation Systems on the Rural Environment." The first aim of the research is to produce two planning manuals, one for the use of the professional, the other for the lay person in small urban and rural communities. In order to develop these two documents, the research effort has been divided into several subareas, specifically including: planning resources and policies pertaining to rural areas and small communities; the growth potential of small communities in a regional context; the social and economic variables most relevant to interurban, transportation planning; and the techniques currently used in the various stages of the planning process, including techniques for citizen participation. The bibliography contained in this memorandum is a selected and annotated list of works reviewed by various members of the research team in the course of their separate investigations. It is divided into five sections, which reflect the areas of greatest relevance to the final planning documents. These are: I. Planning and Policy; II. Transportation and Regional Growth; III. Socio-Economic Variables in Transportation Planning; IV. Evaluation Techniques and Models; and V. Citizen Participation. The books and articles included do not constitute an exhaustive list, but rather a selected group representative of the diversity and of the state of the art in these five areas. These works were dealt with in some detail during the course of the research; it is hoped that the comments on each will be of use in guiding other researchers to works appropriate to their particular concerns." --Introduction
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    System 2000: Data Management for Transportation Impact Studies
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-09) Derr, Gordon; Dodge, Richard; Walton, C. Michael
    "During the first year of work conducted by the Council for Advanced Transportation Studies (CATS) on Topic II, "The Environmental Impact of Interurban Transportation Systems on Rural Communities," it became apparent that large quantities of data would be collected. Part of the research required measuring and evaluating the transportation impact on an entire community, Sealy, Texas, for a 20-year period, from 1950 to 1970. The major task was to create descriptive models of changes during that period within the community and the transportation system, a task which has involved collecting and managing an extensive data base. Specifically, two large data sets were compiled. The first contained economic data, the second, an inventory of land sales compiled from title policies written for individual sales. This latter set contains over 20,000 pieces of data, including information covering 600 sales of parcels.with 35 variables for each. The first problems encountered entailed the storing and updating of these large data sets and the manipulation of the completed data sets at a reasonable cost in manpower and computer time. The information had to be accessible for multiple regression analysis and various other statistical analyses. A system was needed that was simple enough that persons with little experience could use the system and acquire results with a minimum outlay of effort. Thus the system had to be convenient and yet remain flexible enough to meet the requirements of different kinds of data."--Introduction
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    A Multivariate Analysis Of Transportation Improvements And Manufacturing Growth In A Rural Region
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-10) Linehan, Ronald; Walton, C. Michael; Dodge, Richard
    "One factor long considered an important influence on regional growth and rural town development has been the nature of the transportation networks which serve the region or rural town. While it is ~idely agreed that economic growth is a function of a variety of human and natural resources, it is also widely assumed that transportation systems serve to facilitate the use of the resources extant in a given area. As a part of our research into the influence of transportation syste~ on rural towns, this study undertakes the task of evaluating some of the economic influences of the transportation system on rural towns."--Introduction
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    The Influence on Rural Communities of Interurban Transportation Systems
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1977-08) Walton, C. Michael; Dodge, Richard; Huddleston, John; Betak, John; Linehan, Ron; Heimsath, Charles
    This research project, "The Influence on Rural Communities of Inter-Urban Transportation Systems," was one of five conducted under the general title, "Transportation to Fulfill Human Needs in a Rural/Urban Environment. "The research is documented in two volumes: Volume I "The Influence on Rural Communities of Interurban Transportation Systems," and Volume II "Transportation and Community Development: A Manual for Small Communities." The first volume is the description of the study process and the findings of the various research phases during the project. This document would be of interest to professional planners in regional governments having small, rural communities within their jurisdiction. The report may aid in facilitating their interactions with representatives of smaller cities and enhance their appreciation of the uniqueness of those areas as reflected in their needs and issues. The set of planning guides contained in Volume II would be of interest to the community representatives. The guides are designed for the layperson and are written in non-technical language. The purpose of the manual is to promote a more informed participation in the national, state, and regional decision making process as it relates to transportation, and to provide the basis for initiating and continuing comprehensive local planning for small urban places (cities and towns with a population of 25,000 or less).
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    Annual Report / Council for Advanced Transportation Studies
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 0000-00-00) Council for Advanced Transportation Studies
    Preface -- Summary of Research Objectives and Accomplishments -- Selected Highlights During the Year -- Council Staffing -- Research Activities (Department of Transportation; Other Projects) -- Support Available for 1973-74 Research in Transportation -- Publications 1973-74 -- Patents -- Research Development and Proposals Pending -- Management of the Research Program -- Cooperative Interaction and Implementation with Government, Industry and Educational Institutions -- Guest Lectures for Transportation Seminar Series and Visitors to the Council -- Academic Programs in Transportation -- Personnel Involvement in CATS-DORT.
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    Airport Capacity Analysis: A Systems Approach
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1974-07) Zaniewski, John P.
    Existing quantitative models for analysis of the capacity of various components of the airport system are presented. Procedures for utilizing these models in a system analysis are discussed. Recommendations are made concerning possible modifications of existing models, and priorities for these modifications are assigned according to the necessity for improvement.
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    Self-Study Report, The Council for Advanced Transportation Studies
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1976-05) Kennedy, Thomas William
    Objectives and Goal Setting -- Activity Summary -- Implementation Planning -- [Table of Faculty, Staff, Committee Members]
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    Legal obstacles to the use of Texas school buses for public transportation
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-01) Means, Robert; Briggs, Ronald; Nelson, John E.; Thiemann, Alan J.
    Texas Education Code -- Certification -- Safety Regulations -- Appendix A. Memorandum John E. Nelson and Alan J. Thiemann Re: Use of School Buses for Public Transportation II: Requirements for Certification and Applicable Safety Regulations (With Appendices and Exhibits) -- Appendix B. Memorandum from John E. Nelson RE: Use of School Buses for Public Transportation
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    MAPRINT A computer program for analyzing changing locations of non-residential activities
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1974-03) Hunter, Graham; Dodge, Richard; Walton, C. Michael
    This is the eleventh in a series of research memos describing activities and findings as part of the work done under the research project entitled "Transportation to Fulfill Human Needs in the Rural/Urban Environment." The project is divided into five topics, and this is the first research memo under the topic "The Influence of Inter-Urban Transportation Systems on the Rural Environment." MAPRINT is a FORTRAN computer program developed to analyze the changing location of non-residential activities, including both businesses and public services. It is designed as an aid for the analysis of changes in community activity which are in part due to changes in transportation systems.
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    A systems analysis procedure for estimating the capacity of an airport: a selected bibliography
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-08) Park, Chang-Ho; Chambers, Edward V. III; Dunlay, William S. Jr
    "This bibliography was prepared as part of a research project... sponsored by the U. S. Department of Transportation, Office of University Research under Contract DOT-OS-50232. The objective of this research project is to develop a systems analysis procedure for estimating airport capacity in which the capacities of the individual components of an airport are evaluated and compared." -- Introduction
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    A systems analysis procedure for estimating the capacity of an airport: system definition, capacity definition and review of available models
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-10) Chambers, Edward V. III; Chmores, Tommy; Dunlay, William J., Jr; Gualda, Nicolau D. F.; McCullough, B. F.; Park, Chang-Ho; Zaniewski, John
    This research memo presents results obtained during the period from July 1 through October 1, 1975, in research on a systems analysis procedure for estimating the capacity of an airport in which both airside and landside capacities are studied. A definition of the system is presented including the system boundaries and a description of the subsystems and components of the overall system. A review is made of available analytical models of airport components including air traffic control, runways, gates, passenger processing baggage claim, internal roadways, and parking lots. Also included is a discussion of previous concepts and definitions of capacity, a discussion of relevant units of capacity, and a proposed definition of capacity for the airport system as a whole as well as its subsystems and components.
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    Pupil transportation: a cost analysis and predictive model
    (Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1975-04) Briggs, Ronald; Venhuizen, David
    "School bus transportation is the only type of mass transit operating in all parts of the United States today. In many rural areas it is the only form of transportation available apart from the private automobile. In many urban areas the school transportation system rivals the municipal transit system in capacity, scope and budget. Despite the importance of the systems themselves, and the hints they might provide for the organization of transportation alternatives to the automobile in areas, particularly rural regions, where alternatives do not presently operate, there is a relative paucity of research on pupil transportation systems. This paper presents a study of such systems in Texas." -- Introduction