Vol 11 No 4 (2011)
2011-09-01
Vol 11 No 4 (2011)
2011-09-01
Articles
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Since Hansen (1959) first introduced the accessibility concept, a well established body of research has emerged in social science dealing with how accessibility affects land-use planning and spatial interaction. In Hansen’s words, accessibility is “the potential of opportunities for interaction” (p.73). It is well known that transport systems constitute a necessary condition for spatial interaction, and, as a consequence accessibility analyses generally include some measure of the costs of spatial interaction for certain groups in some determined geographical area.
Since Hansen (1959) first introduced the accessibility concept, a well established body of research has emerged in social science dealing with how accessibility affects land-use planning and spatial interaction. In Hansen’s words, accessibility is “the potential of opportunities for interaction” (p.73). It is well known that transport systems constitute a necessary condition for spatial interaction, and, as a consequence accessibility analyses generally include some measure of the costs of spatial interaction for certain groups in some determined geographical area.
Since Hansen (1959) first introduced the accessibility concept, a well established body of research has emerged in social science dealing with how accessibility affects land-use planning and spatial interaction. In Hansen’s words, accessibility is “the potential of opportunities for...
Juan Carlos Martín, Bert van Wee -
Ex ante evaluations of transport policy options (including infrastructure plans) are generally based on cost-benefit analyses (CBA). Accessibility changes are included in such analyses indirectly, via a utilitarian perspective. But accessibility is broader than is assumed by this perspective and also incorporates equity and related distribution effects as well as social exclusion. This paper aims to give an overview of the relevance of distribution effects and equity, and social exclusion for accessibility, based on the literature. The most important conclusions of our paper is that the two subjects are poorly addressed in transport appraisal in general, and in CBA in particular. Additional ethical theories could add value to the utilitarian perspective, egalitarian theories being a major competitor. Equity analysis is however complex because there are several types of equity, various ways to categorize people for equity analysis, numerous impacts to consider, and various ways of measuring these impacts. And such analysis requires normative judgements, in addition to simply presenting distribution effects. Several options are available to express distribution effects. Important choices to be made if such effects need to be reported relate to the unit of comparison (e.g. the household versus the individual), the indicator to be used, and the value of each unit to be compared (e.g. accessibility) for all units of comparison (e.g. households). We also conclude that CBA is not suitable for evaluating social exclusion policies. Based on this overview we propose an agenda for potential future research in the area of ethics and accessibility.
Ex ante evaluations of transport policy options (including infrastructure plans) are generally based on cost-benefit analyses (CBA). Accessibility changes are included in such analyses indirectly, via a utilitarian perspective. But accessibility is broader than is assumed by this perspective and also incorporates equity and related distribution effects as well as social exclusion. This paper aims to give an overview of the relevance of distribution effects and equity, and social exclusion for accessibility, based on the literature. The most important conclusions of our paper is that the two subjects are poorly addressed in transport appraisal in general, and in CBA in particular. Additional ethical theories could add value to the utilitarian perspective, egalitarian theories being a major competitor. Equity analysis is however complex because there are several types of equity, various ways to categorize people for equity analysis, numerous impacts to consider, and various ways of...
Ex ante evaluations of transport policy options (including infrastructure plans) are generally based on cost-benefit analyses (CBA). Accessibility changes are included in such analyses indirectly, via a utilitarian perspective. But accessibility is broader than is assumed by this perspective...
Bert van Wee, Bert van Wee, Karst Geurs -
This paper explores people’s preferences for living close to destinations such as work, service, leisure and social activities, satisfaction with the proximities offered by their residential location, as well as more general residential satisfaction. The paper draws on the literature on accessibility, residential choice and residential preferences, and is empirically based on a survey targeted at individuals aged 20-64 in the Swedish population. The results suggest that ‘proximity preferences’ are structured by both practical and social rationales. Preferences also differ to varying degrees between groups with respect to gender, age and type of residential environment. Selfreported distances are short for virtually all destinations except those relating to social relations. People’s satisfaction with their residential location relative to their everyday life accessibility needs is also explored in regression analyses. The findings imply that residential location satisfaction is related to type of residential environment, dwelling type/tenure, whether the respondents had considered moving to increase the proximity to certain destinations, and their level of satisfaction with the distances from home to various destinations.
This paper explores people’s preferences for living close to destinations such as work, service, leisure and social activities, satisfaction with the proximities offered by their residential location, as well as more general residential satisfaction. The paper draws on the literature on accessibility, residential choice and residential preferences, and is empirically based on a survey targeted at individuals aged 20-64 in the Swedish population. The results suggest that ‘proximity preferences’ are structured by both practical and social rationales. Preferences also differ to varying degrees between groups with respect to gender, age and type of residential environment. Selfreported distances are short for virtually all destinations except those relating to social relations. People’s satisfaction with their residential location relative to their everyday life accessibility needs is also explored in regression analyses. The findings imply that residential location...
This paper explores people’s preferences for living close to destinations such as work, service, leisure and social activities, satisfaction with the proximities offered by their residential location, as well as more general residential satisfaction. The paper draws on the literature on...
Katarina Haugen -
Territorial cohesion is a routine part of the job of spatial planners. However, it has not always been measured using a valid and solid methodology. This paper addresses conceptually how regional spillovers of transport investments of the Spanish master plan (‘‘Plan Estratégico de Infraestructuras y Transporte’’ 2005–2020) affect territorial cohesion. Different periods undergo analysis using the ‘‘extraction method’’. We calculate regional spillovers by accessibility gains measured in economic potential units (gravitational method using GDPs for each centroid under analysis). Two different typologies of regional spillovers are given, according to the direction of the effects: upstream and downstream. We conclude that the ‘Plan Estratégico’ favours territorial cohesion of Spain, but the degree of territorial cohesion produced by each region is not uniform. The end of the paper raises a number of suggestions for further research on the interaction of regional spillovers with territorial cohesion.
Territorial cohesion is a routine part of the job of spatial planners. However, it has not always been measured using a valid and solid methodology. This paper addresses conceptually how regional spillovers of transport investments of the Spanish master plan (‘‘Plan Estratégico de Infraestructuras y Transporte’’ 2005–2020) affect territorial cohesion. Different periods undergo analysis using the ‘‘extraction method’’. We calculate regional spillovers by accessibility gains measured in economic potential units (gravitational method using GDPs for each centroid under analysis). Two different typologies of regional spillovers are given, according to the direction of the effects: upstream and downstream. We conclude that the ‘Plan Estratégico’ favours territorial cohesion of Spain, but the degree of territorial cohesion produced by each region is not uniform. The end of the paper raises a number of suggestions for further research on the interaction of...
Territorial cohesion is a routine part of the job of spatial planners. However, it has not always been measured using a valid and solid methodology. This paper addresses conceptually how regional spillovers of transport investments of the Spanish master plan (‘‘Plan Estratégico de...
Ana Condeço-Melhorado, Juan Carlos Martín, Javier Gutiérrez -
In this paper a contribution is presented with respect to accessibility indicators modelling for commuters moving through the municipalities of Sardinia, in Italy. In this case, spatial complex network analysis is integrated into the construction of accessibility measures: one of the most relevant outcomes of the first tool –the detection of shortest road paths and distances- is adopted as an input for the second in modelling accessibility indicators. Instead of Euclidean distances often adopted in the literature, shortest road distances are chosen, as commuting implies movements that are usually repeated daily and very likely subjected, even unconsciously, to space and time minimization strategies. In particular, two commuter accessibility indicators are constructed according to approaches based on a travel cost and a spatial interaction model with impedance function calibrated in exponential and in power form. The accessibility indicators are confronted each other and with relevant socio-economic and infrastructure characteristics of Sardinia. In addition, they are described, with respect to their spatial distribution and their different implications, when adopted in decision-making and planning. The travel cost based accessibility indicator has a municipal spatial distribution strongly influenced by the main road infrastructure of the Island. By contrast, spatial interaction model based accessibility indicators are more reliable, with respect to their capacity to confirm a leading socio-economic role of the municipalities comprehended in the metropolitan area of the capital town Cagliari.
In this paper a contribution is presented with respect to accessibility indicators modelling for commuters moving through the municipalities of Sardinia, in Italy. In this case, spatial complex network analysis is integrated into the construction of accessibility measures: one of the most relevant outcomes of the first tool –the detection of shortest road paths and distances- is adopted as an input for the second in modelling accessibility indicators. Instead of Euclidean distances often adopted in the literature, shortest road distances are chosen, as commuting implies movements that are usually repeated daily and very likely subjected, even unconsciously, to space and time minimization strategies. In particular, two commuter accessibility indicators are constructed according to approaches based on a travel cost and a spatial interaction model with impedance function calibrated in exponential and in power form. The accessibility indicators are confronted each other and with...
In this paper a contribution is presented with respect to accessibility indicators modelling for commuters moving through the municipalities of Sardinia, in Italy. In this case, spatial complex network analysis is integrated into the construction of accessibility measures: one of the most...
Andrea De Montis, Simone Caschili, Alessandro Chessa