Urban Systems最新文献

City governments are often reluctant to utilize relevant scientific and technical information. The article discusses one effort to improve communications and knowledge in this area, the Urban Technology System (UTS) experiment, sponsored by Public Technology, Incorporated. The article is divided into three sections: the background and overview of the experiment, a description of the program's activities in its first 3 yr, and a subjective evaluation of the contribution of UTS. The main conclusions are that the program has had its successes, but that systematic evaluation is necessary.

The results of a simulation of the breakdown of police patrol vehicles in a city of 175,000 population is examined. If a patrol vehicle must be removed from service in order to repair mechanical defects, the quality of police service will not be at the desired (planned) level. In effect, police officers are being paid during a time when they are unable to deliver services—the time during which they are absent from their assigned patrol as a result of the failure of their vehicle. Given the high cost of fielding a police patrol car around the clock, time lost due to mechanical failure can be very costly. The patrol vehicle breakdowns were simulated under several assumptions and for several policies. The magnitude of the implicit cost of lost patrol time due to vehicle breakdowns suggests that investment in a preventive maintenance program may be worthwhile. Furthermore, simple policy changes may result in substantial savings.

The legislation establishing the Health Systems Agencies (HSA) requires the development of a Management Information System (MIS) for these agencies. The authors, during the Summer of 1976. developed an MIS for an HSA which provides both information for internal management control and external reporting requirements. This paper discusses the system design and its implementation during the initial phase of agency operation. The system consists of a data base. procedures for gathering the data and methods of condensing the data into the information necessary for internal control, strategic planning, and external reporting.

The paper examines the role of technical information processing and production in the development of urban mass transit in the United States. In particular, evidence suggests that information processing ability in urbanized areas may be associated with obtaining aid and, hence, improving transit service and usage.

The inability of municipal governments to exploit available information resources is viewed as a significant contributor to urban crisis. Often information problems may be attributed to ‘information overload’, but one type information, scientific information, is less commonly available to urban administrators. The problems associated with acquiring and using scientific information are reviewed and possible remedies to those problems are discussed. A tentative model of scientific information use by urban administrators is advanced and suggestions are provided for redesigning organizations and reallocating resources so as to enhance the flow of scientific information in urban administration.

This paper assesses the value of automated information systems for urban decision making and investigates alternative strategies for enhancing the value of this information. It is based on intensive survey and case study data in 40 U.S. cities with populations greater than 50.000. The findings indicate that although automated information systems are attributed significant usefulness by some types of decision makers for certain arrays of decisions, they are not generally useful to most urban decision makers. However, the findings suggest that they might be made more useful through management strategies which stress sensitive integration of these users with the technology.

The shortage of energy will exist in the world for a long time. Because of the many ‘crisis’ situations, which arose during the last 5 yr, various presidents have suggested different alternative solutions to the problem. Many of the suggested legislations have not been passed by the Congress and may never pass it in the future.

One of the reasons is that the people are not in favor of any particular solutions that the presidents suggest to legislature. Consequently, the Congress is reluctant to pass a legislation which is not acceptable to the majority of the people.

The choice of the consumer between rationing and fuel consumption depends upon income, job category, number of cars owned and age. In the study, income and age variables proved important in determining the choice a consumer would make between rationing and price increase. A consumer with a higher income and younger age would likely choose price increase over rationing and vice versa. Also consumers who drive the most will favor price increase over rationing. Other socio-demographic factors not found to be good predictors of the choice a consumer would make between rationing and price increases.

The study concludes that to curtail gasoline consumption increase in prices would be an effective tool, while at the same time subsidizing lower income level and aged consumers.

A simple model of commuter rail line supply and demand characteristics is described. By varying assumptions and the nature of the rail service proposed, the resulting energy, cost and travel time impacts can be analyzed. In addition, the model is extremely useful in exploring fare structures and other policies. An existing railroad line in the North Central Texas region is used as a case study.

With an increasing awareness of the complexity of an urban society, local government has found it increasingly difficult to effectively plan and manage a city. One reason for this difficulty, that is often advanced, is that local decision makers often lack the information which would enable them to make sound decisions. This problem has sparked considerable interest in the development of computerized systems for the acquisition, analysis, and delivery of the information needed for local planning and management. Such urban information systems are currently under development in several cities.

Ann Arbor is one city that is currently developing an urban information system. One component of this system is designed to support the activities of a number of City Departments with the provision of housing, economic and social information. Development of this Environment Information System began in 1971 with the computerization of a land use survey and has progressed to a fully operational status. Parcel, establishment and rental buildings, data files and a full complement of data management and analysis software are currently being utilized by City Planning and several other departments. However, the system still needs further work if it is to be most useful. Future development will concentrate on several specific technical and organizational improvements which will increase the capabilities and utilization of the system.