May be what we want to say is relatively simple.
In not so recent transportation modelling discussions about generated /
induced trips when changing "street" network characteristics
(shorter/longer route, destination change, closure) it has been
recognised that these change have different implication for modelling
than suspected and sometime contradicted well established assumption
(closure and traffic disappearance). These characteristics have been or
are being embedded into the modelling assumptions of several
transportation model softwares.
What Space Syntax research show is that network morphology itself - a
network characteristic - is strongly "inducing / generating" traffic or
"in relationship to relative" traffic volume level - pick or make your
preferred semantic - and this should be taken into account by the
modelling assumption and probably changing a few of them too.
How, probably not with distance, it is already there and does not do the
job as Alan and Bill explained. It seems that the best bet is Shinichi's
work at Space Syntax as it is the most compatible with the base of
current state of the art of transportation modelling i.e. the
representation of the network.
Then the most effective way to change the status quo would be to have a
go with the software developer such as CUBE/TRIPS..., EMME2, MENTOR,
SATURN the later being continuously developed by Leeds
University/Atkins. SATURN is still the base of the London model improved
by the Laser/Naomi/Orbit/micro simulations enhancement (complications)
niceties.
These softwares do already a lot of things and if they can integrate the
morphological aspect of the network we may stop criticising them at
least for that. It might simplify their life a lot and ours as well.
This is possibly the least effort route and so the most probable.
After all, most transportation modeller whatever they say, most of the
times go by what available software that is recognised as accepted
standard practice from the paymaster even if the modeller would
customize it to the latest flavour of the day. So if network morphology
characteristics and effects are integrated in these softwares that would
be an interesting twist to this discussion.
Anyway it is not going to happen overnight - and if ever, then the
software that does so may say "Space Syntax inside" or alternatively
"New Space Syntax inside" lets see. :)
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Alain Chiaradia
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