Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Spatial And Temporal Correlations Of Freeway Link Speeds: An Empirical Study, Piotr J. Rachtan

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Congestion on roadways and high level of uncertainty of traffic conditions are major considerations for trip planning. The purpose of this research is to investigate the characteristics and patterns of spatial and temporal correlations and also to detect other variables that affect correlation in a freeway setting. 5-minute speed aggregates from the Performance Measurement System (PeMS) database are obtained for two directions of an urban freeway – I-10 between Santa Monica and Los Angeles, California. Observations are for all non-holiday weekdays between January 1st and June 30th, 2010. Other variables include traffic flow, ramp locations, number of lanes and the …

Route Choice Behavior In Risky Networks With Real-Time Information, Michael D. Razo

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This research investigates route choice behavior in networks with risky travel times and real-time information. A stated preference survey is conducted in which subjects use a PC-based interactive maps to choose routes link-by-link in various scenarios. The scenarios include two types of maps: the first presenting a choice between one stochastic route and one deterministic route, and the second with real-time information and an available detour. The first type measures the basic risk attitude of the subject. The second type allows for strategic planning, and measures the effect of this opportunity on subjects' choice behavior.

Results from each subject are …

Dynamic Model Pooling Methodology For Improving Aberration Detection Algorithms, Brenton J. Sellati

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Syndromic surveillance is defined generally as the collection and statistical analysis of data which are believed to be leading indicators for the presence of deleterious activities developing within a system. Conceptually, syndromic surveillance can be applied to any discipline in which it is important to know when external influences manifest themselves in a system by forcing it to depart from its baseline. Comparing syndromic surveillance systems have led to mixed results, where models that dominate in one performance metric are often sorely deficient in another. This results in a zero-sum trade off where one performance metric must be afforded greater …

Conservation Implications Of A Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma Opacum, Metapopulation Model, Ethan B. Plunkett

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Amphibians are in decline globally and a significantly greater percentage of ambystomatid salamander species are in decline relative to other species; habitat loss contributes significantly to this decline. The goals of this thesis is to better understand extinction risk in a marbled salamander (ambystoma opacum) population and how forestry effects extinction risk. To achieve this goal we first estimated an important life history parameter (Chapter 1) then used a metapopulation model to estimate population viability and determine what aspects of their life history put them most at risk (Chapter 2) and finally predicted extinction risk in response to hypothetical forestry …