Peter Muller - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Peter Muller
Automated People Movers 2009, 2009
In June of 2008 a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) application study commenced at a popular developme... more In June of 2008 a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) application study commenced at a popular development on the western edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The purpose of the project is to investigate the potential of PRT to solve transportation and mobility issues in a popular commercial development that encompasses retail and entertainment commonly known as the Village West development. In addition to retail, restaurants, and entertainment, the Village West area borders on a major NASCAR race track, and a former greyhound racing facility available for redevelopment. Village West also contains a minor league ball park, and a regional medical facility is located immediately to the east. Planned additional development includes a casino and water resort. As with most modern development, the dominant uses of land are parking lots and access roads to serve the attractions. This study investigates the ability of a PRT system to improve the inter-accessibility of the existing and planned facilities, to serve as a feeder to any existing and planned transit systems, and to reduce the quantity of land dedicated to roads and parking lots, freeing up land for additional development.
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2007
Personal rapid transit (PRT) uses small driverless vehicles operating on dedicated guideways to t... more Personal rapid transit (PRT) uses small driverless vehicles operating on dedicated guideways to transport passengers efficiently to their destinations. A study was focused on the safety and security of PRT in a university setting. Safety issues result from accidental causes, and security issues result from deliberate causes, but the effects are similar; both were analyzed according to threats (or hazards) and vulnerabilities. Threats and vulnerabilities were rated according to ASCE's automated people mover standards. Safety data were gathered for the 30-year old Morgantown PRT system at West Virginia University and for surface transportation on the Kansas State University (KSU) campus. KSU has no plans to build a PRT system. Where applicable, these data were used to calibrate the hypothetical PRT system ratings and also used to help determine which of those aspects rated undesirable or, worse, warranted additional mitigating measures. The study concluded that no aspect of PRT po...
Personal rapid transit (PRT) appears to be emerging as a viable technology. PRT vehicles typicall... more Personal rapid transit (PRT) appears to be emerging as a viable technology. PRT vehicles typically function as automated taxis on demand carrying small groups of one to six people who are traveling together. Initially conceived to solve urban transportation problems, PRT may be well suited to also solving large airport surface transportation problems. Present airport solutions for surface transportation involve most of the following modes: shuttle buses, walking, moving sidewalks, automated people movers (APM), escalators, elevators and electric carts. This paper examines PRT’s ability to replace these modes of transportation. Using Denver International Airport (DIA) as a case study, the paper explores how the airport could have been built had PRT been available ten years ago. Three levels of innovation are examined: conventional replacing existing wheeled modes (shuttle buses and APMs), unconventional using PRT within long concourses and to provide continuous service from the main ...
This paper compares urban transportation solutions that are currently in use or under considerati... more This paper compares urban transportation solutions that are currently in use or under consideration including personal rapid transit (PRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), electric bicycle rapid transit (BikeRT), transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber & Lyft and small driverless shuttles (A-shuttles). Since these solutions are often presented without an evaluation of which problems they address and which they ignore, or even exacerbate, the paper develops a methodology to evaluate and compare them. A simplified systems-engineering analysis is undertaken whereby the fundamental requirements for an effective 21st Century transportation system are derived from the results of a series of public workshops. These requirements include: safe and secure; reliable; cost-effective; reduces VMT and congestion; sustainable; ADA compliant; widespread service area. Goals are developed for each requirement. The ability of each of the solutions to meet the goal for each requirement is then considered and rated. The results are summarized and ways of combining solutions considered. It is suggested that those questioning the presented results use the same process to develop their own list of requirements and score their preferred solutions against those requirements.
This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainab... more This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainability at the Fort Carson Army Post in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Staff and stakeholder values are explored in relation to the implementation of PRT and alternative systems. Trade-offs between level of service, convenience, visual impact, etc. are weighed and the overall desirability of PRT is determined. Stations are located, a preferred alignment is developed and ridership is estimated. The system is modeled to determine guideway capacities, walk, wait and travel times as well as the number of transportation pods (T-Pods) required and its ability to carry sufficient passengers to meet the Post’s goal for reducing single occupancy vehicle use. PRT benefits and costs are determined and compared. Recommendations are made regarding possible next steps to be taken toward implementing the PRT system. Introduction The Fort Carson community has adopted sustainability goals for the post, which ...
This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainab... more This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainability at the Fort Carson Army Post in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Staff and stakeholder values are explored in relation to the implementation of PRT and alternative systems. Trade-offs between level of service, convenience, visual impact, etc. are weighed and the overall desirability of PRT is determined. Stations are located, a preferred alignment is developed and ridership is estimated. The system is modeled to determine guideway capacities, walk, wait and travel times as well as the number of transportation pods (T-Pods) required and its ability to carry sufficient passengers to meet the Post's goal for reducing single occupancy vehicle use. PRT benefits and costs are determined and compared. Recommendations are made regarding possible next steps to be taken toward implementing the PRT system.
Automated People Movers 2009, 2009
In June of 2008 a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) application study commenced at a popular developme... more In June of 2008 a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) application study commenced at a popular development on the western edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The purpose of the project is to investigate the potential of PRT to solve transportation and mobility issues in a popular commercial development that encompasses retail and entertainment commonly known as the Village West development. In addition to retail, restaurants, and entertainment, the Village West area borders on a major NASCAR race track, and a former greyhound racing facility available for redevelopment. Village West also contains a minor league ball park, and a regional medical facility is located immediately to the east. Planned additional development includes a casino and water resort. As with most modern development, the dominant uses of land are parking lots and access roads to serve the attractions. This study investigates the ability of a PRT system to improve the inter-accessibility of the existing and planned facilities, to serve as a feeder to any existing and planned transit systems, and to reduce the quantity of land dedicated to roads and parking lots, freeing up land for additional development.
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2007
Personal rapid transit (PRT) uses small driverless vehicles operating on dedicated guideways to t... more Personal rapid transit (PRT) uses small driverless vehicles operating on dedicated guideways to transport passengers efficiently to their destinations. A study was focused on the safety and security of PRT in a university setting. Safety issues result from accidental causes, and security issues result from deliberate causes, but the effects are similar; both were analyzed according to threats (or hazards) and vulnerabilities. Threats and vulnerabilities were rated according to ASCE's automated people mover standards. Safety data were gathered for the 30-year old Morgantown PRT system at West Virginia University and for surface transportation on the Kansas State University (KSU) campus. KSU has no plans to build a PRT system. Where applicable, these data were used to calibrate the hypothetical PRT system ratings and also used to help determine which of those aspects rated undesirable or, worse, warranted additional mitigating measures. The study concluded that no aspect of PRT po...
Personal rapid transit (PRT) appears to be emerging as a viable technology. PRT vehicles typicall... more Personal rapid transit (PRT) appears to be emerging as a viable technology. PRT vehicles typically function as automated taxis on demand carrying small groups of one to six people who are traveling together. Initially conceived to solve urban transportation problems, PRT may be well suited to also solving large airport surface transportation problems. Present airport solutions for surface transportation involve most of the following modes: shuttle buses, walking, moving sidewalks, automated people movers (APM), escalators, elevators and electric carts. This paper examines PRT’s ability to replace these modes of transportation. Using Denver International Airport (DIA) as a case study, the paper explores how the airport could have been built had PRT been available ten years ago. Three levels of innovation are examined: conventional replacing existing wheeled modes (shuttle buses and APMs), unconventional using PRT within long concourses and to provide continuous service from the main ...
This paper compares urban transportation solutions that are currently in use or under considerati... more This paper compares urban transportation solutions that are currently in use or under consideration including personal rapid transit (PRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), electric bicycle rapid transit (BikeRT), transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber & Lyft and small driverless shuttles (A-shuttles). Since these solutions are often presented without an evaluation of which problems they address and which they ignore, or even exacerbate, the paper develops a methodology to evaluate and compare them. A simplified systems-engineering analysis is undertaken whereby the fundamental requirements for an effective 21st Century transportation system are derived from the results of a series of public workshops. These requirements include: safe and secure; reliable; cost-effective; reduces VMT and congestion; sustainable; ADA compliant; widespread service area. Goals are developed for each requirement. The ability of each of the solutions to meet the goal for each requirement is then considered and rated. The results are summarized and ways of combining solutions considered. It is suggested that those questioning the presented results use the same process to develop their own list of requirements and score their preferred solutions against those requirements.
This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainab... more This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainability at the Fort Carson Army Post in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Staff and stakeholder values are explored in relation to the implementation of PRT and alternative systems. Trade-offs between level of service, convenience, visual impact, etc. are weighed and the overall desirability of PRT is determined. Stations are located, a preferred alignment is developed and ridership is estimated. The system is modeled to determine guideway capacities, walk, wait and travel times as well as the number of transportation pods (T-Pods) required and its ability to carry sufficient passengers to meet the Post’s goal for reducing single occupancy vehicle use. PRT benefits and costs are determined and compared. Recommendations are made regarding possible next steps to be taken toward implementing the PRT system. Introduction The Fort Carson community has adopted sustainability goals for the post, which ...
This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainab... more This study investigates the ability of a personal rapid transit (PRT) system to enhance sustainability at the Fort Carson Army Post in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Staff and stakeholder values are explored in relation to the implementation of PRT and alternative systems. Trade-offs between level of service, convenience, visual impact, etc. are weighed and the overall desirability of PRT is determined. Stations are located, a preferred alignment is developed and ridership is estimated. The system is modeled to determine guideway capacities, walk, wait and travel times as well as the number of transportation pods (T-Pods) required and its ability to carry sufficient passengers to meet the Post's goal for reducing single occupancy vehicle use. PRT benefits and costs are determined and compared. Recommendations are made regarding possible next steps to be taken toward implementing the PRT system.