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Papers by Mir Shabbar Ali

World Transport Policy and Practice

Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanizatio... more Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanization. This growth in population has not been complemented with appropriate planning, which has been evident in the transportation sector as well. This paper discussed in detail the current situation of public transport in the city. The outcome of this research consists of identification of major problem areas and recommendations to be adapted for integrated improvement of the transportation system in light of various surveys and studies.

World Transport Policy and Practice, Jan 23, 2015

Traffic congestion in mega cities is a common phenomenon for developing countries. Numerous studi... more Traffic congestion in mega cities is a common phenomenon for developing countries. Numerous studies on congestion cost estimation, that aim to quantify their monetary losses, have been conducted. Value of Time (VOT) assessment through utility maximizing theory and choice models are abundantly applied in transport literature. However, estimating VOT on congested network is not widely applied yet. To recognize the difference under normal and congested network, the current study focuses on VOT estimation for work trips in an extremely congested network.The focus of this research is to conduct a VOT estimation of the National Highway, Karachi. It connects Karachi city with Port Qasim Industrial area and the rest of the country. A large amount of freight transport to and from the port is also observed on this road. The National highway, being the only link to commute to this industrial area, is therefore under excessive traffic congestion.A stated preference (SP) survey was conducted at various industries located in this stretch. The respondents were asked about current travel practices and their (stated) preferences based on hypothetical-though realistic-travel attributes. A choice set of four alternative modes based on the currently used mode was presented to each individual. A Multinomial Logistics Regression (MNL) Model was developed for data analysis.As perceived, the results revealed a strong impact of travel time and travel cost on the (dis)utility of travel. These results can be utilized by policy makers to reduce congestion, monetary and time losses through efficient transport planning.

For most rural populations in developing countries, travel to access basic needs is considered a ... more For most rural populations in developing countries, travel to access basic needs is considered a burden, in terms of wastage of their daily time and efforts. Lack of adequate access to health, education and market centres is found to be responsible for problems like high mortality rate and low literacy rate and high sense of isolation. Recent research has recommended that time constraints should be incorporated in attempting to model rural travel behaviour. The research reported in this thesis integrates household accessibility analysis within an activity-based framework to model travel demand. The conceptual development recognised the derived nature of travel. The household access needs are transformed into individual activities through household role allocation. The spatial and temporal constraints on the activities along with monetary, cultural and social constraints on individuals determine accessibility of the activities to the individuals. Probabilistic behavioural models have been developed to model individual activity choice and the resulting travel.

World Transport Policy and Practice

Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanizatio... more Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanization. This growth in population has not been complemented with appropriate planning, which has been evident in the transportation sector as well. This paper discussed in detail the current situation of public transport in the city. The outcome of this research consists of identification of major problem areas and recommendations to be adapted for integrated improvement of the transportation system in light of various surveys and studies.

This paper consists of a study conducted to quantify the traffic congestion problem. Additionally... more This paper consists of a study conducted to quantify the traffic congestion problem. Additionally, it describes the complete methodological process from data collection to cost per minute delay. Traffic congestion issues are frequently observed in large cities of the world where the road facilitiesoperate at capacity limits. To estimate the congestion cost,an arterial route of Karachi (A metropolitan city of Pakistan) was selected that has significant importance due to the industrial and port associated activity. The obtained results indicate that Pak Rs. 1 million are lost daily due to traffic congestion, which is extrapolated for whole Karachi. The amount is a composition of opportunity and fuel consumption costs caused due to excessive delays in congestion.

Procedia Engineering, 2014

Transportation encompasses a broad set of policy variables, and the planning and development of t... more Transportation encompasses a broad set of policy variables, and the planning and development of transportation facilities generally raises living standards and enhances the aggregate of community values. For the efficient planning of infrastructure and the constituent facilities, road traffic accidents has its own significance and demanding validity. Outputs from the system include the movement of people and traffic modes, improvement and deterioration of the physical environment as well. In contrast to all these factors, crash prevention is indirectly linked with the time of the occurrence or related incident. This corresponds to the spatial organization, circulation, visual properties, resources and symbolic properties.This paper focuses on road traffic accidents of Karachi, Pakistan involving various types of road users in different timings of the day (24 hrs). Possible root causes with significant recommended measures is the extensive dimension of this research study. Deliberate number of crash implications perceived by the application of ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) in the comparative analysis of three years data record. It is quite evident from the analytical data record that rate of severity is directly linked with the increase in insufficient illumination during dusk and dark timings. The positive progressive impact of time on traffic accidents is probably one of the important dimensions that will control the magnitude of the casualties.

BMC Public Health, 2012

Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are one of the leading causes of death and disability wo... more Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide with 90% of global mortality concentrated in the low and middle income countries. RTI surveillance is recommended to define the burden, identify high risk groups, plan intervention and monitor their impact. Despite its stated importance in the literature, very few examples of sustained surveillance systems are reported from low income countries. This paper shares the experience of setting up an urban RTI surveillance program in the emergency departments of five major hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Method: We describe the process of establishing a surveillance system including assembling a multi-institution research group, developing a data collection methodology, carrying out data collection and analysis and dissemination of information to the relevant stakeholders. In the absence of a road safety agency, the surveillance system required developing individual partnerships with industry, police, city government, media and many other stakeholders. Impact of the surveillance is demonstrated by some initiatives in the local trauma system and improvements in road design to effect hazard reduction.

World Transport Policy and Practice

Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanizatio... more Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanization. This growth in population has not been complemented with appropriate planning, which has been evident in the transportation sector as well. This paper discussed in detail the current situation of public transport in the city. The outcome of this research consists of identification of major problem areas and recommendations to be adapted for integrated improvement of the transportation system in light of various surveys and studies.

World Transport Policy and Practice, Jan 23, 2015

Traffic congestion in mega cities is a common phenomenon for developing countries. Numerous studi... more Traffic congestion in mega cities is a common phenomenon for developing countries. Numerous studies on congestion cost estimation, that aim to quantify their monetary losses, have been conducted. Value of Time (VOT) assessment through utility maximizing theory and choice models are abundantly applied in transport literature. However, estimating VOT on congested network is not widely applied yet. To recognize the difference under normal and congested network, the current study focuses on VOT estimation for work trips in an extremely congested network.The focus of this research is to conduct a VOT estimation of the National Highway, Karachi. It connects Karachi city with Port Qasim Industrial area and the rest of the country. A large amount of freight transport to and from the port is also observed on this road. The National highway, being the only link to commute to this industrial area, is therefore under excessive traffic congestion.A stated preference (SP) survey was conducted at various industries located in this stretch. The respondents were asked about current travel practices and their (stated) preferences based on hypothetical-though realistic-travel attributes. A choice set of four alternative modes based on the currently used mode was presented to each individual. A Multinomial Logistics Regression (MNL) Model was developed for data analysis.As perceived, the results revealed a strong impact of travel time and travel cost on the (dis)utility of travel. These results can be utilized by policy makers to reduce congestion, monetary and time losses through efficient transport planning.

For most rural populations in developing countries, travel to access basic needs is considered a ... more For most rural populations in developing countries, travel to access basic needs is considered a burden, in terms of wastage of their daily time and efforts. Lack of adequate access to health, education and market centres is found to be responsible for problems like high mortality rate and low literacy rate and high sense of isolation. Recent research has recommended that time constraints should be incorporated in attempting to model rural travel behaviour. The research reported in this thesis integrates household accessibility analysis within an activity-based framework to model travel demand. The conceptual development recognised the derived nature of travel. The household access needs are transformed into individual activities through household role allocation. The spatial and temporal constraints on the activities along with monetary, cultural and social constraints on individuals determine accessibility of the activities to the individuals. Probabilistic behavioural models have been developed to model individual activity choice and the resulting travel.

World Transport Policy and Practice

Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanizatio... more Karachi has experienced major surges in population due to the migration of people and urbanization. This growth in population has not been complemented with appropriate planning, which has been evident in the transportation sector as well. This paper discussed in detail the current situation of public transport in the city. The outcome of this research consists of identification of major problem areas and recommendations to be adapted for integrated improvement of the transportation system in light of various surveys and studies.

This paper consists of a study conducted to quantify the traffic congestion problem. Additionally... more This paper consists of a study conducted to quantify the traffic congestion problem. Additionally, it describes the complete methodological process from data collection to cost per minute delay. Traffic congestion issues are frequently observed in large cities of the world where the road facilitiesoperate at capacity limits. To estimate the congestion cost,an arterial route of Karachi (A metropolitan city of Pakistan) was selected that has significant importance due to the industrial and port associated activity. The obtained results indicate that Pak Rs. 1 million are lost daily due to traffic congestion, which is extrapolated for whole Karachi. The amount is a composition of opportunity and fuel consumption costs caused due to excessive delays in congestion.

Procedia Engineering, 2014

Transportation encompasses a broad set of policy variables, and the planning and development of t... more Transportation encompasses a broad set of policy variables, and the planning and development of transportation facilities generally raises living standards and enhances the aggregate of community values. For the efficient planning of infrastructure and the constituent facilities, road traffic accidents has its own significance and demanding validity. Outputs from the system include the movement of people and traffic modes, improvement and deterioration of the physical environment as well. In contrast to all these factors, crash prevention is indirectly linked with the time of the occurrence or related incident. This corresponds to the spatial organization, circulation, visual properties, resources and symbolic properties.This paper focuses on road traffic accidents of Karachi, Pakistan involving various types of road users in different timings of the day (24 hrs). Possible root causes with significant recommended measures is the extensive dimension of this research study. Deliberate number of crash implications perceived by the application of ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) in the comparative analysis of three years data record. It is quite evident from the analytical data record that rate of severity is directly linked with the increase in insufficient illumination during dusk and dark timings. The positive progressive impact of time on traffic accidents is probably one of the important dimensions that will control the magnitude of the casualties.

BMC Public Health, 2012

Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are one of the leading causes of death and disability wo... more Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide with 90% of global mortality concentrated in the low and middle income countries. RTI surveillance is recommended to define the burden, identify high risk groups, plan intervention and monitor their impact. Despite its stated importance in the literature, very few examples of sustained surveillance systems are reported from low income countries. This paper shares the experience of setting up an urban RTI surveillance program in the emergency departments of five major hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Method: We describe the process of establishing a surveillance system including assembling a multi-institution research group, developing a data collection methodology, carrying out data collection and analysis and dissemination of information to the relevant stakeholders. In the absence of a road safety agency, the surveillance system required developing individual partnerships with industry, police, city government, media and many other stakeholders. Impact of the surveillance is demonstrated by some initiatives in the local trauma system and improvements in road design to effect hazard reduction.