Professor David Levinson
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Professor David Levinson

PhD 1998 University of California, Berkeley
Professor of Transport
School of Civil Engineering
Phone
+61 2 8627 6136
Address
J05 - J05 Civil Engineering Building
The University of Sydney
Details
Professor David Levinson

Prof. David M. Levinson joined the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney in 2017. He also serves as an adjunct faculty in the. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where from 1999 to 2016, he served on the faculty. He was Managing Director of the Accessibility Observatory , and directed the Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems ( NEXUS ) research group. He held the Richard P. Braun/CTS Chair in Transportation (2006-2016). He also served on the graduate faculty of the Applied Economics and Urban and Regional Planning programs at the University of Minnesota. In academic year 2006-2007 he was a visiting academic at Imperial College in London.

In January 2005 he was awarded the CUTC/ARTBA New Faculty Award . He earned a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley in 1998. His dissertation “ On Whom the Toll Falls “, argues that local decision making about managing and financing roads will most likely lead to direct road pricing, which will allow the efficient allocation of scarce road resources (and thus reduce congestion). He has also conducted research into travel behavior.

Professor Levinson received the 1995 Tiebout Prize in Regional Science for the paper “Location, Relocation, and the Journey to Work”. From 1989 to 1994, he worked as a transportation planner, developing integrated transportation and land-use models for Montgomery County, Maryland. He then applied those models for multimodal network planning and growth management.

Professor Levinson has authored or edited several books , including Spontaneous Access, The End of Traffic and the Future of Transport , The Transportation Experience , and Planning for Place and Plexus , as well as numerous peer reviewed articles . He is the founding editor of the Journal of Transport and Land Use and ofFindings .

Follow Professor Levinson onMastodon and his blog.

Transport networks are not simply about moving people around faster; they're about connecting people and goods with the places they need to go safely, efficiently and with minimal social and environmental costs. Professor David Levinson's research focuses on how best to do this.

"My work looks at how we can better connect people and places, by providing more direct networks, by making links on those networks faster (while still safe and environmentally responsible), and by better locating activities with respect to each other.

"Each of these factors affects things as diverse as real estate prices, travel behaviour and economic productivity. For instance, a homebuyer might want to know how many workplaces, shops, parks or medical facilities would be accessible within 30 minutes of a prospective new home - whether by car, bike, walking or public transport. Similarly, a firm might want to know how many potential workers it would be able to access were it to site its premises in a particular area.

"Several emerging developments will affect our transport design needs, including the adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles and the shift from individual ownership to taxi-like but automated shared vehicles, or mobility-as-a-service, in higher-density areas. We need to rethink our infrastructure, designed for earlier transport technologies with different demands and constraints, in this new world to better serve people.

"Ultimately we want cities to function better, served by transport systems that don't kill more than a million people per year globally, that don't produce any net pollution, and that still get people where they're going quickly.

"Becoming a transport planner and engineer was a natural evolution for me. I grew up in the planned community of Columbia, in Maryland in the US, which is now 50 years old. Being exposed to ideas about how to make better places, I've been imagining lines on maps and redesigning cities in my mind since I was a child.

"I've been working in transport since 1988, and I joined the University of Sydney in 2017. Sydney provides a new set of opportunities and transport questions to examine, and the city itself is a great urban laboratory to observe and experiment on."

  • CIVL 5703 Transport Planning, Policy, and Deployment
  • CIVL 5701 Transport Networks
  • Traffic Programming: Design of micro-decisions in automated transport.
  • Reducing pedestrian crashes through better intersection design
  • Strategic scheduling and deployment of random breath and drug testing operations
  • 2016-2006 Richard P. Braun/CTS Chair in Transportation Engineering, University of Minnesota.
  • 2015 George C. Marshall Visit to Austria.
  • 2011 Richard P. Braun Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership in research and innovation: University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies.
  • 2007-2006 Visiting Academic. Centre for Transport Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Imperial College, London. (10/2006 - 08/2007).
  • 2005 Winner CUTC-ARTBA New Faculty Award, presented by Council of University Transportation Centers and American Road and Transportation Builders Association.
  • 2005 Special Recognition: Research Partnership Award: Guidelines for Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investments in Bicycle Facilities: University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies.
  • 2003 NSF CAREER Award: The Evolution of Transportation Networks: Empirical Research and Agent- Based Models.
  • 1995 Winner Tiebout Prize: Best Student Paper at Western Regional Science Conference “Location, Relo- cation, and the Journey to Work”.
Clean energy, Robotics, Complex systems
Project titleResearch student
Predictive Analytics for Urban Corridor Control: a Person-Centric Efficiency-Safety ApproachHamidreza BABAEIGHAZVINI
Modelling and control of shared electric micromobility systemsElnaz EMAMI
A Study on Urban Economics and Cost-Benefit AnalysisIsaac MANN
Assessment of the Impact of External Policy Shocks on Urban Planning Initiatives: A Causal Inference ApproachAlexei ROUDNITSKI
Application of Computer Vision in Detecting Suspected DUIAmin SHAER
Distributed Autonomous Vehicles at Intersection NetworksAlireza SOLTANI
Assessing the users’ perceptions and impact of integrating cycling and public transport in a developing countryRegine TEJADA
Programming Traffic: Modelling and Control for Integrated Longitudinal-Lateral Microscopic Vehicle ManeuversJack WANG

Selected publications

Publications

Books

  • Levinson, D. (2020). The 30-Minute City: Designing for Access. Sydney, NSW: Network Design Lab.
  • Levinson, D., King, D. (2019). A Political Economy of Access: Infrastructure, Networks, Cities, and Institutions. Sydney, Australia: Network Design Lab.
  • Levinson, D., Krizek, K. (2018). Metropolitan transport and land use: Planning for place and plexus, second edition. New York: Routledge. [More Information]

Book Chapters

  • Owen, A., Levinson, D. (2017). Developing a Comprehensive U.S. Transit Accessibility Database. In Piyushimita (Vonu) Thakuriah, Nebiyou Tilahun and Moira Zellner (Eds.), Seeing Cities Through Big Data: Research, Methods and Applications in Urban Informatics, (pp. 279-290). Cham: Springer. [More Information]
  • Huang, A., Levinson, D. (2016). STREET: Where simulation meets reality. In Ann Hill Duin, Edward A. Nater, Farhad X. Anklesaria (Eds.), Cultivating Change in the Academy, (pp. 127-129). USA: University of Minnesota.
  • Mogush, P., Krizek, K., Levinson, D. (2016). The value of bicycle trail access in home purchases. In Karst T. Geurs, Roberto Patuelli, Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (Eds.), Accessibility, Equity and Efficiency: Challenges for Transport and Public Services, (pp. 193-209). Edward Elgar Publishing. [More Information]

Journals

  • Wu, B., Levinson, D. (2024). A multi-modal analysis of the effect of transport on population and productivity in China. Journal of Transport Geography, 116, 103856. [More Information]
  • Gao, Y., Levinson, D. (2024). A multi-stage spatial queueing model with logistic arrivals and departures consistent with the microscopic fundamental diagram and hysteresis. Transportation Research Part B, 186, 103015. [More Information]
  • Lahoorpoor, B., Levinson, D. (2024). An agent-based simulation model for the growth of the Sydney Trains network. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2019). Link-based Full Cost Analysis of Travel. Transportation Research Board (TRB) 98th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA: Transportation Research Board.
  • Levinson, D., Cui, M. (2018). Full Cost Analysis of Accessibility. Transportation Research Board (TRB) 97th Annual Meeting 2018, Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).
  • Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2018). The Healthiest vs. Greenest Path: Comparing the Effects of Internal and External Costs of Motor Vehicle Pollution on Route Choice. Transportation Research Board (TRB) 97th Annual Meeting 2018, Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).

Report

  • Cui, M., Palmateer, C., Owen, A., Levinson, D. (2017). Exploring and Expanding Accessibility Metrics for Transportation Planning Phase 1: Incorporating Accessibility into Planning Practice.
  • Cui, M., Owen, A., Levinson, D. (2017). Exploring and Expanding Accessibility Metrics for Transportation Planning Phase 2: Extending Accessibility Analysis.
  • Cao, J., Iacono, M., Levinson, D., Cui, M. (2016). The Impacts of Transportation Investment on Economic Growth in the Twin Cities.

Other

  • Levinson, D., Istrate, E. (2016), Access for Value: Financing Transportation Through Land Value Capture.
  • Zador, P., Levinson, D. (2016), Evaluating Perturbation Impact on Key Travel Models: Census Statistical Disclosure Control Research Project 1.
  • Levinson, D. (2015), Modernizing American Transportation Policy.

Research Reports

  • Tang, W., Levinson, D. (2015). Multiday GPS Travel Behavior Data for Travel Analysis | An Empirical Study of the Deviation between Actual and Shortest-Travel-Time Paths, FHWA-HEP-015-026, (pp. 178 - 202). Washington DC, United States of America: Travel Model Improvement Program (TMIP).
  • Margiotta, R., Lomax, T., Qu, T., Dowling, R., Reinke, D., Levinson, D. (2012). NCHRP 08-36, Task 102: Assessing Alternative Methods for Measuring Regional Mobility, NCHRP 08-36, Task 102, (pp. 1 - 129). USA, United States of America: American Assoication of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
  • Schofer, J., Buxbaum, J., Clark, W., Duncan, D., Lawton, T., Levinson, D., Mitchell, R., Rosenbloom, S., Small, K., Taylor, B., et al (2011). Special Report 303: Equity of Evolving Transportation Finance Mechanisms, (pp. 1 - 196). Washington, USA, United States of America: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).

2024

  • Wu, B., Levinson, D. (2024). A multi-modal analysis of the effect of transport on population and productivity in China. Journal of Transport Geography, 116, 103856. [More Information]
  • Gao, Y., Levinson, D. (2024). A multi-stage spatial queueing model with logistic arrivals and departures consistent with the microscopic fundamental diagram and hysteresis. Transportation Research Part B, 186, 103015. [More Information]
  • Lahoorpoor, B., Levinson, D. (2024). An agent-based simulation model for the growth of the Sydney Trains network. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. [More Information]

2023

  • Wang, Y., Levinson, D. (2023). Access- based land value appreciation for accessing project benefits. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 16(1), 469-496. [More Information]
  • Wang, Y., Lu, D., Levinson, D. (2023). Equilibrium or imbalance? Rail Transit and Land Use Mix in Station Areas. Transportation, 50, 2403-2421. [More Information]
  • Zhao, X., Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2023). Exploring temporal variability in travel patterns on public transit using big smart card data. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 50(1), 198-217. [More Information]

2022

  • Gao, Y., Levinson, D. (2022). A bifurcation of the peak: new patterns of traffic peaking during the COVID-19 era. Transportation. [More Information]
  • Lahoorpoor, B., Rayaprolu, H., Wu, H., Levinson, D. (2022). Access-oriented design? Disentangling the effect of land use and transport network on accessibility. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 13, 100536-1-100536-13. [More Information]
  • Cui, B., DeWeese, J., Wu, H., King, D., Levinson, D., El-Geneidy, A. (2022). All ridership is local: Accessibility, competition, and stop-level determinants of daily bus boardings in Portland, Oregon. Journal of Transport Geography, 99, 103294. [More Information]

2021

  • Aston, L., Levinson, D. (2021). Accessibility-Oriented Planning: Why and How to Make the Switch. ITE Journal, 91(8), 25-29.
  • Wu, H., Levinson, D., Owen, A. (2021). Commute mode share and access to jobs across US metropolitan areas. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 48(4), 671-684. [More Information]
  • Gao, Y., Levinson, D. (2021). COVID-19, Travel Time Reliability, and the Emergence of a Double-Humped Peak Period. Findings. [More Information]

2020

  • Ji, A., Levinson, D. (2020). A review of game theory models of lane changing. Transportmetrica A: Transport Science, 16(3), 1628-1647. [More Information]
  • Ji, A., Levinson, D. (2020). An energy loss-based vehicular injury severity model. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 146, 1-9. [More Information]
  • Lahoorpoor, B., Levinson, D. (2020). Catchment if you can: The effect of station entrance and exit locations on accessibility. Journal of Transport Geography, 82, 1-12. [More Information]

2019

  • Levinson, D., King, D. (2019). A Political Economy of Access: Infrastructure, Networks, Cities, and Institutions. Sydney, Australia: Network Design Lab.
  • Cui, B., Boisjoly, G., El-Geneidy, A., Levinson, D. (2019). Accessibility and the journey to work through the lens of equity. Journal of Transport Geography, 74, 269-277. [More Information]
  • Ermagun, A., Levinson, D. (2019). Development and application of the network weight matrix to predict traffic flow for congested and uncongested conditions. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 46(9), 1684-1705. [More Information]

2018

  • Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2018). Accessibility analysis of risk severity. Transportation, 45(4), 1029-1050. [More Information]
  • Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2018). Accessibility and the Ring of Unreliability. Transportmetrica A: Transport Science, 14(1-2), 4-21. [More Information]
  • Deboosere, R., El-Geneidy, A., Levinson, D. (2018). Accessibility-oriented development. Journal of Transport Geography, 70, 11-20. [More Information]

2017

  • Ermagun, A., Levinson, D. (2017). "Transit makes you short": On health impact assessment of transportation and the built environment. Journal of Transport and Health, 4, 373-387. [More Information]
  • Zhang, L., Levinson, D. (2017). A model of the rise and fall of roads. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 10(1), 337-356. [More Information]
  • Huang, A., Levinson, D. (2017). A Model of Two-destination Choice in Trip Chains with GPS data. Journal of Choice Modelling, 24, 51-62. [More Information]

2016

  • Ermagun, A., Levinson, D. (2016). "Transit Makes you Short": On Health Impact Assessment of Transportation and the Built Environment. Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, USA: Transportation Research Board.
  • Levinson, D. (2016). A Random Walk Down Main Street. Tema, 9(2), 163-172. [More Information]
  • Levinson, D., Istrate, E. (2016), Access for Value: Financing Transportation Through Land Value Capture.

2015

  • Ermagun, A., Levinson, D. (2015). Access and Transit Performance. THREDBO International Conference Series on Competition and Ownership in Land Passenger Transport, Chile.
  • Cui, M., Levinson, D. (2015). Accessibility Analysis of Risk Severity. XIII NECTAR International Conference, Michigan, USA: NECTAR (Network on European Communications and Transport Activities Research).
  • Brosnan, M., Levinson, D. (2015). Accessibility and the Allocation of Time: Changes in Travel Behavior 1990-2010. Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting, USA: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).

2014

  • Levinson, D., Giacomin, D., Badsey-Ellis, A. (2014). Accessibility and the Choice of Network Investments in the London Underground. World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research, Delft.
  • Schoner, J., Cao, X., Levinson, D. (2014). Catalysts and Magnets: Effects of Built Environment on Bicycle Commuting. Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting, USA: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).
  • Iacono, M., Levinson, D. (2014). Causality in the Link Between Road Network Growth and Regional Development. Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting, USA: Transportation Research Board Publications (TRB).

2013

  • Levinson, D., Zhu, S. (2013). A portfolio theory of route choice. Transportation Research Part C, 35, 232-243. [More Information]
  • Anderson, P., Levinson, D., Parthasarathi, P. (2013). Accessibility futures. Transactions in GIS, 17(5), 683-705. [More Information]
  • Graham, D., Melo, P., Levinson, D. (2013). Agglomeration, Accessibility, and Productivity: Evidence for Urbanized Areas in the US. Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting, USA: Transportation Research Board.

2012

  • Zhu, S., Levinson, D. (2012). A Portfolio Theory of Route Choice. 91st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, USA.
  • Levinson, D., Huang, A. (2012). A positive theory of network connectivity. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 39(2), 308-325. [More Information]
  • Krizek, K., Levinson, D. (2012). Access. In Randall Crane and Rachel Weber (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Urban Planning, (pp. 166-180). United States: Oxford University Press. [More Information]

2011

  • Carrion, C., Levinson, D. (2011). A Model of Bridge Choice Across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. In David Levinson, Henry Liu, Michael Bell (Eds.), Network Reliability in Practice: Selected Papers from the Fourth International Symposium on Transportation Network Reliability, (pp. 115-129). New York: Springer. [More Information]
  • Tilahun, N., Levinson, D. (2011). An Agent-Based Model of Worker and Job Matching. 1st World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research, Canada.
  • Levinson, D., Xie, F. (2011). Does first last? The existence and extent of first mover advantages on spatial networks. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 4(2), 47-69. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2022

  • Design of micro-decisions in automated transport, Levinson D, Bell M, Ramezani M, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)

2021

  • Strategic scheduling and deployment of random breath and drug testing operations, Ramezani M, Levinson D, Moylan E, Bambach M, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Communications and the Arts/Road Safety Innovation
  • Reducing pedestrian crashes through better intersection design, Moylan E, Levinson D, Kay J, Ramezani M, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Communications and the Arts/Road Safety Innovation

International collaboration

University of Minnesota Accessibility Observatory[United States]

Advisor
Founder of project, former Managing Director.

In the media

Innovative expert in transport engineering joins faculty[26-Apr-17]

Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies has attracted leading transportation engineer and analyst Professor David Levinson to the School of Civil Engineering.More..

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