Alternative Exam 2025 - New Angles
CIEM6210 / CIEQ6212 - Regions, Transport and Networks
Total: 100 points | Time: 3 hours
This practice exam is deliberately different from the official mock. It tests the same course concepts, but through new
contexts, figures and modelling choices.
Overview
Question Topic Points
1 Policy evaluation with logit, self-selection and SEM 15
2 Accessibility: comparing two station-area strategies 15
3 Location theory and facility model selection in a policy case 10
4 System dynamics: station policy, congestion and gentrification 20
5 Choosing LUT models for specific planning questions 10
6 Bilevel toll problem with threshold follower response 15
7 Freight facility siting with centre of gravity and practical constraints 15
Question 1: Travel Demand, Causality and Policy Interpretation (15 points)
A city builds a new station and upzones the surrounding neighbourhood. After five years, train use increases strongly. A
consultant estimates a train-versus-car model and also runs a longitudinal SEM/cross-lagged analysis.
Variable Beta p-value
Density index 0.55 0.02
Distance to nearest station -0.70 0.01
Train travel time -1.10 0.00
Car parking cost 0.45 0.04
Pro-PT attitude 0.80 0.00
a) Interpret the signs of all five coefficients. Pay attention to the fact that the dependent variable is choosing the train
rather than the car. (5)
b) The municipality claims: “The station caused all of the increase in train use.” Explain why this may be too strong. Use
residential self-selection and cross-lagged reasoning. (5)
c) Explain how SEM can distinguish direct effects, indirect effects and reverse causality in this case. (5)
, Question 2: Accessibility Strategy Choice (15 points)
A region can choose one of two investment strategies. Scenario A creates one very fast regional hub. Scenario B
creates several medium-quality hubs. Darker areas in the figure indicate higher logsum accessibility.
a) Explain why Scenario B may have higher accessibility in some municipalities even if none of its hubs is as fast as the
hub in Scenario A. Use the logsum concept. (5)
b) Would a cumulative-opportunity measure necessarily give the same conclusion as logsum? Explain why not. (4)
c) Give one example of a planning question for which BBI would be more suitable, and one for which Shimbel would be
more suitable. (6)
Question 3: Location Theory and Facility Model Selection (10 points)
A manufacturing firm needs inputs from two raw-material sites and sells output to one main market. A regional
authority also wants to ensure ambulance coverage in rural municipalities.
a) Explain how Weber’s theory would approach the industrial location problem shown in the figure. (3)
CIEM6210 / CIEQ6212 - Regions, Transport and Networks
Total: 100 points | Time: 3 hours
This practice exam is deliberately different from the official mock. It tests the same course concepts, but through new
contexts, figures and modelling choices.
Overview
Question Topic Points
1 Policy evaluation with logit, self-selection and SEM 15
2 Accessibility: comparing two station-area strategies 15
3 Location theory and facility model selection in a policy case 10
4 System dynamics: station policy, congestion and gentrification 20
5 Choosing LUT models for specific planning questions 10
6 Bilevel toll problem with threshold follower response 15
7 Freight facility siting with centre of gravity and practical constraints 15
Question 1: Travel Demand, Causality and Policy Interpretation (15 points)
A city builds a new station and upzones the surrounding neighbourhood. After five years, train use increases strongly. A
consultant estimates a train-versus-car model and also runs a longitudinal SEM/cross-lagged analysis.
Variable Beta p-value
Density index 0.55 0.02
Distance to nearest station -0.70 0.01
Train travel time -1.10 0.00
Car parking cost 0.45 0.04
Pro-PT attitude 0.80 0.00
a) Interpret the signs of all five coefficients. Pay attention to the fact that the dependent variable is choosing the train
rather than the car. (5)
b) The municipality claims: “The station caused all of the increase in train use.” Explain why this may be too strong. Use
residential self-selection and cross-lagged reasoning. (5)
c) Explain how SEM can distinguish direct effects, indirect effects and reverse causality in this case. (5)
, Question 2: Accessibility Strategy Choice (15 points)
A region can choose one of two investment strategies. Scenario A creates one very fast regional hub. Scenario B
creates several medium-quality hubs. Darker areas in the figure indicate higher logsum accessibility.
a) Explain why Scenario B may have higher accessibility in some municipalities even if none of its hubs is as fast as the
hub in Scenario A. Use the logsum concept. (5)
b) Would a cumulative-opportunity measure necessarily give the same conclusion as logsum? Explain why not. (4)
c) Give one example of a planning question for which BBI would be more suitable, and one for which Shimbel would be
more suitable. (6)
Question 3: Location Theory and Facility Model Selection (10 points)
A manufacturing firm needs inputs from two raw-material sites and sells output to one main market. A regional
authority also wants to ensure ambulance coverage in rural municipalities.
a) Explain how Weber’s theory would approach the industrial location problem shown in the figure. (3)
