A stochastic model of traffic flow: Theoretical foundations

In a variety of applications of traffic flow, including traffic simulation, real-time estimation and prediction, one requires a probabilistic model of traffic flow. The usual approach to constructing such models involves the addition of random noise terms to deterministic equations, which could lead to negative traffic densities and mean dynamics that are inconsistent with the original deterministic dynamics. This paper offers a new stochastic model of traffic flow that addresses these issues. The source of randomness in the proposed model is the uncertainty inherent in driver gap choice, which is represented by random state dependent vehicle time headways. A wide range of time headway distributions is allowed. From the random time headways, counting processes are defined, which represent cumulative flows across cell boundaries in a discrete space and continuous time conservation framework. We show that our construction implicitly ensures non-negativity of traffic densities and that the fluid limit of the stochastic model is consistent with cell transmission model (CTM) based deterministic dynamics.     

高压齿轮泵浮动侧板的动态平衡机理

针对高压齿轮泵浮动侧板磨损问题,在解析齿轮泵内部流场的基础上重点研究了浮动侧板反推力作用点变化规律和导致侧板产生倾覆力矩的关键因素。以某型号高压大排量齿轮泵为模型,运用CFD软件解析齿轮泵内部流场并根据侧板结构特点建立压紧力和反推力的求解微分方程,求得一个轮齿啮合周期内的侧板倾覆力矩变化规律,同时通过建立齿轮泵工作腔压力测试系统对该理论分析结果进行验证,额定工况下：试验值与理论值误差为4.18%,当轮齿转角φ=14°时倾覆力矩达到最大值Ms=82.16N?m。该研究为高压大排量齿轮泵浮动侧板倾覆力矩计算和侧板结构优化设计提供了理论基础和技术支撑。     

Can ports increase traffic while reducing inputs? Technical efficiency of Spanish Port Authorities using a directional distance function approach

The focus of this paper is on the productive efficiency of ports. We estimate a directional technology distance function using parametric techniques to analyze the production technology and technical efficiency of a set of Spanish Port Authorities observed over the period 1993–2012. Technical inefficiency is conceived as the ability of ports to simultaneously expand a given output and contract variable inputs while maintaining quasi-fixed inputs and other outputs constant. Thus, for containerized cargo we address the following question: Given the amount of quasi-fixed inputs used by the firm and given the volume of the other outputs (liquids, solids, non-containerized cargo and passenger traffic), could ports increase their containerized merchandise while simultaneously reducing their variable inputs? Similar questions are asked for solid bulk and non-containerized general cargo. Our results show evidence of technical inefficiency among the ports in our sample. In particular, if the ports operated efficiently, we find that containerized cargo could be expanded by an average of over 6.4%, with an equivalent reduction in variable inputs. Solid bulk cargo and general non-containerized cargo could be increased by 4.1% and 6.1% respectively, with corresponding reductions in variable inputs. An implication of our results is that there is ample scope for specialization on the part of ports with no increase in infrastructure costs. Given that large investments in infrastructure have been made in Spanish port over the last decade, this opens the possibility of moving towards a management model based on taking advantage of existing capacity rather than new investments.     

Experiment of boundedly rational route choice behavior and the model under satisficing rule

In this paper, we study the boundedly rational route choice behavior under the Simon’s satisficing rule. A laboratory experiment was carried out to verify the participants’ boundedly rational route choice behavior. By introducing the concept of aspiration level which is specific to each person, we develop a novel model of the problem in a parallel-link network and investigate the properties of the boundedly rational user equilibrium (BRUE) state. Conditions for ensuring the existence and uniqueness of the BRUE solution are derived. A solution method is proposed to find the unique BRUE state. Extensions to general networks are conducted. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the theoretical analyses.     

岩-土复合地层暗挖隧道施工引起地表沉降计算方法

考虑岩层与土层2种介质力学性质的差异性,基于随机介质理论,建立双层介质计算模型,推导岩-土复合地层暗挖隧道施工引起地表沉降分步计算公式;明确椭圆形隧道断面不均匀收敛区域积分的上下限;计算岩-土分界面的沉降曲线,将曲线与岩-土分界面所围成的区域视为"不等厚开挖",确定该区域积分的上下限,并给出岩、土层中主要影响角及断面收缩半径的计算方法。以贵阳地铁2号线诚-观区间暗挖隧道为工程背景,对比分析分层计算值、不分层计算值与现场实测值之间的吻合度。结果表明:将隧道上覆地层划分为岩层和土层2部分的计算值与实测值较为吻合,其最大沉降值相对误差在10%以内;地表沉降曲线沿隧道中心线对称分布,且中心线处沉降值最大。     

Adapting the shipping sector to stricter emissions regulations: Fuel switching or installing a scrubber?

This paper examines how the existing fleet in the shipping industry can be adapted to the new emission regulations through the two main techniques that currently exist: (a) the use of low-sulphur marine diesels; and (b) the installation of scrubbers. A method is presented here for drawing up an economic assessment of both these techniques under uncertainty. It enables the best option to be selected at any given time taking into account fuel prices (spot and futures), scrubber installation costs, the time that the vessel operates in an Emission Control Area (ECA) and the remaining useful lifetime of the vessel. The paper also considers the possibility of an unexpected change from a non-ECA navigation area to an ECA. The assessment is carried out in a manner consistent with marine diesel and crude oil spot and futures market quotes. Our results show the net present value of investing in the installation of scrubbers and investing in changing fuel types for different assumptions on how vessels are operated. We also analyse increases in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions as a consequence of using scrubbers and how they affects the financial analysis if such incremental emissions must be paid under a CO₂ pricing mechanism.     

现状车载下旧桥承载力评定和可靠度有限元分析

采用三维体元,进行4座旧桥现状车载(大于设计车载的2 5倍)下的有限元分析,对其承载力进行评定。结果表明,4座旧桥中有1座桥必须拆除,2座桥需要适当加固,1座桥不需要加固。用随机有限元计算旧桥在现状车载下的剩余可靠度结果表明,精确的分析模型能挖掘桥梁的承载潜力。用PSAP计算可靠度指标的灵敏度发现,可靠度指标对混凝土弹性模量比活载更敏感。     

铁路信号电源使用现状及改进建议调研报告(上海)

对客专信号设备电源系统技术方案研究课题组(以下简称课题组)在上海铁路局、上海地铁等地的技术调研情况进行汇总、整理,并归纳总结出现场用户及相关专家提出的信号电源重点关注需求和改进建议。     

The evening commute with cars and transit: Duality results and user equilibrium for the combined morning and evening peaks

This paper extends Vickrey’s (1969) commute problem for commuters wishing to pass a bottleneck for both cars and transit that share finite road capacity. In addition to this more general framework considering two modes, the paper focuses on the evening rush, when commuters travel from work to home. Commuters choose which mode to use and when to travel in order to minimize the generalized cost of their own trips, including queueing delay and penalties for deviation from a preferred schedule of arrival and departure to and from work. The user equilibrium for the isolated morning and evening commutes are shown to be asymmetric because the schedule penalty in the morning is the difference between the departure and wished curves, and the schedule penalty in the evening is the difference between the arrival and wished curves. It is shown that the system optimum in the morning and evening peaks are symmetric because queueing delay is eliminated and the optimal arrival curves are the same as the departure curves.The paper then considers both the morning and evening peaks together for a single mode bottleneck (all cars) with identical travelers that share the same wished times. For a schedule penalty function of the morning departure and evening arrival times that is positive definite and has certain properties, a user equilibrium is shown to exist in which commuters travel in the same order in both peaks. The result is used to illustrate the user equilibrium for two cases: (i) commuters have decoupled schedule preferences in the morning and evening and (ii) commuters must work a fixed shift length but have flexibility when to start. Finally, a special case is considered with cars and transit: commuters have the same wished order in the morning and evening peaks. Commuters must use the same mode in both directions, and the complete user equilibrium solution reveals the number of commuters using cars and transit and the period in the middle of each rush when transit is used.     

Parking space management via dynamic performance-based pricing

In congested urban areas, it remains a pressing challenge to reduce unnecessary vehicle circling for parking while at the same time maximize parking space utilization. In observance of new information technologies that have become readily accessible to drivers and parking agencies, we develop a dynamic non-cooperative bi-level model (i.e. Stackelberg leader–follower game) to set parking prices in real-time for effective parking access and space utilization. The model is expected to fit into an integrated parking pricing and management system, where parking reservations and transactions are facilitated by sensing and informatics infrastructures, that ensures the availability of convenient spaces at equilibrium market prices. It is shown with numerical examples that the proposed dynamic parking pricing model has the potential to virtually eliminate vehicle circling for parking, which results in significant reduction in adverse socioeconomic externalities such as traffic congestion and emissions.