How to Use Driving Simulators Properly: Impacts of Human Sensory and Perceptual Capabilities on Visual Fidelity

Fidelity has been a critical concern of researchers throughout the history of driving simulation. Understanding the limits of a driving simulation system is a prerequisite for conducting valid driving simulator studies. This paper proposes a novel and interdisciplinary methodology to ensure validity of studies using driving simulators (primarily for traffic control devices and other object detection tasks) based on the visual limits of human sensory and perceptual capabilities, and the characteristics of raster graphics. This methodology decomposes the perceptual issues of a stimulus into perceptual issues of different visual properties like luminance, hue, or text of the stimulus. By systematically analyzing the mechanism of human vision in driving simulators, the perceptual principle is proposed to ensure perceivable visual details in human-in-the-loop driving simulation systems. Additionally, the graphic principle is proposed to ensure perceivable features of a target object in the virtual driving environment. Both principles quantify the minimum requirements of visual fidelity with two measurements: angular resolution and matrix dimensions. The enriched results from existing pertinent studies are analyzed and organized to yield support of both principles. This research focuses on the minimum requirements for four factors; namely the visual acuity of drivers, the specifications of display systems, the configurations of graphics systems, and the design of virtual scenarios, as well as the relationship among all these factors to assess the visual fidelity in driving simulation systems. Within the realm of human perception, this work can provide criteria for proper design, calibration, and usage of driving simulators.     

Dynamic traffic metering in urban street networks: Formulation and solution algorithm

Traffic metering offers great potential to reduce congestion and enhance network performance in oversaturated urban street networks. This paper presents an optimization program for dynamic traffic metering in urban street networks based on the Cell Transmission Model (CTM). We have formulated the problem as a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP) capable of metering traffic at network gates with given signal timing parameters at signalized intersections. Due to the complexities of the MILP model, we have developed a novel and efficient solution approach that solves the problem by converting the MILP to a linear program and several CTM simulation runs. The solution algorithm is applied to two case studies under different conditions. The proposed solution technique finds solutions that have a maximum gap of 1% of the true optimal solution and guarantee the maximum throughput by keeping some vehicles at network gates and only allowing enough vehicles to enter the network to prevent gridlocks. This is confirmed by comparing the case studies with and without traffic metering. The results in an adapted real-world case study network show that traffic metering can increase network throughput by 4.9–38.9% and enhance network performance.     

港口与运输方式及陆港联合选择的巢式Logit模型

为刻画托运人对港口、运输方式及陆港的联合选择行为，将港口费用、等待时间、班轮频率、货物价值、单次运量、运输成本、运输及通关时间、准班率、陆港服务作为效用变量，构建港口选择位于上层、运输方式及陆港选择位于下层的巢式Logit模型.基于辽宁部分城市集装箱托运人的RP/SP调查数据，对模型参数进行估计和检验.结果表明，低运量倾向选择公路运输，托运人对多式联运的运输成本、运输及通关时间比公路运输的更重视，对公路运输的准班率比多式联运的更重视，陆港服务对多式联运具有显著正向影响，巢式Logit模型比MNL模型具有更优的统计学特征.     

A carbon footprint-based closed-loop supply chain model under uncertainty with risk analysis: A case study

The management of products’ end-of-life and the recovery of used products has gained significant importance in recent years. In this paper, we address the carbon footprint-based problem that arises in a closed-loop supply chain where returned products are collected from customers. These returned products can either be disposed of or be remanufactured to be resold as new ones. Given this environment, an optimization model for a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in which carbon emission is expressed in terms of environmental constraints, i.e., carbon emission constraints, is developed. These constraints aim to limit the carbon emission per unit of product supplied with different transportation modes. Here, we design a closed-loop network where capacity limits, single-item management and uncertainty on product demands and returns are considered. First, fuzzy mathematical programming is introduced for uncertain modeling. Then, the statistical approach to the possibility to synthesize fuzzy information is utilized. Therefore, using a defined possibilistic mean and variance, we transform the proposed fuzzy mathematical model into a crisp form to facilitate efficient computation and analysis. Finally, the risk caused by violating the estimated resource constraints is analyzed so that decision makers (DMs) can trade off between the expected cost savings and the expected risk. We utilize data from a company located in Iran.     

On the variance of recurrent traffic flow for statistical traffic assignment

This paper generalizes and extends classical traffic assignment models to characterize the statistical features of Origin-Destination (O-D) demands, link/path flow and link/path costs, all of which vary from day to day. The generalized statistical traffic assignment (GESTA) model has a clear multi-level variance structure. Flow variance is analytically decomposed into three sources, O-D demands, route choices and measurement errors. Consequently, optimal decisions on roadway design, maintenance, operations and planning can be made using estimated probability distributions of link/path flow and system performance. The statistical equilibrium in GESTA is mathematically defined. Its multi-level statistical structure well fits large-scale data mining techniques. The embedded route choice model is consistent with the settings of O-D demands considering link costs that vary from day to day. We propose a Method of Successive Averages (MSA) based solution algorithm to solve for GESTA. Its convergence and computational complexity are analyzed. Three example networks including a large-scale network are solved to provide insights for decision making and to demonstrate computational efficiency.     

平顺抛石护岸水毁模式及机理

平顺抛石护岸工程在长江中下游应用较为广泛,能够增强堤岸的抗洪能力,保障沿江城乡防洪安全或控制有利河势。然而,护岸块石常常发生滑落导致抛石护岸破坏。针对抛石护岸的水毁破坏问题,进行了抛石护岸实际水毁情况调研及水槽试验研究,认为平顺抛石护岸水毁主要表现为护岸块石的流失、滑落以及岸坡变形,导致坡面土体裸露,提出了抛石护岸的3种水毁破坏模式并分析了相应的破坏机理。     

旁海枢纽工程船闸输水系统布置及试验研究

高水头船闸常采用第二类输水系统以满足船闸闸室内水流条件的要求,但往往工程量大、施工复杂。根据船闸闸址处地形、地质条件,抬高闸底奠基高程以达到降低工程量并简化施工的目的,并在采取一定消能手段后,采用闸墙长廊道侧支孔输水形式。通过物理模型,对旁海航电枢纽输水系统进行布置及优化,证实采取加大闸室初始淹没水深、闸室两侧出水口加设连续消力坎、优化进出水口布置及进水口布置帷墙等措施可达到预期效果。     

盾构法施工单机核算管理模式的应用

近年来盾构机越来越多地应用于各种隧道工程中,其中地铁应用的数量最多,约占80%。现代盾构已演变成为一种高度智能化的大型工程机械装备,对其控制的好坏将直接影响到整个工程的施工成本和企业的经营效益,而通过单机核算降低机械成本是降低施工成本、提高企业效益的有效手段,因此推行盾构法施工单机核算显得尤为重要。文章结合地铁2222标施工项目,重点介绍了盾构法单机核算管理模式及其在施工中的应用。     

基于滑模变结构的船用永磁同步电机直接转矩控制

电力推进在船舶动力系统中应用得越来越多,本文对船用永磁同步电机直接转矩控制进行仿真研究.针对传统永磁同步电机直接转矩控制中存在的磁链和转矩脉动较大,逆变器开关频率不稳定等问题,将滑模变结构控制策略引入.设计转矩和磁链2个滑模控制器,取代传统直接转矩控制中的2个滞环比较器,再运用空间矢量脉宽调制方法,控制电机运行.仿真结果表明这种控制策略能有效减小传统直接转矩控制存在的磁链和转矩脉动,实现逆变器开关频率恒定,并且对系统参数变化及外界扰动具有鲁棒性强的优点.     

乾元公司铁路专用线场站模式探讨

目前,传统的铁路专用线建设模式是铁路专用线自接轨站接轨,通过区间正线引入厂区的建设模式,这种模式的区间正线受地形条件、厂区位置和沿线规划影响较大,这些影响将不可避免地导致铁路专用线建设工程投资的增加,如能根据运输性质考虑缩短区间正线长度,在接轨站旁边设装车作业站,将大大减少专用线工程投资.以乾元公司铁路专用线建设模式为例来研究铁路专用线场站模式,就如何在接轨站旁边设装车作业站,实现接轨站设备与铁路专用线共用进行探讨.