Vehicle monitoring for driver training in bus companies – Application in two case studies in Portugal

We examine the strategies of modifying drive behavior adopted by two bus companies operating in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area to minimize fuel consumption and associated CO₂ emissions. Rodoviária de Lisboa uses a commercial tool for monitoring buses during regular work, with data collected based on events representing undesired behavior that was subsequently used as the basis for classroom training of drivers. Barraqueiro Transportes adopted a vehicle monitoring system capable of processing information during operation giving real time driver feedback on energy, comfort and safety indicators. Both systems produced fuel economies, although to differing degrees.     

特立尼达湖改性沥青的试验研究

特立尼达湖沥青(TLA)是世界上最著名、使用范围最广泛、历史最悠久的天然沥青,它具有较好的路用性能。文章从特立尼达湖沥青(TLA)对基质沥青的改性性能试验出发,分析说明掺加湖沥青可以提高基质沥青性能,通过对比试验,进一步评价了特立尼达湖改性沥青混合料的优良路用性能。     

改进矩法在边坡可靠度分析中的应用

利用标准正态化转换多项式方法(SNTP)进行边坡可靠度分析,建立了精确的SNTP,并经过算例进行了验证;通过修正SNTP对高阶矩法进行了改进,利用边坡可靠度分析验证了其准确性和应用性。     

The efficacy of low emission zones in central London as a means of reducing nitrogen dioxide concentrations

This paper considers the effects of different strategies that might be considered to reduce the impact made by road traffic on air pollution in London. The management of road traffic in large urban areas is one of many options being considered to reduce pollutant emissions to meet statutory air pollution objectives. Increasingly, the concept of a low emission zone (LEZ) is being proposed as a means of achieving this reduction. An assessment has been made of different LEZ scenarios in central London, which involve reducing traffic flow or modifying the vehicle technology mix. Methods of predicting annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations utilising comprehensive traffic data and air pollution measurements have been used to develop empirical prediction models. Comparisons with statutory air pollution objectives show that significant action will be required to appreciably decrease concentrations of nitrogen dioxide close to roads. The non-linear atmospheric chemistry leading to the formation of nitrogen dioxide, results in a complex relationship between vehicle emissions and ambient concentrations of the pollutant. We show that even ambitious LEZ scenarios in central London produce concentrations of nitrogen oxides that are achieved through a “do nothing” scenario only five years later.     

旧水泥混凝土路面板块碎石化技术探讨

水泥混凝土路面碎石化技术是利用多锤头破碎设备将水泥混凝土路面破碎成一定尺寸且分布均匀的一种路面改造技术,可以解决路面反射裂缝问题,具有经济、实用和高效的特点。文章介绍了碎石化技术的基本原理、适用范围和施工工艺,并对其施工质量控制的一般过程及具体措施进行了阐述。     

Why do people fare evade? A global shift in fare evasion research

ABSTRACT

Fare evasion is a significant concern for most transit authorities. The traditional approach to fare compliance has focussed on modifying the physical control of ticketing or ticket inspection rates. Yet recently the perspective on fare evasion has begun to shift toward profiling the fare evader or understanding the customer motivations to fare evade. This paper uses a literature review method to document the characteristics of these three perspectives on fare evasion: the conventional transit system perspective, the customer profiling perspective and the customer motivations perspective. We find that the conventional transit system perspective, although straightforward to measure and control, has its limits particularly in “open” transit systems. The customer profiling perspective attempts to identify, based on demographics, which customers are more likely to fare evade. However this perspective has little use beyond profiling and is ethically questionable. The customer motivations perspective provides a richer understanding of how customers define fare evasion and what attitudes, social norms and circumstances motivates them to fare evade. Considering that between 20% and 40% of a city’s residents admit to fare evading at some point, understanding these complex motivations can help improve revenue compliance at a time when most governments heavily subsidise their transit systems.     

干线公路高模量沥青混凝土应用研究

文章试验研究了不同PR/RA改性剂掺量的高模量沥青混凝土(HMAC)的抗车辙性能,分析了层位、层厚、模量、轴载、温度和荷载次数等因素对高模量沥青混凝土路面抗车辙性能的影响程度,提出了合理的路面层位设置、模量取值范围及路面结构组合,并通过某干线公路试验路段,验证了高模量沥青混凝土的抗车辙效果。     

Performance evaluation of general finite line source model for Delhi traffic conditions

The applicability of General Finite Line Source Model (GFLSM), based on the Gaussian diffusion equation, was assessed by comparing predicted CO concentrations with the measured values obtained from the experiments conducted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi, India at three traffic intersections in the Delhi city. Using the CPCB data, a Delhi Finite Line Source Model (DFLSM) has been developed by modifying the GFLSM, considering the existing traffic and meteorological conditions in the Delhi city. The predicted and observed CO concentration data reveals that the DFLSM model works more accurately for the existing traffic and meteorological conditions in the Delhi city in comparison to the GFLSM.     

Application of optimal subset selection to problems of design and scheduling in urban transportation networks

The paper describes some possibilities for modifying the optimal network algorithm developed by Boyce, Farhi and Weischedel in a way that makes it applicable to some practical problems of network planning. The modifications, which have been tested with respect to their effect on the efficiency of the algorithm, include the introduction of asymmetrical demand structures, the integration of an existing network, the lexico-minimization of a dynamic objective function, and the consideration of constraints related to interdependencies between candidate links. Two small network problems and one medium-sized problem (61 nodes, 104 links, 16 candidates) have been computed; the results support the hypothesis that the algorithm may be applied to produce approximate solutions to problems of practical dimensions within a reasonable range of time.     

Behavioural responses to vehicle emissions charging

Road pricing as an economic construct is not a new phenomenon in transportation research. Whilst fuel taxation and tolling of roads are common ways of raising revenue in many countries, these initiatives are primarily aimed at road infrastructure financing. Worldwide there has been growing interest in pricing structures designed to also manage the growing levels of traffic congestion and, in recent times, an increasing focus on generating reductions in carbon emissions from vehicle ownership and use. This paper presents a stated choice experiment undertaken in response to the increasing interest in the environmental externalities of travel behaviour. The aim of this choice experiment is to identify the potential to switch to more fuel efficient cars that emit lower emissions, under differing pricing and technology scenarios. Results indicate that annual and variable emissions surcharges targeted very specifically to vehicle emission rates have a noticeable role in modifying vehicle purchasing decisions.     

Road pricing with complications

The rationale for congestion charges is that by internalising the marginal external congestion cost, they restore efficiency in the transport market. In the canonical model underlying this view, congestion is a static phenomenon, users are taken to be homogenous, there is no travel time risk, and a highly stylised model of congestion is used. The simple analysis also ignores that real pricing schemes are only rough approximations to ideal systems and that inefficiencies in related markets potentially affect the case for congestion charges. The canonical model tends to understate the marginal external congestion cost because it ignores user heterogeneity and trip timing inefficiencies. With respect to the relevance of interactions between congestion and congestion charges and tax distortions and distributional concerns, recent insights point out that there is no general case for modifying charges for such interactions. Therefore the simple Pigouvian rule remains a good first approximation for the design of road charging systems.     

Long-term trends in domestic US passenger travel: the past 110 years and the next 90

Based upon a long-term historical data set of US passenger travel, a model is estimated to project aggregate transportation trends through 2100. One of the two model components projects total mobility (passenger-km traveled) per capita based on per person GDP and the expected utility of travel mode choices (logsum). The second model component has the functional form of a logit model, which assigns the projected travel demand to competing transportation modes. An iterative procedure ensures the average amount of travel time per person to remain at a pre-specified level through modifying the estimated value of time. The outputs from this model can be used as a first-order estimate of a future benchmark against which the effectiveness of various transportation policy measures or the impact of autonomous behavioral change can be assessed.     

Relationships between characteristics of motorcycles and hydrocarbon emissions in Taiwan: A note

Taiwan’s inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs identifies high-emission motorcycles but, although these help reduce air pollution, they have been criticized for being cost-ineffective. This study examines the relationship between characteristics of motorcycles and hydrocarbon emissions in the Central Air Quality Basin of Taiwan. It is shown that engine size and type, age and manufacturer of a motorcycle significantly affect HC emissions. Larger-size engines emit smaller amounts of HCs; whereas older motorcycles emitted greater amounts. In addition, two-stroke-engine machines produced significantly higher HC emission levels than four-strokes. Variations in HC emissions testing are a result of various I/M testing locations and efficiency may be improved by modifying these.     

Joint optimization of tram timetables and signal timing adjustments at intersections

This paper explores at the planning level the benefits of coordinating tram movements and signal timings at controlled intersections. Although trams may have dedicated travel lanes, they mostly operate in a mixed traffic environment at intersections. To ensure tram progression, pre-set signal timings at intersections are adjusted by activating Transit Signal Priority (TSP) actions, which inevitably add delays to the auto traffic. A mixed integer program is proposed for jointly determining tram schedules for a single tram line and modifying signal timings at major controlled intersections. The objective is to minimize the weighted sum of the total tram travel time and TSP’s negative impacts on other traffic. A real-world case study of Line 5 of the Shenyang Hunnan Modern Tramway shows that by extending the dwell time or link travel time we can significantly reduce the TSP’s negative impacts on the auto traffic while only slightly increasing tram travel times.     

GIS and network models: Issues for three potential applications

Geographic Information Systems (GISs) are now being developed for urban transportation planning and modeling. Supporting other recent work, this paper demonstrates the combination of GIS and network-based, urban transportation planning (UTP) modeling software to create powerful tools for the analysis of policies and plans. Following a literature review and informal survey identifying GIS and UTP modeling software in use at transportation agencies, three applications of GIS for network modeling and relevant issues are discussed: 1) developing or modifying UTP models, 2) incorporating network data into a GIS framework, and 3) creating and using a high-speed interactive system suitable for providing near real-time alternatives and policy analysis. Some specific suggestions are made related to the use of two software products, and extensions to other platforms are noted. Conclusions allude to the potential of such systems while realistically pointing to the present difficulties and magnitude of effort that will be required.     

Decision analysis and optimality in air traffic control conflict resolution I. optimal timing of speed control in a linear planar configuration

This paper concerns itself with the effects of the air traffic controller's intervention on the progress of a potential aerial conflict and its resolution. The subsumed model consists of two planar intersecting air routes along which aircraft travel with fixed velocities. A potential conflict is declared whenever two airplanes on different routes violate a given safety distance. The task of the controller is to expediently resolve the conflict by modifying, at the right moment, the relative velocities of the planes involved. The intensity of the potential conflict—measured by its duration and minimum separation—depends, beside the approach pattern, on the variables manipulable by the controller. A complete analytical study of the conflict's intensity as a function of the controller's instructions is carried out, and consequently the optimal decisions that contribute most to the resolution of the conflict are laid out.     

Developing a comprehensive programme for improving shipboard energy efficiency

This article identifies a set of fuel saving strategies designed to meet the needs of vessel owners and operators, and describes how the strategies can be combined into a comprehensive programme. The strategies are developed from over sixty potential fuel saving measures grouped on the basis of commonness of purpose and interdependency. These criteria reflect the finding that implementing certain strategies is a prerequisite to the success of other strategies, and the success of some strategies generates a need to implement other strategies. Operational strategies identified include: developing crew motivation for active participation in energy efficiency improvement programmes; altering ship speeds; reducing auxiliary load on main propulsion plant; improved matching of ship capacities and cargo volume; reducing miles traveled; and maximizing use of electronic navigation and communications aids. Physical plant modification strategies identified include: optimizing for reduced ship speeds; fuel switching, blending and modifying; hydrodynamic improvements to the hull and propeller; and improving thrust.     

稠油掺稀后混油黏度计算方法的研究

稀释输送是传统的稠油降黏输送方法,因其工艺简单,降黏效果在管输过程中较稳定,一直在国内外得到广泛应用。但稠油中加入稀油后其混油黏度又是一个难点,混油黏温数据是摩阻计算的重要参数,是输油管道设计和运行管理的重要参数,其准确性对水力计算结果至关重要。对混合原油的黏度计算,国内外学者提出了不少经验公式、半经验公式以及计算图表,且大多是利用实验数据通过线性回归得到的,每种模型都有一定的适用范围。通过对Cragoe模型进行修正,得出稠油掺入稀油黏度计算需分段选择模型的结论。     

Short-term shift setting and manpower supplying under stochastic demands for air cargo terminals

A good air cargo terminal manpower supply plan helps terminals deal efficiently with their cargos and reduces their operating costs. To design a good air cargo terminal manpower supply plan, a terminal has to consider not only its operating costs, but also the uncertainty of the manpower demand in actual operations. However, most air cargo terminals in Taiwan currently depend on staff experience with a fixed demand when establishing the manpower supply plan, which is neither effective nor efficient. We have developed two stochastic-demand manpower supply plan models for air cargo terminals that can resolve stochastic demands occurring in practice. The objectives of both models are to minimize the total man-hour cost, subject to the related operating constraints. The models are formulated as integer/mixed integer linear programs. To evaluate the two stochastic-demand models under stochastic demands, we have also developed two deterministic-demand manpower supply plan models, by suitably modifying two stochastic-demand models, respectively, and an evaluation method. Here, we perform a case study using real operating data from a Taiwan air cargo terminal. The preliminary results are good, showing that the models could be useful for planning air cargo terminal manpower supply.

The representation and implementation of time-dependent inundation in large-scale microscopic evacuation simulations

Multi-agent simulation has increasingly been used for transportation simulation in recent years. With current techniques, it is possible to simulate systems consisting of several million agents. Such multi-agent simulations have been applied to whole cities and even large regions. In this paper it is demonstrated how to adapt an existing multi-agent transportation simulation framework to large-scale pedestrian evacuation simulation. The underlying flow model simulates the traffic-based on a simple queue model where only free speed, bottleneck capacities, and space constraints are taken into account. The queue simulation, albeit simple, captures the most important aspects of evacuations such as the congestion effects of bottlenecks and the time needed to evacuate the endangered area. In the case of an evacuation simulation the network has time-dependent attributes. For instance, large-scale inundations or conflagrations do not cover all the endangered area at once.These time-dependent attributes are modeled as network change events. Network change events are modifying link parameters at predefined points in time. The simulation framework is demonstrated through a case study for the Indonesian city of Padang, which faces a high risk of being inundated by a tsunami.