Water masses and cyclonic circulation in Bay of La Paz, Gulf of California, during June 1998

The Bay of La Paz, a coastal and shallow basin of the Gulf of California (depth<420 m), exchanges mixed-layer waters with the Gulf of California predominantly through Boca Grande (Big Mouth), in the northeastern part of the bay. Equatorial Surface Water (ESW) flows from the gulf to the bay; once there, due to evaporation processes, this water increases its salinity above 35.00, therefore becoming Gulf of California Water (GCW) Mass. During June 1998, the baroclinic circulation in the bay was dominated by a cyclonic gyre. The hydrographic dome, related to this gyre, is depicted until approximately 150-m depth. However, the vertical mixing of water between the mixed-layer and the ones below practically does not occur because of the development of a sharp pycnocline. This fact and the isolation of the bottom of the bay by a bathymetric sill (approximately 250-m depth) at Boca Grande induce low oxygen content, particularly in the bottom-waters (O₂<0.1 ml/l). Chlorophyll values are higher and with larger vertical fluctuations within the Bay of La Paz than outside.     

Mass balance of trace metals in the Adriatic Sea

A first order mass balance of six different trace metals (Mn, Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni) was presented for a 1-year period for the different compartments of the Adriatic Sea: compartment 1 (northern Adriatic Sea), compartment 2 (central Adriatic Sea and surface layer of the southern Adriatic Sea) and compartment 3 (deep water of the southern Adriatic Sea). The Adriatic Sea appeared to be a source of dissolved Cu, Mn and Fe for the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Otranto whereas for dissolved Zn and Pb the Adriatic Sea appeared to be a net sink. For dissolved Ni, inputs and outputs through the Strait of Otranto balanced each other. The residence times of all metals in compartment 1 were significantly shorter than that of water indicating significant removal. In compartments 2 and 3, residence times of Mn and Fe were relatively short suggesting removal from the water column whereas for the other metals their residence times were similar to that of water. Calculations of turnover times of metals with respect to different processes showed that in compartments 1 and 2, sedimentation was the main process that affected the content of the reservoirs whereas in compartment 3, the water flux exchanges played an important role for Zn, Cu and Ni.Most of the metals clearly undergo a very dynamic cycle of sedimentation/remobilization particularly in the Northern Adriatic Sea. In the northern Adriatic Sea, most of the Mn and Fe in deposited sediment were remobilized. This was related to diagenetic processes involving the utilisation and solubilisation of Mn and Fe oxides, which occur in the surface of the sediment in the northern Adriatic Sea. In the central Adriatic Sea, remobilization of Mn and Fe was less than in the northern Adriatic Sea, suggesting that diagenesis processes appear deeper in the sediment. Advective transport of sediment was a major source of metals for the deep basin. As much as 80% of the sediments in the South Adriatic Pit might be advected from the shelf. Remobilization fluxes in the South Adriatic Pit were significantly less than in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea reflecting hemi-pelagic sediments.     

Evaluation of marine radar as an ocean-wave-field detector through full numerical simulation

The importance of ocean waves parameters (propagation direction, mean period, significant wave height, etc.) is related to several aspects of a ships safety, efficiency in operation, routing, design, and maintenance. However, some available methods for obtaining those parameters have data limitations and inconvenient aspects. In severe weather conditions, an ocean-wave-field detector is necessary. This can provide two-dimensional ocean-wave-field information directly. Among other conventional methods, ship-borne wave radar has the ability to function as such a detector, and some researchers have tried to develop practical systems. A numerical approach using plan position indicator (PPI) images from conventional marine radars is proposed to retrieve valuable information from the ocean waves. A three-dimensional Fourier transform is applied to a set of consecutive radar PPI images to perform spectrum analysis. The removal of undesired elements in the spectrum is achieved by applying a hi-pass filter to remove static components, and by comparing the data with the expected dispersion shell to correct for nonocean-wave power. Numerical experiments under controlled conditions using simulated PPI images were performed through numerical simulations based on theoretical ocean-wave equations. The results include a comparison between the original wave parameters used in the simulation and the values retrieved from the spectrum analysis.     

Counting people in the crowd using social media images for crowd management in city events

Transportation - City events are getting popular and are attracting a large number of people. This increase needs for methods and tools to provide stakeholders with crowd size information for crowd...     

Dynamic Response of a Six-axle Locomotive to Random Track Inputs

Spectral analysis techniques are employed to analyze the dynamic response of a six-axle locomotive on tangent track to vertical and lateral random track irregularities. The locomotive is represented by a thirty-nine (39) degrees of freedom model. A linear model is employed by considering small displacements, linear suspension elements and a linear theory for the wheel-rail interaction. Power spectral densities of displacements, velocities and accelerations and the statistical average frequencies of the system are obtained for each degree of freedom. Comparison of the calculated dominating frequencies with existing experimental values shows good agreement. The technique of spectral analysis is an effective tool for model validation, and for the determination of rail vehicle response to track irregularities. The probability functions for the response can be used as a measure for the ride quality of rail vehicles and for the study of fatigue damage of components.     

Maritime commercial malpractices and piracy under international law

The term 'Piracy' tends to be used in a loose, popular sense to refer to various acts of violence or lawlessness at sea which are not, strictly speaking, acts of piracy in law. In this article, the author examines the concept of piracy under international law and related notions such as hijacking and mutiny. In this context, he shows that the 'malpractices' of robber bands in such places as the inshore waters of Nigeria and The Philippines are not acts of piracy jure gentium.     

A warehouse location-routing problem

The interdependence between distribution center location and vehicle routing has been recognized by both academics and practitioners. However, only few attempts have been made to incorporate routing in location analysis. This paper defines the Warehouse Location-Routing Problem (WLRP) as one of simultaneously solving the DC location and vehicle routing problems. We present a mixed integer programming formulation of the WLRP. Based on this formulation, it can be seen that the WLRP is a generalization of well-known and difficult location and routing problems, such as the Location-Allocation Problem and the Multi-depot Vehicle Dispatch Problem. It is therefore a large and complex problem which cannot be solved using existing mixed-integer programming techniques. We present a heuristic solution method for the WLRP, based on decomposing the problem into three subproblems. The proposed method solves the subproblems in a sequential manner while accounting for the dependence between them. We discuss a large-scale application of the proposed method to a national distribution company at a regional level.     

Modelling behavioural rules for daily activity scheduling using fuzzy logic

The paper focuses on how trip time variability affects re-scheduling of daily activities. A delay in a trip or an early arrival can contribute to changes in the timing, location of the next activity, and to the deletion/addition of some activities. We propose the idea of using fuzzy logic rules to explain the effect of variability in travel time on the benefits perceived by an individual with the changes, and to model different actions that the individuals take in order to re-establish the steadiness of the existing timetable. The fuzzy model is used to handle the imprecision of the data which is unstructured text. The results show that large deviations in trip duration are more likely to induce significant changes in the timetable whereas small deviations are either ignored or translated into modified timing of the next activity. In choosing an action, greater importance is assigned to the flexibility of the following activity, to the magnitude of the trip time saving/delay, and to the duration of the next activity. Time savings are not favoured unless they can be readily transferred into additional activity time allocated to the next activity or to a new activity. The fuzzy rules based system is capable of predicting satisfactorily the strategy of coping with uncertainty in travel times and the satisfaction sensed with the change.     

Specification of a tour-based neighborhood shopping model

This paper presents a state-of-the practice neighborhood shopping travel demand model. The model structure is designed to incorporate decisions across five dimensions of shopping travel, including decisions of: (1) household tour frequency; (2) participating party; (3) shopping tour type; (4) mode, and (5) destination choices using a tour-based nested-logit model. As a neighborhood model, we have also captured the interrelated effects of three main factors associated with shopping travel decisions both within and outside of the neighborhood, including the residential location within the neighborhood, the neighborhood regional setting and the household structure. The model was validated using the travel data collected in three neighborhoods located in the Puget Sound region, WA. Results show that household socio-demographics have significant effects on the decisions for household tour frequency, mode and destination choices, while the characteristics of the traveling party have considerable impacts on the decisions for tour type. The level of service and the zone attractions influence decisions about mode and destination choices. The day of week variable (weekday versus weekend) is statistically significant in all models, indicating that weekday shopping travel decisions differ from weekend, across all five dimensions of interest. The paper concludes with a discussion about how the model can be used to examine policy-related neighborhood issues (e.g. accessibility).     

Research on the CTCS-4 Train Control System Based on Track Circuit Information FusionEI北大核心

Research purposes: CTCS-3 train control system is adopted in Chinese high-speed railway with speed of 300 km/h or higher. It is based on track circuit to check train occupancy and adopt quasi-moving block. In recent years, rapid development of national economy has put forward higher requirements for the capacity of high-speed railway. As a higher level train control system, CTCS-4 train control system can realize virtual block or moving block, and further shorten headway, but it is still in the stage of theoretical research. So this paper aims to analyze the characteristics of high-speed railway, and to propose a scheme for the implementation of CTCS-4 train control system based on track circuit fusion. Research conclusions:(1)When the wireless communication between vehicle and ground is interrupted, transport efficiency of CTCS-4 train control system can not meet the transport demand of high-speed railway.(2)CTCS-4 train control system should have the CTCS-2 backup function, which can make non-communication trains run normally and ensure the transport efficiency.(3)CTCS-4 train control system should integrate track circuit information, which can make RBC obtain position information of non-communication trains, improve the availability of the system and avoid complicated operational rules.(4)Due to complexity of high-speed railway and change of existing equipment, virtual block can be used in early stage of CTCS-4 train control system.(5)The research results can provide some references for CTCS-4 train control system in high-speed railway. © 2018, Editorial Department of Journal of Railway Engineering Society. All right reserved.