Robustness analysis of ESC ECU to characteristic variation of vehicle chassis components using HILS technique

The ESC system, since its introduction in the mid 90s, has greatly contributed to prevention of vehicle accidents with its capability of maintaining vehicle stability in severe driving conditions. Due to its significant advantages, many nations are now adopting regulations that mandate installation of the ESC system in all classes of passenger vehicles — from mini to luxury. Accordingly it became important to know whether an ESC ECU can yield good performance on a wide range of vehicle parameter changes. In this paper, robustness analysis was conducted to study how characteristic variation of the main chassis components affect the performance of the ESC ECU. This analysis was carried out using a HILS system built on an actual ESC ECU. The variation range of each chassis component was carefully selected considering the component’s design criteria adopted in automotive industries. Based upon the robustness analysis results, the allowable variation ranges of the chassis components for ensuring sound performance of an ESC ECU were proposed.     

Age and cross-cultural comparison of drivers’ cognitive workload and performance in simulated urban driving

Driving demands significant psychomotor attention and requires even more when drivers are engaged in secondary tasks that increase cognitive workload and divert attention. It is well established that age influences driving risk. Less is known about how culture impacts changes in attention. We conducted parallel driving simulations in the US and Korea to measure the extent to which age and culture influence dual-task performance. There were 135 participants divided into two groups: a younger group aged 20∼29, and an older group aged 60∼69. Whereas some differences by culture appeared in absolute control measures, the younger participants showed similar mean velocity and compensatory patterns associated with increased cognitive load in the urban setting; however, the results from the older samples were less similar.     

New procedure to estimate the brake warping in a roller tester

Vehicle systems such as the steering, brakes and suspension greatly influence vehicle safety. Therefore, these systems must be inspected to guarantee that they are functioning correctly and to certify that the vehicle is functioning at a satisfactory safety level. In disc brakes, warping is one of the principal reasons for vibrations and noise, and it contributes to diminished brake efficiency. Currently, the International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA) demands disc brake warping inspections occur during periodic motor vehicle inspections (PMVIs); however, the procedure to carry out this inspection is not well defined. In this investigation, the warping phenomenon has been analyzed, and a new inspection procedure is proposed.     

A combined tramp ship routing,fleet deployment,and network design problem

In this paper, a tramp ship routing model of fleet deployment in a hub-and-spoke network is presented. This model simultaneously determines the selection of hubs, the assignment of spokes to hubs, the deployment of feeder-containerships as well as containership routing between spokes and spokes, hubs and spokes, and hubs and hubs. Even though some parts have been studied, this complex combination of shipping problems has never been addressed. Because the problem is NP-hard, a genetic algorithm (GA) with local search is proposed. In the algorithm, a cut-off procedure is applied to fleet deployment in a sub-route strategy. A number of randomly generated problem instances are solved by both a mathematical program and the GA with local search. A simple but realistic heuristic algorithm is also developed. Both the GA with local search and the heuristic algorithm are used to solve a number of real case instances. A comparison of the results shows the efficiency of the GA with local search. The developed model can be used as a route-decision support tool for shipping companies that provide long-haul shipping services in a hub-and-spoke network.     

Adaptation Pathways in Coastal Case Studies: Lessons Learned and Future Directions

Climate change adaptation presents a difficult challenge for coastal towns around the world, forcing local governments to plan for sea level rise in a contentious decision-making space. The concept of “adaptation pathways,” a diagnostic and analytical tool to assist in adaptive planning and decision-making, is gaining traction as a way of framing and informing climate adaptation. It provides decisionmakers a way to acknowledge the inter-temporal complexities and uncertainties associated with the novel dynamics of climate change and a mechanism to manage these challenges in the local context. In 2012, the Australian Government funded an 18-month program to provide decisionmakers in the coastal zone an opportunity to test the utility of the adaptation pathways concept for coastal climate adaptation. Using a selection of completed projects as case studies, we performed a document analysis to better understand the learnings from the projects. The main themes surrounded: (1) the utility of the adaptation pathway framework in developing options, (2) decision-making rationale and criteria, and (3) stakeholder participation in pathway development. A project participant survey was developed to further understand these themes. Our analysis reveals that “adaptation pathways” was generally framed narrowly and conservatively to emphasize extant economic, administrative and legal considerations over community, participatory, or exploratory ones. Although some case study projects were able to reach a point in the pathway discussion to actively involve stakeholders in their decision-making process, many case studies continued to build technical data as a method for defending policies and actions. These results indicate that coastal adaptation can take-up adaptation pathways as a useful concept for decision-making and planning; however, many councils may still require assistance in stakeholder communication processes in order to develop sociallyacceptable plans that take into account the full range of values affecting local coastal environments.     

The impact of route guidance,departure time advice and alternative routes on door-to-door travel time reliability: Two data-driven assessment methods

ABSTRACT

Conventional travel time reliability assessment has evolved from road segments to the route level. However, a connection between origin and destination usually consists of multiple routes, thereby providing the option to choose. Having alternatives can compensate for the deterioration of a single route; therefore, this study assesses the reliability and quality of the aggregate of the route set of an origin-destination (OD) pair. This paper proposes two aggregation methods for analyzing the reliability of travel times on the OD level: 1) an adapted Logsum method and 2) a route choice model. The first method analyzes reliability from a network perspective and the second method is based on the reliability as perceived by a traveler choosing his route from the available alternatives. A case study using detailed data on actual travel times illustrates both methods and shows the impact of having variable departure times and the impact of information strategies on travel time reliability.     

The vertical disintegration of ship management: choice criteria for third party selection and evaluation

An assessment of the rationale for the vertical disintegration of ship management suggests that there might be compelling economic benefits for the separation of ownership from management. In this context, as a means for developing effective marketing strategies, it is important for ship managers to know the criteria used by current and prospective clients for ship manager selection and evaluation. The aim of this paper is to empirically identify the dimensions for ship manager selection and performance evaluation and their relative importance and to discuss the implications for marketing emanating from such an assessment. The methodology adopted includes the collection of secondary and primary data, both from ship managers and their clients, using interviews and a mail survey. The results indicate the prevailing importance of certain dimensions in selection (e.g. technical ability, reputation, competency) and evaluation (responsiveness, trustworthiness, technical ability), whereas it also found that price alone is not perceived to be as important in ship manager selection. It is concluded that placing emphasis on such dimensions in the formulation of a marketing strategy will contribute towards the attraction and retention of clients, whereas cost-cutting measures to allow price reduction, as well as advertising, will be ineffective over the long term.     

The Value of a Spillover Fishery for Spiny Lobsters Around a Marine Reserve in Northern New Zealand

The contribution that Leigh Marine Reserve in northern New Zealand makes to the local spiny lobster fishery was examined by comparing the catch characteristics of Jasus edwardsii around the reserve boundary with those from Coastal Leigh, 0.3-2 km from the reserve, and Little Barrier Island, 22-30 km from the reserve. Seasonal trends were apparent in the reserve catch characteristics, consistent with lobster movements into and out of offshore fishing areas adjacent to the boundary. No significant difference was detected in catch per unit effort (kg.trap haul -1 ) among locations. However, the catch around the marine reserve consisted of fewer but larger lobsters than at Little Barrier Island, while the size and number of lobsters caught per trap haul at Coastal Leigh was intermediate between the other two locations. Catch rates around the reserve were more variable than at the other sites, but on average, the amount of money made per trap haul was similar to Little Barrier Island and Coastal Leigh.     

The vagrant ethic: Need for a sea-lane philosophy

Although considerable progress has recently been made in the evolution of marine traffic procedures in coastal and waterway areas, mariners are finding difficulty in coping with the diverse traffic schemes that have so far been devised. This paper is a plea for international and logical marine traffic management, so that ships can operate safely and efficiently within a framework of the proliferating offshore zonal legislation that we are now witnessing.     

An alternative perspective on common property resource allocation decisions in the coastal zone

Abstract

This article argues that using the public sector and the private market in the historically delineated and traditional ways offers only the bluntest of tools with which to approach the complex problem of coastal zone management. It therefore seeks to provide a basis for reformulating our understanding of sectoral responsibility with regard to resources management. First, it conceptually analyzes the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two sectors. Second, it examines three examples of coastal resources management—beaches and shorelands, artificial reefs, and coastal wetlands—in analyzing the complexities of the coastal management challenge and the limitations of our current approaches. Finally, we provide an alternative perspective on how these common property resource allocation decisions can be made.