A reference-dependent user equilibrium model for activity-travel scheduling

Existing user equilibrium models of activity-travel scheduling generally fall short in representing travelers’ decision-making processes. The majority have either implicitly or explicitly assumed that travelers follow the principle of utility maximization. This assumption ignores the fact that individuals may be loss–averse when making activity-travel decisions. Allowing for the situation that travelers possess accurate information of the urban-transportation system due to modern technologies, studies on reference-dependent decision-making under near-perfect information are receiving increasing attention. In view of traveler heterogeneity, individuals can be divided into multiple classes according to their reference points. In this paper, we propose a reference-dependent multi-class user equilibrium model for activity-travel scheduling, which can be reformulated as a variational inequality problem. Moreover, comparative analyses are conducted on the equilibrium states between utility-maximization (no reference) and reference-dependency of exogenous and endogenous references. A numerical example regarding combined departure-time and mode choice for commuting is conducted to illustrate the proposed model. The simulated results indicate that reference points and loss aversion attitudes have significant effects on the choice of departure time and mode.     

Measurement of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions during the starting of automotive DI Diesel engines

Most of hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from automotive DI Diesel engines are produced during the engine warm-up period and are primarily caused by difficulties in obtaining stable and efficient combustion under these conditions. Furthermore, the contribution of engine starting to these emissions is not negligible; since this operating condition is highly unfavorable for the combustion progress. Additionally, the catalytic converter is ineffective due to the low engine temperature. In conjunction with adequate engine settings (fuel injection and fresh air control), either the glow plugs or the intake air heater are activated during a portion of the engine warm-up period, so that a nominal engine temperatures is reached faster, and the impact of these difficulties is minimized. Measurement of gaseous pollutants during engine warm-up is currently possible with detectors used in standard exhaust gas analyzers (EGA), which have response times well-suited for sampling at such transient conditions. However, these devices are not suitable for the measurement of exhaust emissions produced during extremely short time intervals, such as engine starting. Herein, we present a methodology for the measurement of the cumulative pollutant emissions during the starting phase of passenger car DI Diesel engines, with the goal of overcoming this limitation by taking advantage of standard detectors. In the proposed method, a warm canister is filled with an exhaust gas sample at constant volumetric flow, during a time period that depends on the engine starting time; the gas concentration in the canister is later evaluated with a standard EGA. When compared with direct pollutant measurements performed with a state-of-art EGA, the proposed procedure was found to be more sensitive to combustion changes and provided more reliable data.     

Influence of shock absorber wearing on vehicle brake performance

In order to safely maintain a vehicle, it is necessary to verify the most important systems that affect safety during Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspections (PMVIs). In a previous paper, a test method and validation criteria were suggested by the authors to verify shock absorber status during PMVIs, as they are a fundamental component that may wear out during a vehicle’s life. In this paper, variations of the performance of the vehicle’s brakes resulting from shock absorber wearing have been analyzed, in order to confirm whether the suggested criteria is valid for taking into account longitudinal forces and pitch movement on the vehicle. A simulation-based study was conducted with several configurations of a worn damper on a vehicle driving on two virtual roads: smooth and undulating. The results confirmed that the damping coefficient established as an acceptable value to verify the shock absorber status in PMVIs is also valid considering the forces involved in a braking maneuver.     

Added resistance acting on hull of a non ballast water ship

In this paper, added resistances acting on a hull of non ballast water ship(NBS) in high waves is discussed. The non ballast water ships were developed at the laboratory of the authors at Osaka Prefecture University, Japan. In the present paper, the performances of three kinds of bow shapes developed for the NBS were theoretically and experimentally investigated to find the best one in high waves. In previous papers, an optimum bow shape for the NBS was developed in calm water and in moderated waves. For a 2 m model for experiments and computations, the wave height is 0.02 m. This means that the wave height is 15% of the draft of the ship in full load conditions. In this paper, added resistances in high waves up to 0.07 m for a 2 m model or 53% of the full load draft are investigated. In such high waves linear wave theories which have been used in the design stage of a ship for a long time may not work well anymore, and experiments are the only effective tool to predict the added resistance in high waves. With the computations for waves, the ship is in a fully captured condition because shorter waves, λ/Lpp0.6, are assumed.     

Communicating and learning maritime safety culture—development and evaluation of a didactic design based on an interactive module

To be able to disseminate knowledge about maritime safety culture and safety management to different actors in the Swedish maritime sector, a didactic design was developed and evaluated. The didactic design includes an interactive scenario-based module and a teacher’s guide and is based on a model for experience-based learning that connects theory and practice by a cyclic approach. Students at upper-secondary maritime schools were chosen as a user group and the didactic design was adapted for them. The didactic design was tested in a classroom setting including interaction with the students and a follow-up 1 week later. The didactic design was successful in immediately creating a relevant discussion about safety culture, and the student group could, on the whole, remember and describe all scenarios a week after the presentation of the material. The results were overall positive regarding usability and user experience with a potential for further development and implementations. The participating teacher at the school was also very positive and felt he would be able to apply the didactic design with support of the teacher’s guide.     

The method of imbedded Lagrangian element to estimate wave power absorption by some submerged devices

A simple approach is described to estimate the wave power absorption potential of submerged devices known to cause wave focusing and flow enhancement. In particular, the presence of a flow-through power take-off （PTO） system, such as low-head turbines, can be accounted for. The wave radiation characteristics of an appropriately selected Lagrangian element （LE） in the fluid domain are first determined. In the limit of a vanishing mass, the LE reduces to a patch of distributed normal dipoles. The hydrodynamic coefficients of this virtual object are then input in a standard equation of motion where the effect of the PTO can be represented, for example, as a dashpot damping term. The process is illustrated for a class of devices recently proposed by Carter and Ertekin （2011）, although in a simplified form. Favorable wave power absorption is shown for large ratios of the LE wave radiation coefficient over the LE added mass coefficient. Under optimal conditions, the relative flow reduction from the PTO theoretically lies between 0.50 and 1 2 ≈ 0.71, with lower values corresponding to better configurations. Wave power capture widths, the sensitivity of results to PTO damping and sample spectral calculations at a typical site in Hawaiian waters are proposed to further illustrate the versatility of the method.     

Incentives to reduce port inefficiency: a theoretical approach

Over the last decades, the European Union (EU) has devoted a large amount of effort and money to projects aimed at boosting some of its maritime corridors as a modal alternative to road or rail freight transport. However, the overall design of most of these programmes has ex post revealed as very ineffective. This paper suggests that promoting port efficiency might be a more suitable target to increase the modal split of Short Sea Shipping (SSS) than subsidizing firms to transfer cargo from road to sea. But defining ‘port efficiency’ is a complex task and, therefore, granting money directly to port authorities could also generate perverse moral hazard effects, particularly when the improvements are difficult to monitor and many investments are non-refundable. The European Court of Auditors points out that millions of EU public port finance was wasted on empty terminal and other unused infrastructure. The objective of this paper is to design a proper subsidy to promote SSS by encouraging port improvements through a proper system of incentives. As a policy recommendation, in this paper we propose the development of a subsidy per inefficiency-reduction unit.     

TransMilenio BRT system in Bogota,high performance and positive impact – Main results of an ex-post evaluation

The paper presents the main characteristics, costs and impacts of TransMilenio, the bus based mass transit system of Bogotá, using BRT corridors and feeder services. An ex-post cost-benefit analysis is done, including monetary valuation of direct impacts on travel time and travel cost and externalities, such as improved road safety and air quality. Impacts on crime, land values, employment and tax revenue are also presented. The results are positive and robust; nevertheless, it is important to recognize that user perception has declined and there is urgent need to introduce service improvements. The paper also includes an ex-ante evaluation of the projected expansion using current costs, which indicates the need to limit construction capital costs. The results are an indication of the potential of BRT, and the evaluation methodology is applicable to other transit projects.     

Indicators for Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Islands on the Barcelona Coast

Artificial islands have been constructed next to large cities due to the need for extra space in highly populated areas. These emerged structures have been used by many countries as platforms for developing infrastructure (airports, harbors, highways, etc.), rebuilding ecological areas, and creating new spaces for tourism or residential areas. In this study, two state-of-the-art numerical models for wave propagation and nearshore circulation are used to simulate the effects of an emerged artificial island on the Barcelona coast. Several sea indicators (wave height, intensity and direction of currents, and mean water level) are analyzed to assess the changes likely to be induced by an artificial island. Three different situations are studied and the indicators are compared across the different tests to obtain information that can be used in the planning process of these structures. In two-meter wave conditions, the tests show that wave height is generally reduced in the sheltered area, which leads to improved safety for beach users (bathing is prohibited when wave height exceeds the two-meter threshold). However, the numerical models also reveal that velocities in the sheltered area usually decrease, which must be controlled to prevent stagnation in the bathing area.