How to turn an innovative concept into a success? An application to seaport-related innovation

The main objective of this paper is ‘to assess the conditions, including policy support, under which innovative concepts have a high chance of getting adopted and being successful’. The work will start from the state-of-the-art with the following goals targeted. Firstly, to identify the paths that new innovative concepts usually follow, what key determinants are, which actors are involved, and what policy has been doing and can do. As part of this, a typology of variables is established, which will be the basis for the identification of successful adoption paths. Illustrations are provided of the performance of different innovative concepts in the seaport sector. A further goal is to propose policy recommendations, identify best practices, barriers to implementation and transferability of innovative concepts and processes. Finally, the research establishes developments needed in assessment methods and a methodological framework if innovative concepts are introduced.     

Preference Heterogeneity and Willingness to Pay for Travel Time Savings

We examined different model specifications to detect the presence of preference heterogeneity in a mode choice context. The specification that worked best allows for both systematic and random variations in tastes, with parameters obtained at the individual level using Bayesian methods. Subjective values of travel time (SVT) and expected individual compensated variation were derived and aggregated to obtain measures of social welfare. Results suggest that the benefit measures, both at the individual and at the social level, are sensitive to preference heterogeneity assumptions. SVT and welfare changes derived from travel time reductions could be underestimated if the traditional assumption of taste homogeneity is made (we detected differences up to 30% in both types of measures). We also obtained an empirical value for the error made when evaluating changes in social welfare using an approximation of the expected individual compensated variation (expressed as a function of individual SVT) rather than its exact expression.     

Design factor optimization of 3D flash lidar sensor based on geometrical model for automated vehicle and advanced driver assistance system applications

Sensor technologies have been innovated and enhanced rapidly for highly automated vehicle and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in automotive industry; however, in order to adopt sensors into mass production vehicle in near future, various requirements should be satisfied such as cost, durability, and maintainance without any loss of overall performance of the sensors. In this sense, a 3D flash lidar is one of primising range sensors because of no moving parts, compact package, and precise measure for distance by using a laser. In spite of the several advantages, the 3D flash lidar is not commonly used in automotive industry because it is quite expensive for adoption and it is manufactured with only general purpose currently; therefore, the cost reduction and optimal design to satisfy various purposes of ADAS or autonomous driving should be accomplished. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for design factor optimization of the 3D flash lidar based on a geometrical model by using structural similarity between the 3D flash lidar and 2D digital camera. In particular, focal length and area of a receiver (focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit) which directly affect on sensor performance (field of view and maximum detection range) are optimized as the design factors. From the optimization results in simulation, we show that optimal design factors according to various purposes required in ADAS could be easily determined and the sensor performances could be evaluated before manufacturing. It will reduce temporal and economic burdens for design and manufacturing in development process.     

Experimental investigations on continuous regenerative anti-lock braking system of full electric vehicle

Functions of anti-lock braking for full electric vehicles (EV) with individually controlled wheel drive can be realized through conventional brake system actuating friction brakes and regenerative brake system actuating electric motors. To analyze advantages and limitations of both variants of anti-lock braking systems (ABS), the presented study introduces results of experimental investigations obtained from proving ground tests of all-wheel drive EV. The brake performance is assessed for three different configurations: hydraulic ABS; regenerative ABS only on the front axle; blended hydraulic and regenerative ABS on the front axle and hydraulic ABS on the rear axle. The hydraulic ABS is based on a rule-based controller, and the continuous regenerative ABS uses the gain-scheduled proportional-integral direct slip control with feedforward and feedback control parts. The results of tests on low-friction road surface demonstrated that all the ABS configurations guarantee considerable reduction of the brake distance compared to the vehicle without ABS. In addition, braking manoeuvres with the regenerative ABS are characterized by accurate tracking of the reference wheel slip that results in less oscillatory time profile of the vehicle deceleration and, as consequence, in better driving comfort. The results of the presented experimental investigations can be used in the process of selection of ABS architecture for upcoming generations of full electric vehicles with individual wheel drive.     

Analyzing time sensitivity to discomfort in the Paris subway: an interval data model approach

We analyze individual travel discomfort-time tradeoffs in the Paris subway using stated choice experiments. The survey design allows to set up in a willingness-to-pay space to estimate the distributions of elasticities of values of travel time to crowd density and time multipliers. Several formulations of a generalized travel cost function are tested. Accounting for heterogeneity in preferences, the econometric models all take the form of an ordered probit with known bounds. We derive several estimates that could be used for fine-tuning of traffic simulation systems and more general transportation policy analysis.     

Transit service quality analysis using cluster analysis and decision trees: a step forward to personalized marketing in public transportation

A transit service quality study based on cluster analysis was performed to extract detailed customer profiles sharing similar appraisals concerning the service. This approach made it possible to detect specific requirements and needs regarding the quality of service and to personalize the marketing strategy. Data from various customer satisfaction surveys conducted by the Transport Consortium of Granada (Spain) were analyzed to distinguish these groups; a decision tree methodology was used to identify the most important service quality attributes influencing passengers’ overall evaluations. Cluster analysis identified four groups of passengers. Comparisons using decision trees among the overall sample of all users and the different groups of passengers identified by cluster analysis led to the discovery of differences in the key attributes encompassed by perceived quality.     

Neural network model for designing automotive devices using SMD LED

The advantages offered by the electronic component LED (Light Emitting Diode) have resulted in a quick and extensive application of this device in the replacement of incandescent lights. In this combined application, however, the relationship between the design variables and the desired effect or result is very complex and renders it difficult to model using conventional techniques. This paper consists of the development of a technique using artificial neural networks that makes it possible to obtain the luminous intensity values of brake lights using SMD (Surface Mounted Device) LEDs from design data. This technique can be utilized to design any automotive device that uses groups of SMD LEDs. The results of industrial applications using SMD LED are presented to validate the proposed technique.     

公路施工区交通安全管理现状分析

通过文献检索和现场走访调研,对比了我国与发达国家在施工区标准规范和现场交通安全管理2个方面的情况,初步了解了我国公路施工区交通安全管理的现状,对交通安全管理方面存在的问题和诸多不足进行了分析,为施工区交通安全管理的提高和改善指明了方向。     

Development of an IoT-based container tracking system for China’s Belt and Road (B&R) initiative

To ensure the successful implementation of China’s Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative, it is essential to enable the real-time monitoring of containers’ locations, prevent theft during cargo delivery, ensure more efficient logistics management and reduce carbon emissions. For this, it is vital to have an economic and effective system to track and control containers across multiple countries. However, this requirement cannot be met by today’s container tracking systems because they are either limited within the borders of each country or expensive to employ internationally. This study thus presents a framework for an IoT-based container tracking system that enables users not only to grasp the international flow of container movement with one check but also to achieve smooth cross-border procedures. To verify the system’s performance, an empirical test was made for an actual container shipped from Korea to Poland. The test results showed that the system could successfully track the location of the container in real time across international borders. Last, this study discusses the policy development and international cooperation that should take place to enable the introduction of this container tracking system.     

Multi‐criteria analysis procedure for sustainable mobility evaluation in urban areas

This paper proposes a procedure to evaluate sustainable mobility in urban areas. A set of indicators according to three dimensions of sustainability, i.e., environment, economics, and social aspects, are proposed to evaluate mobility in urban areas. The sustainable mobility evaluation is based on an Index calculated through a weighted multi‐criteria combination procedure. A group of specialists in Brazil was involved in the development of the Index by defining the weights for the criteria. An application of the methodology in the city of Belo Horizonte, capital of the State of Minas Gerais, with 2.24 million inhabitants, is presented to validate the methodology.