Evaluating Locations for Intermodal Transport Terminals

Abstract

The choice of location for an intermodal transport terminal is an important component in a regional logistics system and a paramount decision for the investor as well as the community affected. The investor needs a realistic estimation of traffic potentials and incorporated cost-estimates of a location, since it serves as an important input to the investment decision process. Policy makers need instruments and tools to analyse the effect of intermodal terminals on the surrounding environment, which also enables a comparison between several possible locations in order to ensure sustainability and long-term competitiveness. The model in this paper allows a comparative evaluation of a set of possible intermodal terminal locations based on considerations by relevant actors. Furthermore, it presents a process of retrieving data and effectively communicating results. Considerations and interests of stakeholders are incorporated into the approach by means of evaluative criteria. The approach aims at facilitating the planning process of regional logistics systems in general and the evaluation process of intermodal terminal locations in particular by considering both public and private interests focusing on economic and environmental aspects.     

A return period based plastic design approach for ice loaded side-shell/bow structures

Based on the design ice load that corresponds to a certain return period, a practical approach for designing the frames behind the side-shell or the bow of a ship subject to ice loading is proposed. Four typical types of section profiles have been selected for modelling and numerical analysis. Non-linear finite element analyses that involve both the geometric and material non-linearity were performed. From the analyses, the relationships between the loads and the beam's cross-section properties were obtained for different permanent set requirements. These relationships were then used for finding the section modulus from which the cross-section of the beam can be decided. Finally, a design example is presented for illustration.     

斯德哥尔摩的拥挤收费政策——政策实施5年后的效果、接受度及经验启示

根据2006年拥挤收费政策试运行结束后的公民投票结果,2007年,斯德哥尔摩正式实施了该政策。讨论了其至2011年6月首个5年内的政策实施效果。结果表明,受到外部因素影响,由收费引起的交通减少量随时间推移稍有增加。2008年的清洁汽车免税措施可显著提高销售量。结合最新研究成果和瑞典的经验,讨论了公众接受度和政治接受度。得到的结论是：拥挤收费对交通系统的主客观影响,以及环境和政治态度,是公众支持拥挤收费的基础;同时,为了获得政治支持,必须要进行体制改革、解决权力问题。最后,简要讨论了拥挤收费的实施对瑞典交通规划进程的可能影响。     

Powertrain Control for Active Damping of Driveline Oscillations

When a vehicle is subjected to acceleration or disturbances, the elasticity of the various components in the driveline may cause torsional vibrations which can result in an oscillating vehicle speed. These driveline oscillations are also known as shuffle and are low frequency oscillations corresponding to the first resonance frequency of the driveline. The oscillations give rise to, apart from material stress, noticeable lessened driveability. In this work, different ways to actively damp the oscillations are investigated. The idea is to use the engine as an actuator in order to achieve active damping, so-called active engine control. Different linear controllers are investigated and evaluated. The paper includes driveline modelling, control design and verifications by simulations, and tests in real vehicle. Implementation issues such as limited amount of available engine torque and parameter identifications are also discussed. A Linear-Quadratic-Gaussion (LQG) controller has been implemented and tested on a heavy duty truck. Results show that the LQG controller works well and active damping is achieved.     

The value of time and external benefits in bicycle appraisal

We estimate the value of time savings, different cycling environments and additional benefits in cost-benefit analysis of cycling investments. Cyclists’ value of travel time savings turns out to be high, considerably higher than the value of time savings on alternative modes. Cyclists also value other improvements highly, such as separated bicycle lanes. As to additional benefits of cycling improvements in the form of health and reduced car traffic, our results do not support the notion that these will be a significant part in a cost-benefit analysis. Bicyclists seem to take health largely into account when making their travel choices, implying that it would be double-counting to add total health benefits to the analysis once the consumer surplus has been correctly calculated. As to reductions in car traffic, our results indicate that the cross-elasticity between car and cycle is low, and hence benefits from traffic reductions will be small. However, the valuations of improved cycling speeds and comfort are so high that it seems likely that improvements for cyclists are cost-effective compared to many other types of investments, without having to invoke second-order, indirect effects. In other words, our results suggest that bicycle should be viewed as a competitive mode of travel and not primarily as a means to achieve improved health or reduced car traffic.     

An algorithm for combining autonomous vehicles and controlled events in driving simulator experiments

Autonomous vehicles can be used to create realistic simulations of surrounding vehicles in driving simulators. However, the use of autonomous vehicles makes it difficult to ensure reproducibility between subjects. In this paper, an effort is made to solve the problem by combining autonomous vehicles and controlled events. A controlled event can be compared to a theatre play. The aim is to achieve the same initial play conditions for each subject, which can be problematic since the traffic situation around the subject will be dependent upon each subject’s actions while driving in autonomous traffic. This paper presents an algorithm that achieves the transition from autonomous traffic to a predefined start condition for a play. The algorithm has been tested in the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) driving simulator III with promising results. In most of the cases we examined the algorithm could reconstruct the specified start condition and conduct the transition from autonomous to controlled mode in a inconspicuous way. Some problems were observed regarding moving unwanted vehicles away from the closest area around the simulator vehicle, and this part of the algorithm has to be enhanced. The experiment also showed that the subjects drove faster in the presence of controlled everyday life traffic normally used in the VTI driving simulator than in autonomous traffic.     

Network design for line-based autonomous bus services

Transportation - The maturing of autonomous driving technology in recent years has led to several pilot projects and the initial integration of autonomous pods and buses into the public transport...     

Do frequent satisfying trips by public transport impact its intended use in later life?

Transportation - Previous studies have indicated that factors such as the built environment, attitudes and past behaviour can influence travel behaviour. However, the possible effect of travel...     

Can high speed rail offset its embedded emissions?

This paper analyzes the climate implications of investments in high speed railway lines given uncertainty in future transport demand, technology and power production. To capture the uncertainty of estimated parameters, distributions for the annual traffic emissions reduction required to compensate for the embedded emissions from the construction of infrastructure are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. In order to balance the annualized emissions from the railway construction, traffic volumes of more than 10 million annual one-way trips are usually required. Most of the traffic diverted from other modes must come from aviation and the project cannot involve the extensive use of tunnels.