Combinatorial programming,statistical optimization and the optimal transportation network problem

This paper presents and evaluates a branch and bound algorithm and two heuristic hill-climbing techniques to solve a discrete formulation of the optimal transportation network design problem. For practical applications it is proposed to combine a hill-climbing algorithm with a uniform random generation of the initial solutions, thereby inducing a statistical distribution of local optima. In order to determine when to stop sampling local optima and in order to provide an estimate of the exact optimum based on the whole distribution of local optima, we follow previous work and fit a Weibull distribution to the empirical distribution of local optima. Several extensions are made over previous work: in particular, a new confidence interval and a new stopping rule are proposed. The numerical application of the statistical optimization methodology to the network design algorithms consolidates the empirical validity of fitting a Weibull distribution to the empirical distribution of local optima. Numerical experiments with hill-climbing techniques of varying power suggest that the method is best applied with heuristics of intermediate quality: such heuristics provide many distinct sample points for statistical estimation while keeping the confidence intervals sufficiently narrow.     

Investigating the link between cyclist volumes and air pollution along bicycle facilities in a dense urban core

In this paper we explore the air pollution levels along types of bicycle facilities using a NO₂ land use model previously developed for Montreal. We explore potential associations between bicycle volumes through signalized intersections and pollution levels at those intersections. We further investigate this relationship through the comparison of over thirty cycling corridors as well as an evaluation of the potential exposure of cyclists to air pollution along five routes. We observe NO₂ concentrations to be positively correlated with bicycle flows at the intersection level. We also observe that corridors with either a bicycle path or cycle track generally rank higher in terms of bicycle volume and also have higher NO₂ concentrations than corridors without bicycle facilities. This indicates that intersections and bicycle facilities with a large number of cyclists are also those characterized with the highest air pollution levels.     

Part 1. National road safety performance: Data,the emergence of two single-outcome modeling streams and public health

This first part of the state-of-the art focuses on the origins of road safety modeling, covering data, early models and the public health context of model formulation and use.     

Part 3. Multivariate road safety models: Future research orientations and current use to forecast performance

The third part of the state-of-the-art focuses on the future of road safety modeling and on conjectures concerning the evolution of national safety indicators. In the absence of econometric developments specific to road safety modeling, the research future must rely on pre-existing statistical procedures of econometrics applied to discrete/count and to aggregate data. In terms of contents, growing interest in the heterogeneity of road accident outcomes by category of victims could lead to treatments of this issue across research streams, say by top-down and bottom-up developments, but this speculation does not rest on extant adequate formulations of the issue of road user class and victim analysis. But understanding the time profile of aggregate national performance indicators is quite another matter.     

Signalized intersections with variable flow rates: II A model for delay estimation

This second part of our work develops a model for delay estimation at intersections whose traffic signal controls are continuously being updated. Generally, these traffic signals are centrally controlled. The foundation for the delay estimation model is based on a queuing theory model called “Preemptive resume discipline for M/G/1 with two priority levels.” This queuing model assumes that two customers arrive at acertain point by a Poisson arrival process, and that one customer has service priority over the second customer. The analogy for the case of intersection control is that the preferred customers are the red lights and the secondary customers are the vehicles. In order to adapt the model to the realistic behavior of vehicle traffic at continuously adjusted signals, components are derived to modify the model. The simulation results of the first part of this work are used to calculate adjustment factors that fairly accurately reproduce the simulated delays. This gives rise to the advantage of using in practice a closed mathematical model, in particular when trying to optimize the operation of signalized intersections at the network level.     

基于势流的水下滑翔机的飞行模拟器(英文)

Underwater gliders are recent innovative types of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) used in ocean exploration and observation. They adjust their buoyancy to dive and to return to the ocean surface. During the change of altitude, they use the hydrodynamic forces developed by their wings to move forward. Their flights are controlled by changing the position of their centers of gravity and their buoyancy to adjust their trim and heel angles. For better flight control, the understanding of the hydrodynamic behavior and the flight mechanics of the underwater glider is necessary. A 6-DOF motion simulator is coupled with an unsteady potential flow model for this purpose. In some specific cases, the numerical study demonstrates that an inappropriate stabilizer dimension can cause counter-steering behavior. The simulator can be used to improve the automatic flight control. It can also be used for the hydrodynamic design optimization of the devices.     

安全气囊系统的革新材料

10年前，金属制安全气囊系统（壳体）一般包括20个工作部件，重3．2公斤，涉及到12道工艺。如今，采用革新材料后的壳体工作部件的数量只有5个，重量仅有1.2公斤，所使用的工序只有6道。其解决方案是什么呢？