Ship-berth link performance evaluation: simulation and analytical approaches

In this paper we consider the performance evaluation of ship-berth link in port. The efficiency of operations and processes on the ship-berth link has been analysed through the basic operating parameters such as berth utilization, average number of ships in waiting line, average time that a ship spends in waiting line, average service time of a ship, average total time that a ship spends in port, average quay crane (QC) productivity and average number of QCs per ship. All the main performances of the ship-berth link are given. This is one of the problems faced by planners and terminal operators in ports. In this paper, we propose two models based on simulation and queuing theory, respectively, in order to determine the performance evaluation of ship-berth link in port. Numerical results and computational experiments are reported to evaluate the efficiency of the models for Pusan East Container Terminal (PECT).     

A GIS‐based traffic analysis zone design: technique

The main purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient method to design traffic analysis zones (TAZs), which is necessary for implementing a planning process with Geographic Information System (GIS) for Transportation (GIS‐T), using statistical spatial data analyses and GIS technology. The major roles of GIS in this method are: (1) to produce basic spatial units (BSUs) with topological data structure; (2) to integrate various procedures during the TAZ generation including computer program routines; and (3) to visualize the output of each TAZ generation. One of the most significant reasons for obtaining well‐defined TAZs is the fact that they are defined at the outset of transportation demand modeling, used from trip generation to trip assignment, and will ultimately affect transportation policy decisions.

Toward obtaining well‐defined TAZs, this paper concentrates on two important constraints: homogeneity and contiguity. Iterative partitioning technique is adopted to promote the optimum homogeneity of generated TAZs, while a contiguity checking algorithm is developed to ensure contiguous TAZs are generated by the iterative partitioning technique.     

Locating inspection facilities in traffic networks: an artificial intelligence approach

Abstract

In order for traffic authorities to attempt to prevent drink driving, check truck weight limits, driver hours and service regulations, hazardous leaks from trucks, and vehicle equipment safety, we need to find answers to the following questions: (a) What should be the total number of inspection stations in the traffic network? and (b) Where should these facilities be located? This paper develops a model to determine the locations of uncapacitated inspection stations in a traffic network. We analyze two different model formulations: a single-objective optimization problem and a multi-objective optimization problem. The problems are solved by the Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) method. The BCO algorithm belongs to the class of stochastic swarm optimization methods, inspired by the foraging habits of bees in the natural environment. The BCO algorithm is able to obtain the optimal value of objective functions in all test problems. The CPU times required to find the best solutions by the BCO are found to be acceptable.     

Single track line capacity model

The objective of the research described in this paper was to develop a model for computation of an ultimate capacity of a single track line and to provide a sensitivity analysis of this capacity to the parameters which influence it. The model is based in a concept of mathematical expectation of capacity and can be applied under saturation conditions i.e. a constant demand for service. It can serve for planning purposes, computation of single track line capacity on the base of which estimations are possible concerning a single track line performance under given conditions, as well as commercial time‐tables planning, decisions about a partial or complete construction of the second parallel track along the line in service, intermediate stations locations planning and the necessary facilities along the line under construction.

In the sensitivity analysis, the model allows a change of parameters upon which the capacity depends. These are: the length of the line segment which is considered to be bottleneck for calculation of capacity, traffic distributions per directions, train mix, train velocities and train spacing rules applied by the dispatching service when regulating the traffic on a line.     

Discourse of maritime forms (Check lists)

Check lists represent a very important tool within the International Safety Management Code, aimed at the regular and thorough assessment of the safety on board ships along with the operation of their parent companies. There seems to be only a few academic articles studying the communicative and rhetorical aspects of these maritime forms explaining why they are written in the way they are, especially in the light of their users who constitute a specific discourse community. The structure of a sample of representative lists is presented, as these check lists do not differ from the forms used by other European shipping companies. After interviews with the seafarers (deck and engine officers) to whom the check lists were administered, the conclusion was reached that they prefer short and unambiguous forms. In addition, a correlation about the language competence of the crew members on board ship was found: the simpler the discourse of the check list, the lower the responsibility of the crew member on board. Further, investigation into these complex language patterns focuses on the practical benefits.     

Hazard perception test development for Lithuanian drivers

Hazard perception tests may not be transferable between different countries, due to differences in traffic culture and infrastructure. Therefore, different instruments might be necessary for assessing hazard perception in various countries. The aim of the current study was to develop the Lithuanian hazard perception test based on static traffic images and test its psychometric properties. Thirty-four experienced drivers participated in a pilot study, and 125 drivers with diverse driving experience took part in the main study. The final test contained 27 static traffic scenes and the participants were asked to respond if they saw a hazard or not. Results demonstrated that the test has satisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It differentiated between inexperienced and experienced drivers, and between those experienced drivers who had less than three or more than three crashes in their driving history. The test has sufficient psychometric properties for research; still further development is needed in order to apply it for individual testing and decisions about licence provision.     

Mitigation of disruptions in public transit by Bee Colony Optimization

Dispatchers in many public transit companies face the daily problem of assigning available buses to bus routes under conditions of bus shortages. In addition to this, weather conditions, crew absenteeism, traffic accidents, traffic congestion and other factors lead to disturbances of the planned schedule. We propose the Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) algorithm for mitigation of bus schedule disturbances. The developed model takes care of interests of the transit operator and passengers. The model reassigns available buses to bus routes and, if it is allowed, the model simultaneously changes the transportation network topology (it shortens some of the planned bus routes) and reassigns available buses to a new set of bus routes. The model is tested on the network of Rivera (Uruguay). Results obtained show that the proposed algorithm can significantly mitigate disruptions.     

Future advanced long-haul Evacuated Tube Transport (EET) system operated by TransRapid Maglev (TRM): a multidimensional examination of performance

This paper presents a multidimensional examination of the infrastructural, technical/technological, operational, economic, environmental, social, and policy performance of the future advanced Evacuated Tube Transport (ETT) system operated by TransRapid Maglev (TRM) (the ETT-TRM system). The examination implies analyzing, modeling, and estimating selected performance criteria using the case of the Trans-Atlantic passenger transport market currently served exclusively by the Air Passenger Transport (APT) system. The purpose is to assess the ETT-TRM system’s competitive capabilities compared to those of the current and future APT system and consequently its potential contribution to mitigating impacts of both systems on society and the environment – the sustainability of the transport sector - under given conditions.     

Disruption management in public transit: the bee colony optimization approach

Disruptions in carrying out planned bus schedules occur daily in many public transit companies. Disturbances are often so large that it is necessary to perform re-planning of planned bus and crew activities. Dispatchers in charge of traffic operations must frequently find an answer to the following question in a very short period of time: How should available buses be distributed among bus routes in order to minimize total passengers' waiting time on the network? We propose a model for assigning buses to scheduled routes when there is a shortage of buses. The proposed model is based on the bee colony optimization (BCO) technique. It is a biologically inspired method that explores collective intelligence applied by honey bees during the nectar collecting process. It has been shown that this developed BCO approach can generate high-quality solutions within negligible processing times.