Enhanced selective forwarding scheme for alert message propagation in vehicular <Emphasis Type="Italic">ad hoc</Emphasis> networks

Vehicle-based applications were recently introduced to improve traffic safety and efficiency. These applications are classified into either safety-oriented or non-safety-oriented applications. Safety-oriented applications are typically provided by means of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications to support reliable and fast alert message propagation to all surrounding vehicles when an emergency occurs on the road. In vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) broadcast-based packet forwarding is typically preferred for the propagation of urgent traffic-related information to all reachable nodes within a specified dangerous region. However, this approach may cause broadcast storm problems, which can lead to serious contention between transmissions from adjacent nodes. In this paper, we propose an alert message propagation scheme that is based on selective forwarding and aims to i) minimize the number of rebroadcasting nodes and ii) guarantee reliable and fast alert message delivery to all reachable nodes. Our scheme was evaluated using two different highway scenarios. The simulation results demonstrated that the performance of the proposed scheme was better than that of existing broadcast schemes in terms of the message delivery latency, the message delivery ratio, and the message rebroadcasting ratio.     

层状岩体不同倾角对高地应力隧道稳定性影响分析

以层状岩体高地应力隧道为工程背景,采用数值模拟的方法,分析层状岩体的不同倾角对高地应力隧道稳定性的影响。研究结果表明：高地应力隧道相对于普通地应力隧道,其支护结构承受的荷载更大,隧道的稳定性问题更加突出;在25°～65°范围内,锚杆轴力随岩层倾角增大而增大的趋势明显。结合分析结果,通过将锚杆与岩层大角度相交,使多层岩体串联,从而增大了岩体层间阻力,减小了层间剪切错动的可能性,使锚杆充分发挥销钉的作用,减小了支护结构受力,增强了隧道围岩的稳定性。     

Dynamical correction of control laws for marine ships’ accurate steering

The objective of this work is the analytical synthesis problem for marine vehicles autopilots design. Despite numerous known methods for a solution, the mentioned problem is very complicated due to the presence of an extensive population of certain dynamical conditions, requirements and restrictions, which must be satisfied by the appropriate choice of a steering control law. The aim of this paper is to simplify the procedure of the synthesis, providing accurate steering with desirable dynamics of the control system. The approach proposed here is based on the usage of a special unified multipurpose control law structure that allows decoupling a synthesis into simpler particular optimization problems. In particular, this structure includes a dynamical corrector to support the desirable features for the vehicle＇s motion under the action of sea wave disturbances. As a result, a specialized new method for the corrector design is proposed to provide an accurate steering or a trade-off between accurate steering and economical steering of the ship. This method guaranties a certain flexibility of the control law with respect to an actual environment of the sailing;its corresponding turning can be realized in real time onboard.     

Microscopic modeling of large‐scale pedestrian–vehicle conflicts in the city of Madinah,Saudi Arabia

This paper presents a micro‐simulation modeling framework for evaluating pedestrian–vehicle conflicts in crowded crossing areas. The framework adopts a simulation approach that models vehicles and pedestrians at the microscopic level while satisfying two sets of constraints: (1) flow constraints and (2) non‐collision constraints. Pedestrians move across two‐directional cells as opposed to one‐dimensional lanes as in the case of vehicles; therefore, extra caution is considered when modeling the shared space between vehicles and pedestrians. The framework is used to assess large‐scale pedestrian–vehicle conflicts in a highly congested ring road in the City of Madinah that carries 20 000 vehicles/hour and crossed by 140 000 pedestrians/hour after a major congregational prayer. The quantitative and visual results of the simulation exhibits serious conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, resulting in considerable delays for pedestrians crossing the road (9 minutes average delay) and slow traffic conditions (average speed <10 km/hour). The model is then used to evaluate the following three mitigating strategies: (1) pedestrian‐only phase; (2) grade separation; and (3) pedestrian mall. A matrix of operational measures of effectiveness for network‐wide performance (e.g., average travel time, average speed) and for pedestrian‐specific performance (e.g., mean speed, mean density, mean delay, mean moving time) is used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed strategies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Competition Between New Port Governance Models on the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this article is to analyze the interaction between port devolution processes in Portugal and Spain in their common geographical environment, the Iberian Peninsula. Firstly a review is done of the different port devolution processes in the world which specifically analyses the transition of numerous public and centralized ports to the landlord model. Among the conclusions that we can highlight with respect to the Iberian port systems are the need for a reflection process before any change is made to the port governance model, and greater cooperation between the two countries to avoid any possible future port tariff price wars. The over-investment process that the Spanish port devolution process, especially, has generated must also be mentioned, for highlighting once again the almost inexhaustible ability of ports to eat up public funds for investment that precludes profitability.     

A Critical Analysis of DEA Applications to Seaport Economic Efficiency Measurement

Abstract

The significant increase in the adoption of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for seaport efficiency measurement renders a literature synthesis and critical analysis of the application of the technique relevant and worthwhile. This paper provides a thorough review and critical analysis of the major studies undertaken to date, and highlights some problems and limitations in the application of the technique in the seaport context particularly in the specification of parameters, the sampling domain and the type of DEA to be applied. The paper informs the decision process as to the merits and limitations of DEA approaches for seaport efficiency measurement and makes a contribution towards methodological improvement by considering variations not yet applied to the port sector.     

Optimization Of Headway,Vehicle Size and Route Choice for Minimum Cost Feeder Service

ABSTRACT

Many people use public transportation systems to reach their destination, while others use personal vehicles. Poor transportation systems do not attract ridership. Therefore, the usage of passenger cars increases, and traffic and environmental conditions deteriorate. Efficient public transportation has been recognized as one of the potential ways of mitigating air pollution, reducing energy consumption, improving mobility and alleviating traffic congestion. The objective of this study is to optimize a bus feeder service that provides the shuttle service between a recreation center (e.g. Sandy Hook, NJ) and a major public transportation facility, subject to site-specific constraints such as vehicle schedules, bus availability, service capacity and budget. The decision variables include bus headway, vehicle size and route choice. The solution methodology integrating both analytical and numerical techniques is developed, which optimizes the decision variables. Finally, the proposed solution methodology is applied to a case study. Numerical results, including optimal solutions and sensitivity analyses, are presented while the level of coordination between the feeder service and a major transportation service is discussed.     

Optimal fuel-cut driving method for better fuel economy

Eco-drive methods are being applied in modern passenger cars in the form of LCD displays showing real-time fuel consumption rates. The eco-drive is one of the most promising methods to enhance the fuel economy of vehicles. The ecodrive method can be made more effective by using the fuel-cut function. The fuel is not injected when the driver does not depress the gas pedal of a vehicle with engine speeds higher than approximately 1,500 rpm above the mid-vehicle speed range. This function is known as the fuel-cut function, and almost every modern vehicle is equipped with this function. The fuel-cut is most frequently activated on downhill sections of highway. Therefore, the CO₂ exhausted from the vehicle can be zero in this downhill section. In this study, the fuel-cut function is simulated with CRUISE of AVL to find the most effective driving pattern in downhill sections. Simulations with the CRUISE software showed that the lower limit of the vehicle speed for fuelcut should be raised to improve fuel economy on steeper downhill sections. The fuel economy can be optimized when the fuelcut coasting and reacceleration is completed in the downhill part of the road. The simulation result was also compared to previous test results. Fuel consumption was reduced by approximately 4% in both the experimental and simulated results for the West Coast Highway in South Korea.     

Yaw rate and side-slip control considering vehicle longitudinal dynamics

Most conventional vehicle stability controllers operate on the basis of many simplifying assumptions, such as a small steering wheel angle, constant longitudinal velocity and a small side-slip angle. This paper presents a new approach for controlling the yaw rate and side-slip of a vehicle without neglecting its longitudinal dynamics and without making simplifying assumptions about its motion. A sliding-mode controller is used to develop a differential braking controller for tracking a desired vehicle yaw rate for a given steering wheel angle, while keeping the vehicle’s side-slip angle as small as possible. The trade-off that exists between yaw rate and side-slip control is described. Conventional and proposed algorithms are presented, and the effectiveness of the proposed controller is investigated using a seven-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed controller is more effective than the conventional one.     

The comparison of general cargo ship economic performance by simulation

Cargo ship designs offered by shipbuilders differ in characteristics such as deadweight, speed, fuel consumption and cargo equipment. The best vessel for high freight markets and high fuel prices may not be the best for low freight markets and low fuel prices. A model has been developed to compare by simulation a number of multi-purpose general cargo vessels suitable for the trade of a Turkish shipowner. The model simulates the operation of each vessel under a variety of operating scenarios, e.g. fuel prices and freight profiles over the ships' lives, and estimates the distribution of resulting net present values. The techno-economic simulation model incorporates variables including ship size, speed, first cost, fuel consumption, load factor and port days.

Results are presented for six standard vessels of around 20 000 dwt operating over a long and a short route. Although the ranking of the six varies with assumptions, one design is shown to be superior under most operating conditions.