Locating emergency vehicles with an approximate queuing model and a meta-heuristic solution approach

In this paper, the location of emergency service (ES) vehicles is studied on fully connected networks. Queuing theory is utilized to obtain the performance metrics of the system. An approximate queuing model the (AQM) is proposed. For the AQM, different service rate formulations are constructed. These formulations are tested with a simulation study for different approximation levels. A mathematical model is proposed to minimize the mean response time of ES systems based on AQM. In the model, multiple vehicles are allowed at a single location. The objective function of the model has no closed form expression. A genetic algorithm is constructed to solve the model. With the help of the genetic algorithm, the effect of assigning multiple vehicles on the mean response time is reported.     

Modification of the Highway Capacity Manual two‐lane highway analysis procedure for Spanish conditions

The US Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology is used in Spain to evaluate traffic operation and quality of service. The effect of passing manoeuvre on two‐lane highway operational performance is considered through adjustment factors to average travel speeds and percent time spent following. The procedure is largely based on simulations in TWOPAS and passing behaviours observed during US calibrations in the 1970s. It is not clear whether US driving behaviour and vehicles' performance are comparable with Spanish conditions. The objective of this research is to adapt the HCM 2010 methodology to Spanish driver behaviour, for base conditions (i.e. no passing restrictions). To do so, TWOPAS was calibrated and validated based on current Spanish passing field data. The calibration used a genetic algorithm. The case study included an ideal two‐lane highway with varying directional traffic flow rate, directional split and percentage of trucks. The updated methodology for base conditions is simpler than the current HCM 2010 and does not rely on interpolation from tables. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高速公路场景下的电子稳像技术研究

为了去除高速公路监控视频中自身位置不稳定的事物给全局运动矢量估计带来误差,先通过Canny算子检测图像中的直线,并根据车道边界的特征筛选出道路边界,确定道路区域。再检测道路区域内的Harris角点信息,并与背景图中道路区域内的角点位置进行匹配,从而得到全局运动矢量,并计算出稳定的图像。实验表明,该算法能够满足高速公路场景下的稳像需求。     

Prioritizing road extension projects with interdependent benefits under time constraint

Since transportation projects are costly and resources are limited, prioritizing or sequencing the projects is imperative. This study was inspired by a client who asked: “I have tens of approved road extension projects, but my financial resources are limited. I cannot construct all the projects simultaneously, so can you help me prioritize my projects?” To address this question, the benefits and costs of all the possible scenarios must be known. However, the impacts (or benefit) of road extension projects are highly interdependent, and in sizable cases cannot be specified thoroughly. We demonstrate that the problem is analogous to the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). Dynamic change in travel demand during construction is another aspect of the complexity of the problem. The literature is yet to provide efficient methods for large cases. To this end, we developed a heuristic methodology in which the variation of travel demand during the construction period is considered. We introduce a geometrical objective function for which a solution-finding policy based on “gradient maximization” is developed. To address the projects’ interdependency, a special neural network (NN) model was devised. We developed a search engine hybridized of Ant Colony and Genetic Algorithm to seek a solution to the TSP-like problem on the NN based on gradient maximization. The algorithm was calibrated and applied to real data from the city of Winnipeg, Canada, as well as two cases based on Sioux-Falls. The results were reliable and identification of the optimum solution was achievable within acceptable computational time.     

Trip generation and distribution: the inconsistency problem and a possible remedy

There are many shortcomings commonly associated with the conventional urban transportation modeling process. This paper focuses on one of the more important problems — the inconsistency between trip generation and distribution components — and suggests a possible way of alleviating it. The suggested approach involves sorting out the independent effects on tripmaking of origin, destination and travel cost characteristics, and introducing accessibility measures explicitly into the modeling process. The resulting modeling framework can be used to obtain consistent estimates of trip generation and distribution quantities which are responsive to changes in the transportation and spatial systems.     

Direct formulation and algorithms for the probit-based stochastic user equilibrium traffic assignment problem

This paper proposes simple and direct formulation and algorithms for the probit-based stochastic user equilibrium traffic assignment problem. It is only necessary to account for random variables independent of link flows by performing a simple transformation of the perceived link travel time with a normal distribution. At every iteration of a Monte-Carlo simulation procedure, the values of the random variables are sampled based on their probability distributions, and then a regular deterministic user equilibrium assignment is carried out to produce link flows. The link flows produced at each iteration of the Monte-Carlo simulation are averaged to yield the final flow pattern. Two test networks demonstrate that the proposed algorithms and the traditional algorithm (the Method of Successive Averages) produce similar results and that the proposed algorithms can be extended to the computation of the case in which the random error term depends on measured travel time.     

Development and calibration of a long-distance passenger traffic assignment model

This paper studies the assignment of long-distance passenger traffic on a highway corridor network. First, we propose a traditional model for the long-distance traffic assignment considering interactions with local commuter traffic. It addresses the effect of local networks on highway corridors. An iterative algorithm is developed to solve for the exact solution. Then, to address the potential computational issues that arise therein, a decomposition method is proposed by introducing a new concept of corridor elasticity. An assignment procedure for long-distance passenger traffic is developed accordingly. Numerical tests show that the proposed decomposition method makes significant improvements in computational performance at a small loss of optimality. This decomposition method well approximates the exact assignment from the traditional formulation, especially when the highway corridors are near-saturation. The proposed decomposition method appears practical for application.     

协同决策机制下航空公司时隙分配优化决策

航空运输系统涉及空管、航空公司与机场三方面,但是目前解决不正常航班却单纯依靠空管。而这种方式无法达到减少旅客延误时间的目标。文中研究在协同决策机制下,航空公司根据航班旅客特性自由指派航班时隙的方法问题。建立了一种航班时隙指派模型,针对模型的特点设计了一种启发式算法。通过实例证明了采用该方法可以减少旅客总延误时间,同时还说明了航空公司参与时隙分配决策的重要性。     

Vibration control in train–bridge–track systems

To study the problems associated with vibration control of train–bridge–track systems a mathematical model with the capability of representing supplementary vibrational control devices is proposed. The train system is assumed as rigid bodies supported on double-deck suspension mechanism with semi-active features. The bridge system is modeled using the modal approach. Vibration control for bridge responses is provided by tuned mass dampers. A non-classical incremental Eigen analysis is proposed to trace the system characteristics across the time. In an example, the capability of the proposed model in investigating the vibration control prospects of a bridge–train system is shown. The results indicate the effectiveness of active suspension mechanism in reducing train's body movements, particularly the pitching angle and the vertical accelerations. Accordingly, the results also verify the potential of TMD devices in reducing the bridge responses at resonance motions.     

弹性需求下高速公路超限补偿费率优化模型

为了准确刻画超限需求弹性对补偿费率的影响,从用户和系统的角度分别对超限运输的收益和成本进行分析和建模,构造超限运输弹性需求函数,反映超限运输需求量与其运输效益之间的变化关系,将超限运输业者运输行为的选择归结为弹性需求下的用户均衡配流问题,进而利用高速公路管理者与超限运输业者之间的Stackelberg博弈关系,建立了基于弹性需求的高速公路超限补偿费率的双层规划优化模型,并设计了基于模拟退火算法求解的优化算法。结果表明：模型能较好地优化超限补偿费率,使之对超限运输业者进行合理补偿收费和适度惩罚,有效遏制超限运输,从而产生更大的社会与经济效益。