Railway reforms: do they influence operating efficiency?

This paper considers railway operations in 23 European countries during 1995–2001, where a series of reform initiatives were launched by the European Commission, and analyses whether these reform initiatives improved the efficiency of the railway systems. Efficiency is measured using Multi-directional Efficiency Analysis, which enables investigation of how railway reforms affect the inefficiencies of specific cost drivers. The main findings are that the reform initiatives generally improve technical efficiency but potentially differently for different cost drivers. Specifically, the paper provides empirical evidence that accounting separation is important for improving the efficiency in the use of both material and staff costs, whereas other reforms only influenced one of these factors.

Developing an enhanced weight-based topological map-matching algorithm for intelligent transport systems

Map-matching (MM) algorithms integrate positioning data from a Global Positioning System (or a number of other positioning sensors) with a spatial road map with the aim of identifying the road segment on which a user (or a vehicle) is travelling and the location on that segment. Amongst the family of MM algorithms consisting of geometric, topological, probabilistic and advanced, topological MM (tMM) algorithms are relatively simple, easy and quick, enabling them to be implemented in real-time. Therefore, a tMM algorithm is used in many navigation devices manufactured by industry. However, existing tMM algorithms have a number of limitations which affect their performance relative to advanced MM algorithms. This paper demonstrates that it is possible by addressing these issues to significantly improve the performance of a tMM algorithm. This paper describes the development of an enhanced weight-based tMM algorithm in which the weights are determined from real-world field data using an optimisation technique. Two new weights for turn-restriction at junctions and link connectivity are introduced to improve the performance of matching, especially at junctions. A new procedure is developed for the initial map-matching process. Two consistency checks are introduced to minimise mismatches. The enhanced map-matching algorithm was tested using field data from dense urban areas and suburban areas. The algorithm identified 96.8% and 95.93% of the links correctly for positioning data collected in urban areas of central London and Washington, DC, respectively. In case of suburban area, in the west of London, the algorithm succeeded with 96.71% correct link identification with a horizontal accuracy of 9.81 m (2σ). This is superior to most existing topological MM algorithms and has the potential to support the navigation modules of many Intelligent Transport System (ITS) services.     

Understanding the impacts of a combination of service improvement strategies on bus running time and passenger’s perception

Transit agencies implement many strategies in order to provide an attractive transportation service. This article aims to evaluate the impacts of implementing a combination of strategies, designed to improve the bus transit service, on running time and passenger satisfaction. These strategies include using smart card fare collection, introducing limited-stop bus service, implementing reserved bus lanes, using articulated buses, and implementing transit signal priority (TSP). This study uses stop-level data collected from the Société de transport de Montréal (STM)’s automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger count (APC) systems, in Montréal, Canada. The combination of these strategies has lead to a 10.5% decline in running time along the limited stop service compared to the regular service. The regular route running time has increased by 1% on average compared to the initial time period. The study also shows that riders are generally satisfied with the service improvements. They tend to overestimate the savings associated with the implementation of this combination of strategies by 3.5-6.0 min and by 2.5-4.1 min for both the regular route and the limited stop service, respectively. This study helps transit planners and policy makers to better understand the effects of implementing a combination of strategies to improve running time and passenger’s perception of these changes in service.     

结构分割转换工法在地下空间开发中的应用及设想

为了更加快速、安全、高效地完成城市地下空间开发,以结构分割转换工法（CC工法）为研究内容,从工法内涵、工程实践和应用推广3个角度展开研究。首先,基于ＣＣ工法的最新研究成果,从结构分割、建造方案及节点处理3个方面详细介绍CC工法的核心内容;然后,结合工程实践对该工法进行验证性研究,重点比较跨中设缝与柱顶设缝方案的优缺点,介绍该工程地下结构分割、转换的过程,最终证实CC工法建造地下空间的合理性、灵活性及适用性;最后,进行CC工法在富水地层中应用的可行性研究,通过对CC工法与明挖法、暗挖法、型钢混凝土、地面预制装配式结构等技术进行结合应用研究,得出在特定的工程条件下,CC工法也具有与其他先进工法结合应用的价值。     

浅埋小间距矩形顶管掘进姿态控制技术探讨

为解决采用结构分割转换工法（CC工法）建造的某地下停车场小间距隧道群矩形顶管施工中顶管机出现栽头及掘进姿态控制困难的问题,结合项目施工过程的姿态监控数据,对产生栽头及姿态偏差的原因进行理论分析,提出相应的控制技术,并采取现场试验的方法进行效果验证。结果表明： 1）顶管机栽头现象的原因主要有顶管机体重心偏差、漏浆、姿态预留不够、后靠不稳; 2）通过设备和管节定位处理、洞门密封处理、增加始发姿态预留量、后靠稳定性控制等措施可有效防止顶管机栽头; 3）始发阶段采取洞门预留、破除等控制措施,掘进阶段控制掘进速度并辅以“E”型导向槽进行轴线控制等措施,可有效控制顶管机顶进姿态; 4）通过采取调整铰接油缸行程差、主推油缸行程差及姿态偏差方向的土压等姿态纠偏技术措施,取得了良好的施工效果。     

压气条件下泥膜进气值测量试验研究

在压气条件下,进气是泥膜透气失效的起始点。为测量并研究泥膜在气压下的进气压力值（进气值）,通过自制的试验装置,在不同压气条件下对3种泥膜进行进气值测量试验。试验结果表明： 1)由闭气排水与固结排水的差值可以辨别泥膜是否进气,得到泥膜进气值; 2)采用泥膜特征孔径D90/2代入推导公式可近似计算泥膜进气值; 3)泥膜在不同压气条件下进气值不同,增压速率越低,泥膜进气值越大; 4)在较快和较慢的增压速率下存在进气值变化趋于稳定的现象,最大进气值为最小值的2倍以上。     

管线敷设与风机室布置对综合管廊通风阻力影响研究

为准确估算管线敷设与风机室内气流相互作用对压降损失的影响,基于武汉市江夏区谭鑫培路地下综合管廊项目建立典型数值分析模型与分析流程。通过建立典型管线布置的GIL舱、高压舱与综合舱的计算流体动力学三维模型,分别对入口段与稳定段进行分析,并使用循环边界条件来考虑稳定段流体的充分发展,得到阻力系数随流量的变化规律;通过建立GIL舱典型排风口三维模型,分析风机室中不同风机的压降损失,并与规范估算值进行比较。研究结果表明： 管线敷设对压降损失的影响不可忽视;风机室风机相互作用显著,规范不能准确估算该相互作用导致的压降损失。     

地下交通转换平台射流通风特性及风流组织方式研究

为探究地下交通转换平台内通风系统的合理布局,采用比尺模型试验和CFD模拟相结合的方法,研究射流风机和通风组织对地下交通转换平台内气流运动的影响。结果表明： 1）当联络通道内风机射流朝向敞开段时,为使风机升压系数Kj最大,630 mm、900 mm、1 120 mm射流风机的布设位置应距离敞开段分别大于40、50、65 m; 2）大口径射流风机具有更大的Kj,但占用的断面空间更大,且射流诱导段更长,应根据联络通道长度和高度合理选择射流风机口径; 3）地下交通转换平台的通风组织不宜采用同侧开启方式,采用对角抽吸方式时,联络通道内的污染物混入比最低、通风效率最高。     

Sustainability and interactivity between cities and ports: a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach

Ports and cities are intrinsically linked. Port city, which serves as a link between the local and global economy, is an integration of both urban and port systems. Constrained by different regional structures, port cities have developed various formulations over time. Using a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, this paper proposes a new method for measuring the sustainable development of different port city systems. While the previous empirical studies often separate the port system and the urban system, this paper assesses the two systems in an integrated way. Moreover, this paper develops a systematic methodology for measurement of sustainability. Twenty world-leading container port cities are selected for this study using contemporary data. The DEA results display their relative differences in levels of sustainable development, which reveal the effectiveness of the prevailing policies in them. Eventually, recommendations are drawn for other port cities by referring to the best practices.     

考虑螺旋桨体积力的水下机器人水动力特性仿真

为在初步设计时预测ROV的水动力性能,使用CFD技术进行分析,以ROV模型为例,最大程度地保留ROV内部的构件,使模型更加接近真实状况。分别计算ROV在不同工况下的阻力、不同漂角下的横向力和转艏力矩以及添加体积力模型之后的螺旋桨流场状况,很好地模拟出ROV周围的流场,并与已有的试验数据进行对比。结果验证了CFD水动力仿真的可行性和准确性,并还可预测ROV在螺旋桨作用下的进速等,对ROV设计具有实际的参考价值和指导意义。