Multiple criteria optimization method for the vehicle assignment problem in a bus transportation company

A vehicle assignment problem (VAP) in a road, long‐haul, passenger transportation company with heterogeneous fleet of buses is considered in the paper. The mathematical model of the VAP is formulated in terms of multiobjective, combinatorial optimization. It has a strategic, long‐term character and takes into account four criteria that represent interests of both passengers and the company's management. The decision consists in the definition of weekly operating frequency (number of rides per week) of buses on international routes between Polish and Western European cities. The VAP is solved in a step‐wise procedure. In the first step a sample of efficient (Pareto‐optimal) solutions is generated using an original metaheuristic method called Pareto Memetic Algorithm (PMA). In the second step this sample is reviewed and evaluated by the Decision Maker (DM). In this phase an interactive, multiple criteria analysis method with graphical facilities, called Light Beam Search (LBS), is applied. The method helps the DM to define his/her preferences, direct the search process and select the most satisfactory solution.     

Estimation of origin-destination matrices from link counts and sporadic routing data

Estimation of origin-destination (OD) matrices from link count data is a challenging problem because of the highly indeterminate relationship between the observations and the latent route flows. Conversely, estimation is straightforward if we observe the path taken by each vehicle. We consider an intermediate problem of increasing practical importance, in which link count data is supplemented by routing information for a fraction of vehicles on the network. We develop a statistical model for these combined data sources and derive some tractable normal approximations thereof. We examine likelihood-based inference for these normal models under the assumption that the probability of vehicle tracking is known. We show that the likelihood theory can be non-standard because of boundary effects, and provide conditions under which such irregular behaviour will be observed in practice. For regular cases we outline connections with existing generalised least squares methods. We then consider estimation of OD matrices under estimated and/or misspecified models for the probability of vehicle tracking. Theoretical developments are complemented by simulation experiments and an illustrative example using a section of road network from the English city of Leicester.     

The determinants of long distance travel in Great Britain

This study analyses of the determinants of long distance travel in Great Britain using data from the 1995-2006 National Travel Surveys (NTSs). The main objective is to determine the effects of socio-economic, demographic and geographic factors on long distance travel. The estimated models express the distance travelled for long distance journeys as a function of income, gender, age, employment status, household characteristics, area of residence, size of municipality, type of residence and length of time living in the area. A time trend is also included to capture common changes in long distance travel over time not included in the explanatory variables. Separate models are estimated for total travel, travel by each of four modes (car, rail, coach and air), travel by five purposes (business, commuting, leisure, holiday and visiting friends and relatives (VFRs)) and two journey lengths (<150 miles and 150+ miles one way), as well as the 35 mode-purpose-distance combinations.The results show that long distance travel is strongly related to income: air is most income-elastic, followed by rail, car and finally coach. This is the case for most journey purposes and distance bands. Notable is the substantial difference in income elasticities for rail for business/commuting as opposed to holiday/leisure/VFR. In addition, the income elasticity for coach travel is very low, and zero for the majority of purpose-distance bands, suggesting coach travel to be an inferior mode in comparison to car, rail and air. Regarding journey distance, we find that longer distance journeys are more income elastic than shorter journeys.For total long distance travel, the study indicates that women travel less than men, the elderly less than younger people, the employed and students more than others, those in one adult households more than those in larger households and those in households with children less than those without. Long distance travel is also lowest for individuals living in London and greatest for those in the South West, and increases as the size of the municipality declines.     

On the income elasticity of the value of travel time

Transport infrastructure is long-term and in appraisal it is necessary to value travel time savings for future years. This requires knowing how the value of time (VTT) will develop over time as incomes grow. This paper investigates if the cross-sectional income elasticity of the VTT is equal to inter-temporal income elasticity. The study is based on two identical stated choice experiments conducted with a 13 year interval. Results indicate that the relationship between income and the VTT in the cross-section has remained unchanged over time. As a consequence, the inter-temporal income elasticity of the VTT can be predicted based on cross-sectional income elasticity. However, the income elasticity of the VTT is not a constant but increases with income. For this reason, the average income elasticity of the VTT in the cross-sections has increased between the two survey years and can be expected to increase further over time.     

软岩隧道三维扫描变形监测技术的试验研究

为解决传统监测技术单点监测无法满足软岩隧道整体性变形监测的局限性,采用三维激光扫描技术进行软岩隧道整体性变形监测试验,从隧道结构的变形时间、变形空间分布及变形量进行整体分析。首先建立全站仪和三维激光扫描仪测量误差模型,分析三维扫描监测技术与传统隧道监测技术的特点,通过平面标靶和棱镜靶球精度试验得出平面标靶最佳入射角范围小于60°,棱镜靶球自动提取距离不大于45 m,作为测站设置和控制点布设的依据; 然后以渭武高速木寨岭隧道2号斜井工程为依托,开展软岩隧道三维扫描变形监测技术的试验研究。研究结果表明： 中台阶开挖支护前已发生较大变形,最大变形位置为左侧上台阶与中台阶交界处,空间分布呈左大右小,试验段最大累计变形达0.48 m,下台阶及时封闭成环及2层初期支护有利于变形控制。     

Locating rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system

To determine the spatial distribution of rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system, this paper proposes a facility location and network design model. The model is developed as a multi-objective programing problem that considers four objectives (minimizing cyclist risk, maximizing cyclist comfort, minimizing adverse impacts on traffic and maximizing service coverage) and multiple constraints (monetary budget, network connectivity, station spacing, bikeway types, station number and value ranges of decision variables). The ε-constraint method solves the programing problem for the public bike system in Daan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. The nine non-dominated alternatives generated are all markedly better than existing locations of rental stations and bikeways. Scenario analysis results indicate that increasing the construction budget for bikeways significantly improves cyclist safety and comfort whilst increasing the adverse impact on traffic. Planners can use this model to develop public bike systems that spatially integrate rental stations and bikeway networks.     

The Storage Space Allocation Problem at a Container Terminal

Due to the asymmetry between the time required to retrieve a container to vessel and the time required to register a container at the gate, the storage space allocation problem solves the best allocation policy of these containers that minimizes the potential number of gantry movements during the assigning process and the future retrieval process. A decision rule-based heuristic is proposed, and three properties are discovered in this research. Comprehensive numerical experiments show that the proposed heuristic can solve the real-sized instances within a second, making it possible to account for uncertainty because the re-optimization effort is negligible. Moreover, when applying the proposed heuristic to a container yard at the Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan and considering the extreme cases, the heuristic performs even better when the number of containers increases and still requires less than 1 s to solve these extreme cases. Finally, the proposed heuristic can be applied to different layouts of storage space and various material handling machines.     

自动化散货码头装卸作业存在的问题与对策

针对目前国内已投入运营的自动化散货码头在装卸机械设备配置、功能区域划分、安全管理等方面存在的问题进行分析。提出针对性的解决对策,以进一步提高自动化散货码头的装卸作业效率并确保作业安全。对自动化散货码头的技术发展进行展望,供自动化散货码头建设或升级改造时参考和借鉴。     

制动器在水力式升船机中的应用

依托景洪升船机工程,探讨水力式升船机制动器的应用。通过对比分析电力驱动和水力驱动式升船机制动器的布置特点及工作方式,阐述制动器在水力式升船机中面临的新的技术问题,据此对水力式升船机制动器的制动力、同步性以及制动方式提出设计指标和要求,并探讨制动器的使用范围。建议水力式升船机制动器采用常开式,升船机正常运行时,制动器在船厢上、下游对接时投入使用。     

二维多翼升力的简化计算模型与布局优化

在势流框架内,针对多翼绕流相互干扰的动力学现象开展了研究.结合线性薄翼理论与四分之一四分之三点涡模型,建立了多翼升力的快速计算模型,能够简便高效地估算多翼系统的各个翼升力.基于此计算模型,分析了翼的个数和间距对多翼升力的影响,得到了使总升力达到最大的最优间距布置.