An optimization framework for workplace charging strategies

The workplace charging (WPC) has been recently recognized as the most important secondary charging point next to residential charging for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The current WPC practice is spontaneous and grants every PEV a designated charger, which may not be practical or economic when there are a large number of PEVs present at workplace. This study is the first research undertaken that develops an optimization framework for WPC strategies to satisfy all charging demand while explicitly addressing different eligible levels of charging technology and employees’ demographic distributions. The optimization model is to minimize the lifetime cost of equipment, installations, and operations, and is formulated as an integer program. We demonstrate the applicability of the model using numerical examples based on national average data. The results indicate that the proposed optimization model can reduce the total cost of running a WPC system by up to 70% compared to the current practice. The WPC strategies are sensitive to the time windows and installation costs, and dominated by the PEV population size. The WPC has also been identified as an alternative sustainable transportation program to the public transit subsidy programs for both economic and environmental advantages.     

Through the storm: Transit agency management in response to climate change

The increase in extreme weather events due to climate change poses serious challenges to public transit systems. These events disrupt transit operations, impair service quality, increase threats to public safety, and damage infrastructure. Despite the growing risk of extreme weather and climate change, little is known about how public managers recognize, experience and address these risks. Using data from a national study of public transit agencies we investigate the types of extreme weather events transit agencies are experiencing, the associated risks, and how agencies are preparing for them. We find that while extreme events are commonly experienced by transit agencies across states and transit managers perceive increased risks from these events, most agencies rely on the traditional emergency management approach to address extreme weather ex post rather than taking a proactive approach to mitigating the adverse weather impact on transit assets and infrastructure ex ante. Managers report that a lack of access to financial resources is the greatest challenge for undertaking adaptation and preparation. We conclude with a discussion of what these findings mean for understanding organizational adaptation behavior as well as climate adaptation policy making.     

技术站间货物列车协同配流方案研究

技术站间货物列车协同作业组织模式，可实现各站获益，整体加强，对提升铁路运输生产效率具有重要意义.本文建立技术站间货物列车协同配流模型.模型以最大化两技术站的正点出发列车数作为目标函数，采用启发式遗传算法进行寻优，得到货物列车解编顺序和配流方案.最后，通过对算例进行实验分析，验证协同配流模型的实用性.结果表明，技术站间协同配流作业明显压缩车辆在站总停留时间，增加了阶段计划内正点出发列车数，进而提高了技术站内线路使用能力.     

Optimal design of electric vehicle public charging system in an urban network for Greenhouse Gas Emission and cost minimization

In this paper, we address the optimization problem of allocation of Electric Vehicle (EV) public fast charging stations over an urban grid network. The objective is to minimize Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) under multiple constraints including a limited agency budget, accessibility of charging stations in every possible charging request and charging demands during peak hours. Additionally, we address bi-criteria problems to consider user costs as the second objective. A convex parsimonious model that depends on relatively few assumptions and input parameters is proposed and it is shown to be useful for obtaining conceptual insights for high-level planning. In a parametric study using a hypothetical urban network model generated based on realistic parameters, we show that GHG emissions decrease with agency budget, and that the reductions vary depending on multiple factors related to EV market and EV technologies. The optimal solutions found from the bi-criteria problems are shown to be close to the solution minimizing GHG emissions only, meaning that the emission minimizing policy can also minimize user costs.     

A carbon footprint-based closed-loop supply chain model under uncertainty with risk analysis: A case study

The management of products’ end-of-life and the recovery of used products has gained significant importance in recent years. In this paper, we address the carbon footprint-based problem that arises in a closed-loop supply chain where returned products are collected from customers. These returned products can either be disposed of or be remanufactured to be resold as new ones. Given this environment, an optimization model for a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in which carbon emission is expressed in terms of environmental constraints, i.e., carbon emission constraints, is developed. These constraints aim to limit the carbon emission per unit of product supplied with different transportation modes. Here, we design a closed-loop network where capacity limits, single-item management and uncertainty on product demands and returns are considered. First, fuzzy mathematical programming is introduced for uncertain modeling. Then, the statistical approach to the possibility to synthesize fuzzy information is utilized. Therefore, using a defined possibilistic mean and variance, we transform the proposed fuzzy mathematical model into a crisp form to facilitate efficient computation and analysis. Finally, the risk caused by violating the estimated resource constraints is analyzed so that decision makers (DMs) can trade off between the expected cost savings and the expected risk. We utilize data from a company located in Iran.     

The vulnerability of the environment to spills of dangerous substances on highways: A diagnosis based on multi criteria modeling

Highways and freeways are the main infrastructure channel used to transport cargo in Brazil. This cargo often includes dangerous chemical products which can, in the event of an accident, negatively impact the environment. The development and implementation of tools for the rapid diagnosis of environmental vulnerability in the transportation of dangerous goods has been studied. However, for highways and freeways there is a lack of studies based on environmental attributes, and not just based on statistical data which demands a specific period for collection and analysis and only after that the implementation of preventive measures. Thus, evaluation grounded on multiple criteria embedded in Geographic Information System (GIS) has significant potential for the practical implementation of risk management of road transportation of dangerous goods. This study has determined the environmental vulnerability of route BR 050, specifically the segment between the cities of Uberlândia and Uberaba in the state of Minas Gerais, where multi criteria analysis has been efficient in determining the most vulnerable areas. The main attributes analyzed were the drainage density, soil type and geology, determining that in case of an accident with dangerous substances the regional environment would be immediately affected, and so endorsing the use of this tool in many segments involved in environmental management of highway enterprises.     

“船舶—堆场—列车”混堆堆场箱位分配模型

集装箱海铁联运港口堆场作业箱型复杂,为了提高港口作业能力和效率,基于进口、出口箱的混合堆存方式,对"船舶-堆场-列车"作业堆场箱位分配问题进行研究."船舶-堆场-列车"作业堆场负责堆存通过船舶、列车及外集卡进出港口的集装箱.本文在待分配箱的作业时间及箱区已知的前提下,以集装箱堆存产生的压箱数最小为目标,建立"船舶-堆场-列车"作业混堆堆场箱位分配模型,根据模型特点设计了启发式算法进行求解,并进行算例分析.结果表明,所建模型和求解算法能够有效减少堆场的压箱数,满足箱型堆存要求,提高港口作业效率.     

动力定位系统舵桨组合推力分配研究

针对船舶动力定位系统推力分配中舵桨组合的推力建模及优化分配问题,将舵桨组合的非凸推力区域转化成4个凸区域,采用切换控制理论把非线性最优化问题转换为线性最优化问题。将舵、桨组合起来进行推力建模,以最小推力、舵角变化和推力误差为优化目标,对推进器的推力变化率、舵角变化率、推力误差范围和推力大小作了约束,采用多边形的方法把推力范围约束转化为线性不等式约束,基于总功率与总推力误差在不同推力区域设计了切换逻辑,实现了在不同的推力分配器中的切换。实船试验结果表明舵桨组合推力模型及推力分配策略是切实可行的,满足了推力分配的要求,在配备舵的动力定位船上具有良好的应用前景。     

考虑健康损失的路阻模型的构建

运用高斯烟羽模型计算机动车尾气排放量,然后利用支付意愿法定量分析健康损失,同时考虑延误和健康损失构建考虑健康损失的路阻模型。根据实例,分别使用Transcad和新的路阻模型计算出2个路阻,并进行交通分配。结果显示2次交通分配的路网流量不同,表明考虑健康损失的路阻模型影响了人们的出行选择,可有效解决主干路拥挤,增加次干路车流量,协调整个路网车流量均衡,提高路网交通效率。     

考虑动态定价的煤炭调运方案优化研究

煤炭坑口价格的变化与市场供求有重要联系.本文在煤炭坑口价格动态定价的基础上,以煤炭产地和消费地间的煤炭调运量为决策变量,以煤炭流通过程中的总费用最小化为目标,分别构建了煤炭调运系统优化模型和考虑消费者竞争的煤炭调运优化模型,设计了遗传算法和Floyd算法相结合的求解算法.以我国内地煤炭调运问题为案例,分析了价格变化特性、可调出量与消费量比例等因素对煤炭调运方案的影响.结果表明,考虑消费者竞争时煤炭流通广义费用更低;随着煤炭可调出量与消费量比的增加,动态价格较固定价格的煤炭流通广义费用下降更快.