Understanding members' carsharing (activity) persistency by using econometric model

Carsharing is an innovative travel alternative that has recently experienced considerable growth and become part of sustainable transportation initiatives. Although carsharing is becoming increasingly a popular alternative transportation mode in North America, it is still an under‐researched area. Current research is aimed at better understanding of the behavior of carsharing users. For every member, a two‐stage approach microsimulates the probability of being active in any month using a binary probit model and given that a particular member is active during a month, the probability of that member using the service multiple times using a random utility‐based model. The model is estimated using empirical data from one of the largest carsharing companies in North America. The model estimates reveal that the activity persistency of members is positively linked to previous behaviors for up to 4 months, and that the influence of previous months weakens over time. It also shows that some attributes of the traveler (gender, age, and language spoken at home) impact his or her behaviors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model for the visualization and analysis of elevator traffic

ABSTRACT

Analysis of elevator traffic in high rise buildings is critical to the performance evaluation of elevator group control systems (EGCS). Elevator dispatching methods or parking algorithms in an EGCS can be designed or modified according to analyses of traffic flow. However, interpretation of traffic flow based solely on numerical data may not be explicit and transparent for EGCS experts as well as for other non-expert building administration. In this study, we present a model for visualization and analysis of elevator traffic. First, we present an alternative approach for traffic analysis which we call route visualization. In the proposed approach, we initially decompose elevator traffic into its component parts and investigate each component independently. Then, using superposition of components we obtain a reconstructed model of overall traffic. This modeling approach provides component-based traffic analysis and representation of routes with intensities through data visualization. In the second part we introduce a multi-dimensional analysis of time parameters in ECGS. This approach provides a comparative analysis of several control algorithms such as dispatch or park algorithms for different combinations of traffic components.     

Augmented Reality Vehicle system: Left-turn maneuver study

Augmented Reality “AR” is a promising paradigm that can offer users with real-time, high-quality visualization of a wide variety of information. In AR, virtual objects are added to the real-world view in real time. The AR technology can offer a very realistic environment for enhancing drivers’ performance on the road and testing drivers’ ability to react to different road design and traffic operations scenarios. This can be achieved by adding virtual objects (people, vehicles, hazards, and other objects) to the normal view while driving an actual vehicle in a real environment. This paper explores a new Augmented Reality Vehicle “ARV” system and attempts to apply this new concept to a selected traffic engineering application namely the left-turn maneuver at two-way stop-controlled “TWSC” intersection. This TWSC intersection experiment, in addition to testing the feasibility of the application, tries to quantify the size of gaps accepted by different driver’s characteristics (age and gender). The ARV system can be installed in any vehicle where the driver can see the surrounding environment through a Head Mounted Display “HMD” and virtual objects are generated through a computer and added to the scene. These different environments are generated using a well defined set of scenarios. The results from this study supported the feasibility and validity of the proposed ARV system and they showed promise for this system to be used in the field-testing for the safety and operation aspects of transportation research. Results of the left-turn maneuver study revealed that participants accepted gaps in the range of 4.0-9.0 s. This finding implies that all gaps below 4 s are rejected and all gaps above 9 s are likely to be accepted. The mean value of the left-turn time was 4.67 s which is a little bit higher than reported values in the literature (4.0-4.3 s). Older drivers were found to select larger gaps to make left turns than younger drivers. The conservative driving attitude of older drivers indicates the potential presence of reduced driving ability of elderly. Drivers’ characteristics (age and gender) did not significantly affect the left-turn time. Based on the survey questions that were handed to participants, most participants indicated good level of comfort with none or small level of risk while driving the vehicle with the ARV system. None of the participants felt any kind of motion sickness and the participants’ answers indicated a good visibility and realism of the scene with overall good system fidelity.     

新管道建立外腐蚀完整性管理的实践

管道外腐蚀管理是管道完整性管理的重要组成部分。目前,各管道公司都在探索如何快速建立新建管道外腐蚀完整性管理的数据。文中采用相互配合的方式,以腐蚀调查为基础,通过杭州-嘉兴输气管道工程实例,介绍如何建立管道外腐蚀完整性管理数据的途径,以及实施过程中需注意事项,为新建管道实施管道外腐蚀完整性管理提供一种解决思路。     

缆索吊装系统在钢桁架拱桥上构施工中的应用

文章以新世纪大桥主桥钢桁架上构施工为例,对施工所需缆索吊装系统的承重主索、塔架、地锚、扣挂体系进行了介绍,并阐述了利用缆索吊装系统进行钢桁架拱桥上构施工的工艺流程及技术要点。     

物联网平台下智能交通系统体系框架研究

文章以现有智能交通系统体系框架为基础,提出以结构化方法制定物联网平台下智能交通系统体系框架,并以结构化方法的基本步骤为主线,结合物联网工作原理和自主体系结构,从用户服务、逻辑框架、物理框架三方面探讨新体系框架与现有体系框架的差别。     

广西道路货物运输安全管理对策研究

文章介绍了当前广西道路货物运输行业的基本情况,阐述了广西道路货物运输安全生产存在的主要问题,并从行政管理和企业管理的角度,提出了切合广西道路货物运输行业实际的安全管理措施。     

杭州公共自行车交通系统发展优化建议与思考

文章通过大量的信息调研,综合分析了杭州市公共自行车交通系统(PBS)的运营现状及存在的问题,提出了拓宽非机动车道、服务点规模等级化、站点设施结构智能化、换乘系统综合化的公共自行车交通系统发展优化建议。     

城市交通系统通行性影响因素及计算理论

文章分析了震后城市交通系统通行性的影响因素,提出了包含路段单元通行概率、路段连通概率及路网连通概率的城市交通系统通行性计算理论,为城市路网的连通可靠性评价提供参考。     

SNS柔性防护系统在某公路土质边坡维护中的应用研究

以某公路土质边坡维护工程作为案例,阐述了SNS柔性防护网的分类及工作原理,从设计方面、施工方面、经济性和环保性等4个方面分别和其他边坡防护技术进行了对比分析。与传统的浆砌片石、锚杆加固、挡土墙等刚性防护措施比较,SNS柔性防护系统不但拥有传统防护技术的预防治理作用,而且可以预防治理坡面常见地质灾害。SNS柔性防护系统秉承“以柔制刚”的理念达到“事倍功半”效益,是一种施工便捷、资金投入相对少,对已有公路以及周边建筑物扰动相对小,对危险落石落土有阻拦作用的新方法。