An optimal data-splitting algorithm for aircraft scheduling on a single runway to maximize throughput

In this research, we present a data-splitting algorithm to optimally solve the aircraft sequencing problem (ASP) on a single runway under both segregated and mixed-mode of operation. This problem is formulated as a 0–1 mixed-integer program (MIP), taking into account several realistic constraints, including safety separation standards, wide time-windows, and constrained position shifting, with the objective of maximizing the total throughput. Varied scenarios of large scale realistic instances of this problem, which is NP-hard in general, are computationally difficult to solve with the direct use of commercial solver as well as existing state-of-the-art dynamic programming method. The design of the algorithm is based on a recently introduced data-splitting algorithm which uses the divide-and-conquer paradigm, wherein the given set of flights is divided into several disjoint subsets, each of which is optimized using 0–1 MIP while ensuring the optimality of the entire set. Computational results show that the difficult instances can be solved in real-time and the solution is efficient in comparison to the commercial solver and dynamic programming, using both sequential, as well as parallel, implementation of this pleasingly parallel algorithm.     

浅谈综合工费对铁路隧道机械化施工经济性影响

为分析研究综合工费对大型机械钻爆法施工概算费用的影响,以3条新建双线铁路隧道项目数据为依托,核算出不同施工模式下的经济指标及工程费用;建立基期综合工费单价理论计算模型,计算出不同施工模式、不同围岩等级条件下新建铁路双线隧道临界综合工费单价。通过与普通钻爆法对比,大型机械钻爆法施工建造费用增长约10%;当基期综合工费高于226. 54元/工日时,大型机械钻爆法施工的经济性得以体现。     

Optimal bus fleet management strategy for emissions reduction

Transportation is a major cause for environmental degradation via exhaust emissions. For many transit-oriented metropolitan areas, bus trips often constitute a sizeable mode share. Managing the bus fleet, in particular updating buses to comply with the newer emissions standards, therefore, can have a substantial impact on transportation-induced air quality. This paper presents the approach of remaining life additional benefit–cost (RLABC) analysis for maximising the total net benefit by either early-retiring or retrofitting the current bus fleet within their lifespans. By referring to the net benefits for different bus types estimated by RLABC analysis, the most beneficial management scheme for the current bus fleet can be identified. Optimal bus fleet management (BFM) models based on the RLABC analysis for the operator and the government are developed. Then a government subsidy plan is produced to achieve win–win solutions, which will offer efficient and flexible management schemes. To illustrate the approach, the largest bus company in Hong Kong, which carries more than 23% of the total trips in Hong Kong, is taken as a case study example. Instead of adopting a fixed retirement plan, such as replacing buses at the age of 17 as is currently practised, the proposed method develops an optimal BFM scheme that progressively phases out buses or retrofits them. This study produces promising results to demonstrate the large benefit of this approach for optimal bus fleet management.     

Competitiveness of container terminal operating companies in South Korea and the industry–university–government network

Burgeoning container port facilities have fostered intensified competition among container terminal operating companies (CTOCs). However, despite research into their survival strategies which identified antecedents of competitiveness including hard factors such as facilities, available cargo and cargo processing ability, softer factors spanning human resource management, networks and strategic alliances with universities and government agencies in industry–university–government (I–U–G) networks have been overlooked. This study aims to examine both hard and softer antecedents of competitiveness as perceived by 152 professionals in South Korean CTOCs; empirical relationships among these antecedents, I–U–G networks, and competitiveness itself; and the significance of the I–U–G network in establishing and improving competitiveness. Posited antecedents of competitiveness included human resources, facilities, service quality, customer orientation, reputation, and government support policy as independent variables; the I–U–G network as a moderating variable; and competitiveness as a dependent variable. Empirical structural relationships revealed that excepting government support policy, each variable significantly affected CTOC competitiveness. Further, the I–U–G network moderated the relationships between the antecedents of competitiveness and competitiveness. Because an effective I–U–G network was pivotal in controlling CTOC competitiveness, improved competitiveness requires not only differentiation of human resources, facilities, service quality, customer orientation, and reputation factors but also I–U–G network developments.     

基于模糊层次的铁路混装货物装运安全评价研究

随着客户运输需求的多样化升级,采用铁路混装货物装运模式在提升铁路运输效率、吸引多样货源等方面相较于单一品名装运显示出一定的优越性,同时混装货物装运面临的安全压力相较于单一品名装运出现骤增。为保障铁路混装货物装运安全,在阐述混装货物装运特点及安全控制要点的基础上,从"人防""物防""技防"3方面构建混装货物装运安全评价指标体系,采用层次分析法确定各指标权重,并利用模糊综合评价法对铁路混装货物装运安全进行评价,通过实例验证该评价方法的实用性及有效性,为铁路混装货物装运安全评价提供依据。     

基于分级节点的高速铁路货运动车组开行研究

“八纵八横”高速铁路网货运节点可以利用聚类分析法,依据货运总量、GDP、人口、社会消费品零售总额、快递业务量、线路连接数、城市类别和节点类别等指标划分为4个等级。基于灰色系统预测模型,预测2025年高速铁路货运量,构建数学模型计算保本货运量。依据节点划分、货运量预测、保本货运量结果,计算各等级节点中盈利OD所占的比例,结合日均OD量,分析各等级节点间开办高速铁路货运的可行性。研究表明,在一级节点之间可以开行高速铁路货运动车组专列,在二级节点之间可以开行客货联挂动车组,三、四级节点可以采用捎带运输的方式。     

Establishment of Community Managed Fisheries’ Closures in Kenya: Early Evolution of the Tengefu Movement

Community-based management (CBM) could be an essential tool to prevent the depletion of marine resources in the Western Indian Ocean region. In Kenya, political pressure to strengthen local governance, has led to adoption of CBM as a way of reducing over-exploitation and managing the competing uses and impacts on the marine environment. Several communities in Kenya have embraced CBM and have set aside or closed previously fished areas to enhance recovery of fisheries and biodiversity. These community fisheries closures (locally called tengefu), despite being degraded, may recover to finfish abundances and biodiversity levels similar to established MPAs or above thresholds for maintaining some ecological services. Communities see their direct involvement and control of these tengefu as more likely to result in benefits flowing directly to them. Community closures are also important for articulating and resolving community values and strengthening their management capacity. Here, we describe the evolution of the tengefu movement in Kenya and combine information from focus group discussions, interviews, underwater surveys and boundary marking to evaluate the current status, opportunities and challenges facing these tengefu. We show that in some cases community closures suffer from slow and incomplete national and local legislative processes, challenges to compliance, and weak management.     

Data dependent input control for origin–destination demand estimation using observability analysis

In this paper, we address the observability issue of static O–D estimation based on link counts. Unlike most classic observability analyses that relied only on network topological relationships, our analysis incorporates the actual values of input parameters, thus including network operational relations as well. We first analyze possible mathematical properties of an O–D estimation problem with different data input. We then propose a modeling approach based on mixed-integer program for selecting model input that ensures observability and estimation quality. Through establishing a stronger connection between observability analysis and the corresponding estimation problem, the proposed method aims to improve estimation quality while reducing reliance on erroneous data.     

频繁爆破下隧道内振动传播的数值研究

为揭示频繁爆破下隧道内振动传播衰减规律,文章以蒙华铁路段家坪隧道为工程背景,利用LS-DY NA建立了三维隧道模型,模拟分析了多次爆破下隧道内近区和中远区的振动传播规律。结果表明,质点垂向峰值振速随距离和爆破次数的增大而减小,少数振速有增大的现象;近区振动衰减较快,中远区振动衰减比近区缓慢;中远区a值比近区至少小12.5%,但整体上二者的a值随爆破作用次数的增加呈缓慢上升趋势;系数K随爆破作用次数的增加而降低,近区K值降低速率普遍大于中远区,且近区K值比中远区至少大29.1%;频繁爆破下,中远区比近区较符合萨道夫斯基经验公式。     

500米长轨营业线火车市场运费与概预算编制办法计算运费对比分析

随着《铁路基本建设项目投资管理办法》(铁总计统〔2017〕179号)及《关于铁路建设项目清理概算工作的通知》(发改投资电〔2019〕1号)文的出台,标志着铁路建设项目概算清理工作,将逐步交由建设单位按照不突破初步设计批复金额进行处理,因此初步设计阶段如何确保招标预算金额的准确性,体现的越来越为重要,本文通过对500米长轨营业线火车市场运费与编制办法计算运费的分析,量化两者费用存在的差异,列明差异原因,并提出相关建议。