Evaluating sustainability of supply chains by two-stage range directional measure in the presence of negative data

Assessing sustainability of supply chains is a critical and increasingly complex problem. In recent years sustainability has received more attention in supply chain management (SCM) literature with triple bottom lines including social, environmental, and economic factors. Conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models consider decision making units (DMUs) as black boxes that consume a set of inputs to produce a set of outputs and do not take into consideration internal interactions of DMUs. Two-stage DEA models deal with such DMUs. However, existing two-stage DEA models are applicable only in technologies characterized by positive inputs/outputs. This paper aims to build and present a new two-stage DEA model considering negative input-intermediate-output data. Some numerical examples along with some theorems and properties are given to show capability of proposed method. The proposed ideas are used in a case study where 29 Iranian supply chains producing equipment of expendable medical devices are evaluated in terms of sustainability.     

Urban single-lane roundabouts: A new analytical approach using multi-criteria and simultaneous multi-objective optimization of geometry design,efficiency and safety

Building safe and effective roundabouts requires optimizing traffic (operational) efficiency (TE) and traffic safety (TS) while taking into account geometric factors, traffic characteristics and local constraints. Most existing simulation-based optimization models do not simultaneously optimize all these factors. To capture the relationship among geometry, efficiency and safety, we put forward a model formulation in this paper. We present a new multi-criteria and simultaneous multi-objective optimization (MOO) model approach to optimize geometry, TE and TS of urban unsignalized single-lane roundabouts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first model that uses the multi-criteria decision-making method known as analytic hierarchy process to evaluate and rank traffic parameters and geometric elements of urban single-lane roundabouts. The model was built based on comprehensive review of the research literature and existing roundabout simulation software, a field survey of 61 civil and traffic expert engineers in Croatia, and field studies of roundabouts in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb. We started from the basis of Kimber’s capacity model, HCM2010 serviceability model, and Maycock and Hall's accident prediction model, which we extended by adding sensitivity analysis and powerful MOO procedures of the bounded objective function method and interactive optimization. Preliminary validation of the model was achieved by identifying the optimal and most robust of three geometric alternatives (V.1-V.3) for an unsignalized single-lane roundabout in Zagreb, Croatia. The geometric parameters in variant V.1 had significantly higher values than in the existing design V.0, while approaches 1 and 3 in variant V.2 were enlarged as much as possible within allowed spatial limits and Croatian guidelines, reflecting their higher traffic demand. Sensitivity analysis indicated that variant V.2 showed the overall highest TE and TS across the entire range of traffic flow demand and pedestrian crossing flow demand at approaches. At the same time, the number of predicted traffic accidents was similar for all three variants, although it was lowest overall for V.2. The similarity in predicted accident frequency for the three variants suggests that V.2 provides the greatest safety within the predefined constraints and parameter ranges explored in our study. These preliminary results suggest that the proposed model can optimize geometry, TE and TS of urban single-lane roundabouts.     

Climate change behaviors related to purchase and use of personal cars: Development and validation of eco-socially conscious consumer behavior scale

A constantly changing environment and global warming are issues that are recognized at all global forums. One of the major reasons for global warming is the emission of greenhouse gasses which is primarily caused by use of personal cars as means of transport. This study reports on the development of an eco-socially conscious consumer behavior (ESCCB) scale specific to purchase and use of personal cars, based on samples of actual automobile customers in Pakistan. Using mixed method approaches, the results of 3 studies yield a 9-item three-dimensional scale (eco-social conservation, eco-social use, and eco-social purchase) with satisfactory reliability, construct validity and nomological validity. Second-order factor analysis revealed that eco-social purchase was the most important dimension, followed by eco-conservation and eco-social use. A test of nomological behavior shows that the scale is positively associated with a related construct: environmental concern. This study advances the literature on pro-environmental behaviors by introducing a conceptual definition of ESCCB related to personal car purchase and use, developing a measure for the ESCCB concept and validating the scale in the context of an emerging economy, Pakistan. The scale provides important insights for marketers in the automobile industry for remodelling marketing plans, as well as for environmentalists focusing on strategies to bring change in consumer behavior.     

Dynamic demand estimation and prediction for traffic urban networks adopting new data sources

Nowadays, new mobility information can be derived from advanced traffic surveillance systems that collect updated traffic measurements, both in fixed locations and over specific corridors or paths. Such recent technological developments point to challenging and promising opportunities that academics and practitioners have only partially explored so far.The paper looks at some of these opportunities within the Dynamic Demand Estimation problem (DDEP). At first, data heterogeneity, accounting for different sets of data providing a wide spatial coverage, has been investigated for the benefit of off-line demand estimation. In an attempt to mimic the current urban networks monitoring, examples of complex real case applications are being reported where route travel times and route choice probabilities from probe vehicles are exploited together with common link traffic measurements.Subsequently, on-line detection of non-recurrent conditions is being recorded, adopting a sequential approach based on an extension of the Kalman Filter theory called Local Ensemble Transformed Kalman Filter (LETKF).Both the off-line and the on-line investigations adopt a simulation approach capable of capturing the highly nonlinear dependence between the travel demand and the traffic measurements through the use of dynamic traffic assignment models. Consequently, the possibility of using collected traffic information is enhanced, thus overcoming most of the limitations of current DDEP approaches found in the literature.     

Formal scientific research of traffic collision data utilizing GIS

This paper explores the tenuous link between speeding behavior and accident causation, one that has not been well established in the international literature to date. Taking advantage of established engineering conventions and formulae, we were able to set up an a priori hypothesis suitable for testing. Utilizing this formal scientific method (which GIS researchers have been criticised for not using) we establish a statistical link for this relationship. Our methodology can be used to support all police intervention strategies, including the controversial photo radar systems. The results from our research have been entered into a GIS in order to create a map for spatial display. This map illustrates the relative probability or risk of collision occurrence resulting from speeding at all intersections and interchanges within the scope of the study. It is suggested that this methodology could easily be maintained with periodic updates of data, thus creating a dynamic model from which to monitor traffic safety within the city. Furthermore, this model can be utilized to study specific strategies, allowing for the scrutiny of before, during and after effects. The study area is the entire city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and includes all traffic collisions occurring during the year of 1994.     

基于GOOSE机制的城市轨道交通中压环网继电保护方案优化

针对目前城市轨道交通中压环网继电保护存在的问题,提出了基于GOOSE(面向通用对象的变电站事件)机制的中压环网的继电保护优化方案,有效地解决了传统过流保护级差配合困难的问题.该方案是以GOOSE光纤以太网为基础,以闭锁逻辑为核心的数字通信电流保护方案.将GOOSE信号进行分类,并对中压供电环网系统各种可能出现的故障进行动作行为分析.最后,通过RTDS(动态数字仿真系统)仿真试验,证明该方案在各种故障情况下,都能保证继电保护的选择性、速动性、灵敏性和可靠性.     

A proposed vision and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication-based vehicle positioning approach

It is essential to obtain accurate location of vehicles for new applications of Intelligent Transportation Systems. To remedy the defects of present Global Positioning System and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V-I) positioning technology, a new positioning approach based on vision and V-I communication is proposed. This approach aims at lane-level positioning with lower cost than conventional ones. In this approach, the position of the vehicle is represented by its lateral position (the lane number) and longitudinal position (the distance from entrance of the road) in a course coordinate system along the road; the specific lane the vehicle is occupying (the lane number) can be judged using the information of lane lines detected by vision systems; then the distance to the vehicle is obtained by a Road Side Unit (RSU) during the V-I communication; and the longitudinal position is calculated. The error of the approach on typical operating conditions is analyzed, indicating that the new approach can achieve the accuracy of less than 0.31 m for straight road and 0.58 m for typical arc road with ultra-wideband communication and ranging technologies and rational arrangement of RSUs. The feasibility of this approach is presented.     

Plate scanning tools to obtain travel times in traffic networks

The management of vehicle travel times has been shown to be fundamental to traffic network analysis. To collect travel time measurement, some methods focus solely on isolated links or highway segments, and where two measurement points, at the beginning and at the end of a section, are deemed sufficient to evaluate users' travel time. However, in many cases, transport studies involve networks in which the problem is more complex. This article takes advantage of the plate scanning technique to propose an algorithm that minimizes the required number of registering devices and their location in order to identify vehicles candidates to compute the travel times of a given set of routes (or subroutes). The merits of the proposed method are explained using simple examples and are illustrated by its application to the real network of Ciudad Real.     

水中悬浮隧道交通荷载模拟方法研究

为研究水中悬浮隧道交通荷载的合理模拟方法以及交通荷载对隧道结构的影响,借鉴铁路、公路交通荷载的模拟方法,综合考虑车辆轮载、路面不平度、行车速度以及外部激励荷载等影响因素的共同作用,提出水中悬浮隧道交通荷载的模拟表达式。通过数值模拟计算,分析悬浮隧道交通荷载的变化特征,并研究不同交通荷载模拟方法对悬浮隧道结构振动位移响应的影响。结果表明:文章提出的交通荷载模拟方法计算结果符合移动振动荷载的波动性和周期性特征。在对结构振动位移响应影响方面,固定均布荷载相当于静载,移动集中荷载和移动振动荷载时的位移变化幅值相对固定均布荷载时的大且影响相似,但移动振动荷载时的振幅稍大,体现了交通荷载中动荷载部分对结构振动位移响应的影响,更适合用来模拟悬浮隧道中的交通荷载。     

基于小波和粒子群算法的HEV行驶状况辨识方法研究

针对混合动力汽车(HEV)行驶状况(道路坡度和整车载荷)变化难以有效识别,导致驱动系统控制策略不能有效满足驾驶员意图问题,以混联式HEV为研究对象,提出了基于小波滤波和粒子群算法的HEV行驶状况辨识方法。首先建立了汽车行驶状况辨识模型,采用最小二乘法确立了优化目标函数,其次研究了基于小波滤波和粒子群算法的HEV行驶状况辨识原理,最后进行了行驶状况粒子群智能算法辨识试验。在采集实车数据的基础上,对实车数据进行小波滤波,并运用行驶状况辨识方法对道路坡度和整车载荷进行了辨识,并对辨识结果进行小波滤波,结果表明,试验工况下整车载荷辨识的相对误差绝对平均值为2.71%,道路坡度辨识的相对误差绝对平均值为3.85%,验证了所提出方法的有效性。