Towards a generic benchmarking platform for origin–destination flows estimation/updating algorithms: Design,demonstration and validation

Estimation/updating of Origin–Destination (OD) flows and other traffic state parameters is a classical, widely adopted procedure in transport engineering, both in off-line and in on-line contexts. Notwithstanding numerous approaches proposed in the literature, there is still room for considerable improvements, also leveraging the unprecedented opportunity offered by information and communication technologies and big data. A key issue relates to the unobservability of OD flows in real networks – except from closed highway systems – thus leading to inherent difficulties in measuring performance of OD flows estimation/updating methods and algorithms. Starting from these premises, the paper proposes a common evaluation and benchmarking framework, providing a synthetic test bed, which enables implementation and comparison of OD estimation/updating algorithms and methodologies under “standardized” conditions. The framework, implemented in a platform available to interested parties upon request, has been flexibly designed and allows comparing a variety of approaches under various settings and conditions. Specifically, the structure and the key features of the framework are presented, along with a detailed experimental design for the application of different dynamic OD flow estimation algorithms. By way of example, applications to both off-line/planning and on-line algorithms are presented, together with a demonstration of the extensibility of the presented framework to accommodate additional data sources.     

On the performance of rheological shock absorber models in full vehicle simulation

A comparative study of the performance of three rheological automotive shock absorber models as well as of an extended force–velocity relation in full vehicle simulation is performed. Simulation results for both the shock absorber test rig and a full vehicle crossing a single obstacle are compared with measured data. While the gain of accuracy by the extended force–velocity relation is marginal, the rheological models in general yield a noticeable improvement, which, however, in full vehicle simulation is less significant than in test rig simulation. Among the rheological models studied here, the one consisting of a nonlinear spring–dashpot element with an element modelling friction by a continuous transition from the compression to the extension range in parallel and a quadratic approximation of the static gas force exhibits the best global performance.     

Benchmarking road safety performance by grouping local territories: A study in the Netherlands

The method of benchmarking provides an opportunity to learn from better performing territories to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of activities in a particular field of interest. Such a field of interest could be road safety. Road safety benchmarking can include several indicators, ranging from performance indicated by crash statistics, to indicators that also account for consequences in costs or the underlying state of the road safety system and relevant organisation and processes at actor level. The structure and culture of a territory is identified as a basic context of road safety performance. This is regarded as important information to use in grouping of territories to get more homogenous or equal and comparable conditions to learn from ‘the best in class’.The main aim of this study is to assess the usability of different groupings using the physical structure for benchmarking road safety performance at local territorial level. A traditional grouping of municipalities in the Netherlands was compared with a simple grouping of these municipalities based on their level of urbanisation and an advanced grouping in which more indicators such as differences in demography, growth and road structure were taken into account. As in other studies, urbanisation showed to be the most predominant structural factor for grouping local territories and related to differences in road safety performance. However, if information would be needed for specific target groups, other factors like age and gender distribution or the distribution of the road network can provide valuable additional insight and better homogenous starting points for benchmarking. Especially benchmarking of rural territories may profit from such extra distinctive characteristics.     

On the performance of rheological shock absorber models in full vehicle simulation

A comparative study of the performance of three rheological automotive shock absorber models as well as of an extended force-velocity relation in full vehicle simulation is performed. Simulation results for both the shock absorber test rig and a full vehicle crossing a single obstacle are compared with measured data. While the gain of accuracy by the extended force-velocity relation is marginal, the rheological models in general yield a noticeable improvement, which, however, in full vehicle simulation is less significant than in test rig simulation. Among the rheological models studied here, the one consisting of a nonlinear spring-dashpot element with an element modelling friction by a continuous transition from the compression to the extension range in parallel and a quadratic approximation of the static gas force exhibits the best global performance.     

When it comes to container port efficiency,are all developing regions equal?

In this paper we carry out a container port performance analysis of the developing world between 2000 and 2010, using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. From a unique dataset – our sample covers 70 developing countries, 203 ports, and 1750 data points–, we examine the evolution and drivers of productivity and efficiency changes across developing regions. We show that productivity growth rates between 2000 and 2010 vary significantly and that this heterogeneity is explained by pure efficiency changes rather than scale efficiency of technological changes. Therefore, we carry out a detailed efficiency analysis to determine the drivers of port efficiency. Time series results show an upward trend for port efficiency in developing regions, as it increased from 51 percent in 2000 to 61 percent in 2010. Our analysis indicates that private sector participation, the reduction of corruption in the public sector, improvements in liner connectivity and the existence of multimodal links increase the level of port efficiency in developing regions.     

基于标杆管理的铁路工程设计造价控制研究

标杆管理法是现代企业经营管理活动中支持企业不断改进,获得最佳实践过程和管理方式的途径之一,不少企业已将其广泛运用到成本控制、绩效管理和组织优化等方面。此文在阐述标杆管理的定义、作用、流程的基础上,就如何在铁路工程建设的初步设计、技术设计、施工图设计阶段进行标杆管理,有效控制工程造价进行论述。并就如何通过标杆管理提高企业经营管理水平和市场竞争力进行阐述。     

基于某1.5tSUV排气热害分析

利用三维CFD流场分析软件与热辐射计算软件,分析排气系统对周边及机舱零部件的热辐射。首先对怠速、高速、低速爬坡三个工况进行稳态分析,并与实验数据进行对比。其次在稳态分析的基础上进行瞬态仿真,最后与实验数据进行对比。     

Cost-efficiency benchmarking of European air navigation service providers

This study uses EUROCONTROL data on operating performance of the national air navigation service providers over the 2002–2011 time period to document in detail the efficiency changes across providers and time using data envelopment analysis. Our results suggest that overall providers’ productivity improved over the time period covered by the data, driven by improvements in technical rather than allocative efficiency. However, some trend reversals in the post-2008 crisis period are also observed.     

标杆管理在高速公路工程项目管理中的应用

文章介绍了标杆管理的特点及类型,并结合高速公路工程项目的特点,提出将标杆管理应用于高速公路工程项目管理的方法步骤及应注意的一些问题。     

竞品分析在汽车整车开发中的应用

文章针对竞品分析在汽车整车开发过程中的应用进行了阐述,全面覆盖了整车开发的持续性市场研究阶段、战略输入及项目可行性分析阶段、产品概念设计阶段、工程设计阶段与设计验证阶段这五个阶段。每个阶段都详细地描述了整车开发项目亟须解决的问题以及竞品分析的实施内容,通过对每个阶段开展竞品的研究和对比分析,以此确保开发出的新车型具有市场竞争力,符合消费者的需求与技术发展趋势。此外,整车开发过程中的竞品分析还能够极大地减少研发投入、缩短研发周期并提高研发水平,这将是各大车企快速提升整车研发水平的重要途径。