Productivity change of the Spanish Port System: impact of the economic crisis

ABSTRACT

The main goal of this study was to assess the impact of the economic crisis on the productivity growth of the Spanish Port System (SPS). The Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) was estimated for the 28 Port Authorities of the SPS, for a ‘non-crisis period’ (2005–2008) and a ‘crisis period’ (2008–2011). From a policy perspective, the MPI is a very useful approach for assessing the productivity change because it can be decomposed into the catching-up index and the frontier productivity index. The results showed that the economic crisis did not impact all of the Spanish Port Authorities equally. Some Port Authorities presented higher productivity growth during the crisis period than in the non-crisis period. Further analysis by the Mann–Whitney test revealed that Port Authority investments and productivity growth were statistically related. Information provided by this study may be very useful for stakeholders and decision-makers, in terms of long-term strategic planning and improving the competitiveness of the SPS. The findings illustrate that the economic crisis should not be seen as an international tragedy, but as an opportunity to adapt port traffics and installations to new needs and market demands.     

基于三角模糊数-TOPSIS的既有高铁近接地基加固方案优选

邻近既有高铁新建线的地基加固会严重影响既有高铁运营安全,地基加固方案优选是近接工程研究的焦点问题之一,但目前针对近接工程地基方案优选研究较少。结合既有高铁近接工程特点,在综合考虑影响地基加固方案选择因素基础上,建立地基加固方案优选指标;提出基于三角模糊数-TOPSIS优选模型,并将其应用于新建曲阜至临沂线近接京沪高铁地基加固方案优选进行分析验证。研究结果表明:该模型对于近接既有高铁地基加固方案优选具有一定可靠性与实用性,不仅为近接地基加固方案优选提供了一种新方法,同时为建立近接工程类似项目的综合评价指标和优选方案奠定了理论基础。     

Crash risk factors associated with injury severity of teen drivers

This paper focuses on identifying crash risk factors associated with injury severity of teen drivers. Crash data obtained from the Highway Safety and Information System (HSIS) for the entire state of North Carolina, for years 2011 to 2013, was used for analysis and modeling. Among all the crashes during the study period, a total of 62,990 crashes involving teen drivers (15 to 19?years) were analyzed. A partial proportionality odds model was developed to identify factors contributing to injury severity of teen drivers. The results obtained indicate that teen drivers driving sports utility vehicles and pickup trucks are more likely to be severely injured when compared to teen drivers driving passenger cars. Teen drivers are more likely to be severely injured on weekdays, particularly during peak hours. The chances of teen drivers getting involved in severe injury crashes on Tuesdays and Fridays is higher when compared to Sundays. Age, gender, road configuration, terrain, adverse weather condition, and access control are observed to have a significant effect on teen driver's injury severity.     

基于EDI的集装箱运价指数生成与技术分析

为克服目前集装箱运价指数计算中所存在的抽样信息不全面和干扰信息过多等缺陷,通过采用港航电子数据交换(EDI)源信息来生成集装箱运价指数,并展开相应的技术分析。研究表明:这一途径是可行的。     

南宁市城市道路建设的影响因素分析

文章以南宁市“十二五”期间城市道路网建设规划为例,根据城市道路建设的影响因素类别,剖析并协调道路建设的重大影响因素,并通过指标测算确定了规划期内道路网建设的合理规模.     

高速公路沥青路面摊铺的分析与探讨

随着高速公路通车里程的不断增加,如何提高高速公路的施工质量成为重要的研究课题。基于某公路沥青路面的施工实践,通过对路面平整度、密实度、离析率的控制,对如何铺就高质量的沥青路面做了详细的分析与探讨。实际施工情况表明,通过改进施工工艺,路面效果明显改善。     

确定桥梁评估目标可靠指标的生活质量分析法

结构可靠度理论越来越多地被用到桥梁设计、评估与管理领域。其中一个重要的参数———目标可靠指标的取值直接影响分析结果的可靠性。采用近年发展起来的基于风险分析的生活质量准则,结合对既有公路桥梁的时变可靠度分析提出了确定桥梁评估实时的目标可靠指标的方法。通过对一座我国路网常见的简支梁桥的实例分析,阐述了该方法的过程。算例分析表明,基于生活质量分析确定的目标可靠指标考虑了不同发达水平的社会承担桥梁失效风险的能力与期望,较规范校准法的目标可靠指标取值要更合理。本文方法可为基于可靠度和风险的既有桥梁评估和管理提供理论基础。     

基于BP神经网络确定评价体系指标权重

文章提出一种基于BP神经网络确定指标权重的方法,该方法的主要目的在于减少在确定评价指标权重时人为因素的影响,提高权重的准确性和实用性.文章以老铁山水道为例,对老铁山水道的通航现状进行了研究,分析影响其通航安全的相关因素,将灰色致因理论确定老铁山水道的通航安全评价指标体系,最后利用BP神经网络的方法给出评价指标权重,证明...     

对铁路货物运输生产指数的探讨

阐述了编制铁路货物运输生产指数的意义,从指数公式、权数的确定和代表产品的选择方面提出了铁路货物运输生产指数的编制方法,并举例说明。     

Characteristics of Trihalomethanes in Water Distribution System

To investigate the characteristics of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in an actual water distribution system using the raw water with high bromide ion concentration, the composition and concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) formed by chlorination of the water in the presence of bromide ion were measured in a city water distribution system during one year. The results show that brominated THMs contributed a great part (83%-89%) to the index for additive toxicity (ATI) and resulted in the ATI of most of the samples exceeding WHO guideline standard for total THMs (TTHMs), especially during the summer (rainy season). This indicates that the chlorination of water in the presence of bromide ion leaded to high ratios of brominated THMs to TTHMs. However, a visible increase in the concentration of THMs with increasing residence time in the distribution system was not observed. Additionally, based on alternatives analysis, packed tower aeration method is proposed to reduce THMs level of the finished water leaving the treatment plant.