A land use and transportation integration method for land use allocation and transportation strategies in China

In this paper, we will first review literature of the land use and transportation interaction and then develop a new land use allocation methodology called Three Stages-Two-Feedback Method (Integration Method) for both land use allocation and the transportation policy options with a practical implementation. Then we apply this method in an urban general planning project in China with more than 1.2 million populations. In this project, we evaluated three land use allocation strategies and three transportation policy options using two application tools (with and without feedbacks) using this method implemented in a land use planning system UPlan and a transportation planning system Emme. The results show that the use of the feedback method (Application Two) results in a vehicle distance reduction and the increase in the service coverage area of transit bus stops at the same time. Due to the use of transportation accessibility and the congestion measures with a MSA implementation, the accessibility measure shows a convergent process over iterations. This nice feature can be used for alternative comparisons. Future research subjects are also discussed.     

Agent-based modelling for assessing hybrid and electric cars deployment policies in Luxembourg and Lorraine

Electric mobility is often presented as a way to tackle the environmental issues associated with individual mobility, provided that electric vehicles are adopted by drivers on a mass scale. In this paper, we propose an agent-based model (ABM) aiming at modelling the deployment of these vehicles. ABM is particularly indicated when modelling complex systems whose final results are the combination of the interactions between individuals and their environment and when the agents have partial information to take their decisions. We selected Luxembourg and its French neighbouring region, Lorraine, as the case study for our model, to test Luxembourg’s ambitious objective of deploying 40,000 electric vehicles by the year 2020. Model results show that the number of battery powered electric vehicles in Luxembourg (including vehicles from Lorraine’s commuters crossing the border every day) could be between 2000 and 21,000. A high number of commercial vehicles in Luxembourg, as well as an unlikely deployment in the neighbouring Belgium and Germany would therefore be required to meet the deployment objective. However, the deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicles could reach 60,000 cars by the end of 2020. To achieve this number, the deployment of charging points seems to be the more effective policy, along with actions aiming at increasing public awareness and acceptance of electric vehicles. The interest in using the ABM also lies in the identification of the main individuals’ characteristics affecting the deployment of electric vehicles (household size, commuting distances, etc.), which further support the setting of public policies.     

Activity based travel demand models as a tool for evaluating sustainable transportation policies

India is in the course of an economic transition. The economic growth nurtured the life in the cities and cities have become a major livelihood destination for everyone. This migration of people contributed to the increased urbanization of Indian cities. The booming economy fostered the well-being and shaped the lifestyle of people in such a way that the dependency on private vehicle has become an unavoidable affair. Along with population growth, the increased vehicle ownership gave rise to overall spurt in travel demand. But the supply side lagged behind the demand adding to many of the transport related externalities such as accidents, congestion, pollution, inequity etc. The importance of sustainability is understood in the current urban transport scenario leading to the development and promotion of sustainable transport polices. The core agenda of these polices is to target the travel behavior of people and change the way they travel by creating a different travel environment. However, the impacts of many such policies are either unknown or complex. Hence, before adopting and implementing such policies, it is important for the decision makers to be aware of the impacts of them. The role of travel demand models comes here as they predict the future travel demand under different policy scenarios. This paper reviews the ability of travel demand models applied in India in analyzing the sustainable transport policies. The study found that the conventional model system in India, which is trip based four step aggregate methodology, is inadequate in analyzing the sustainable transport policies. A review of alternative approach, known as activity based travel demand modeling found that they are capable of handling such policies better than conventional models and are assistive to the decision makers in arriving at right mix of polices specific to the situations. Since there is no operational activity based travel demand model system developed in India, the study at the end envisaged a conceptual framework of an integrated activity based travel demand model based on the requirements identified from the review. This can potentially replace the existing travel demand models and can be used for planning applications once the modification & validation have been done according to the existing activity-travel behavior of individuals.     

Characteristics of household activity and travel patterns in the Mumbai metropolitan region

Activity-based modelling approaches require a typical survey instrument which can collect the finer details of activities of each individual over both time and space. This paper focuses on the design of a new survey instrument called an activity-travel diary; examines its method of administration; and analyses activity-travel behaviour in the context of developing countries. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region in India is selected as the study area. With the aim of understanding the activities of each individual over a period of time, a pilot survey was conducted in a continuous time frame for a period of 15 days, followed by a main survey. The analysis of data collected by the instrument reveals some interesting facts regarding the relationships between socioeconomic attributes, activities and trip making behaviour. Identification of interactions among households and other members were also facilitated by the newly designed diary, which is not a well-versed topic for research in the context of a developing economy like Mumbai's.     

Integrated Agent-based and System Dynamics Modelling for Simulation of Sustainable Mobility

In this article, a conceptual framework for a comprehensive evaluation of the diffusion process of alternative fuel vehicles is introduced. The framework takes into account the most influencing stakeholders, including car manufacturers, car dealers, consumers, energy supply system, fuel stations and government. The underlying mathematical models of different stakeholders are then integrated in one model of the whole energy and transport system. The hybrid modelling framework links the two powerful dynamic simulation approaches of system dynamics (SD) and agent-based (AB) modelling. Integrated modelling structure gives the potential of building more accurate and computationally efficient models for simulating the transition to sustainable mobility. We specify the integration process and the most important linking variables between various energy and transport components. Then the application of the integrated model is explained through a test case and, finally, the applicability of the hybrid AB and SD approach and its potential contribution to the models of transition to sustainable mobility will be concluded.     

公安交管大数据“模型超市”构建与应用

全国各地公安交管部门已创新研发了多种交管大数据智能分析模型,为集中全警种之智,实现模型的“共筹、共建、共享”,本文研究了交管大数据模型分类体系和技术框架,构建以模型服务为核心的交囊大数据“模型超市”,并依托部级公安交儈大数据分析研判平台部署运行,实现各类智能分析模型的大规模推广应用。     

Teleoperated Puncture Robot System:Preliminary Design and Workspace Analysis

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) guided by X-ray images aims to relieve herniated disc pain with mini-mal invasiveness and fast recovery.It requires an accurate and fast positioning of the puncture needle.We propose a teleoperated robotic system for percutaneous puncture to support RFA.We report the kinematics modelling and workspace analysis of the proposed system,which comprises preliminary and accurate positioning mechanisms.Preliminary positioning mechanism automatically drives the needle to the puncture area,and accurate positioning is then achieved by teleoperation under the guidance of X-ray images.We calculate the teleoperation workspace of the robot system using a spatial search algorithm and quantitatively analyze the optimal structural parameters aiming to maximize the workspace.The workspace of the proposed robot system complies with clinical require-ments to support RFA.     

Use of SeaWiFS data for light availability and parameter estimation of a phytoplankton production model of the Bay of Biscay

Processing SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) data provides useful information for the observation and modelling of the phytoplankton production of the Bay of Biscay. Empirical algorithms allow the retrieval of chlorophyll a and non-living Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) concentrations. These data are used to constrain a coupled 3D physical–biogeochemical model of the Bay of Biscay continental shelf. Two issues are investigated, depending on the variable used, to constrain the winter to spring phytoplankton production for the year 2001. First, SPM data is used as forcing data to correct the corresponding state variable of our model. This allows the realistic simulation of the light limited bloom at the end of February 2001, as observed with SeaWiFS chlorophyll a images and from the NUTRIGAS field cruise. Second, chlorophyll a data is used for parameter estimation of the biogeochemical model. The ability of assimilating these data is tested to improve the simulation of strong blooms observed in late May 2001 in the Loire and Gironde plumes. A global optimization method (Evolutive Strategies) is adapted to the complete 3-D coupled model, in order to find the best set of parameters. The hydrological conditions during the bloom can be validated with data from the PEL01 field cruise. After selection of the most sensitive parameters, the method is tested with twin experiments. Then, the use of real SeaWiFS data reduces the model/data misfit by a factor of two, improving the simulation of bloom intensities and extensions. The sets of parameters retrieved in each plume are discussed.     

Modelling the effects of friction modifiers on rail corrugation in cornering

A proposed solution to the problem of rail corrugation on curves of urban lines is the use of friction modifiers. Recent experimental research indicates this approach can be effective. This paper makes use of two theoretical models to study the effects of friction modifiers on corrugation in cornering. The first one is a nonlinear time-domain model that predicts corrugation growth from a series of simulated passes of a bogie. The second one is a frequency domain model of wheel–rail interaction, linearised about a steady cornering state, estimated from the nonlinear model. Both models predict reduction of growth of corrugation due to the use of friction modifiers. Friction modifiers can alter the steady cornering state to one with somewhat lower creeps and much lower tractions. Major reductions in corrugation growth rate have been shown to occur if a wheel can be prevented from reaching a state of full sliding when subject to oscillating creeps caused by existing rail corrugation.     

Black-box modelling of nonlinear railway vehicle dynamics for track geometry assessment using neural networks

ABSTRACT

The use of vehicle dynamics simulation for the track geometry assessment gives rise to new demands. In order to analyse the responses of the vehicles to the measured track geometry defects, the integration of the simulation process in the measurement chain of the track geometry recording car is envisaged. Fast and reliable simulation results are required. This work studies the use of black-box modelling approaches as an alternative to multi-body simulation. The performances of different linear and nonlinear black-box models for the simulation of the vertical and lateral bogie accelerations are compared. While linear transfer function models give good results for the simulation of the vertical responses, their use is not suitable for the highly nonlinear lateral vehicle dynamics. The lateral accelerations are best represented by recurrent neural networks. For the training and validation on high-speed lines using measured vehicle responses, the performance of the black-box simulation outperforms the multi-body simulation. Due to the larger variability of track design and track quality conditions on conventional lines, the model performance degrades and depends significantly on the analysed vehicle type and the track characteristics.