Evaluating Locations for Intermodal Transport Terminals

Abstract

The choice of location for an intermodal transport terminal is an important component in a regional logistics system and a paramount decision for the investor as well as the community affected. The investor needs a realistic estimation of traffic potentials and incorporated cost-estimates of a location, since it serves as an important input to the investment decision process. Policy makers need instruments and tools to analyse the effect of intermodal terminals on the surrounding environment, which also enables a comparison between several possible locations in order to ensure sustainability and long-term competitiveness. The model in this paper allows a comparative evaluation of a set of possible intermodal terminal locations based on considerations by relevant actors. Furthermore, it presents a process of retrieving data and effectively communicating results. Considerations and interests of stakeholders are incorporated into the approach by means of evaluative criteria. The approach aims at facilitating the planning process of regional logistics systems in general and the evaluation process of intermodal terminal locations in particular by considering both public and private interests focusing on economic and environmental aspects.     

温湿变化对三塔结合梁斜拉桥徐变效应的影响研究

根据欧洲混凝土规范CEB-FIP 1990徐变计算公式,运用VB语言编写了考虑温湿度变化的徐变系数计算程序,嵌入武汉二七长江大桥有限元模型中,研究温湿度变化环境下主梁的变形和内力变化特征,获得温湿变化对三塔结合梁斜拉桥徐变效应的影响作用.研究结果表明：温度升高,混凝土徐变增大,钢主梁长期挠度也增大;相对湿度增加,混凝土徐变减小,钢主梁长期挠度也减小;一季度温度较低、湿度较大,温湿度同时变化时混凝土徐变较小,此时吊装混凝土桥面板引起的钢主梁挠度和应力值也较小,可见混凝土桥面板的吊装宜选择在温度低、湿度大的季节进行.     

基于计算流体动力学(CFD)的大跨度桥梁风效应数值模拟

CFD(计算流体动力学)方法作为风洞试验的辅助手段,已越来越广泛地应用于桥梁断面选型及抗风设计分析中。采用CFD方法,对某轨道交通大跨度桥梁进行了二维流场数值模拟,得到流场的压力、速度和旋涡分布,还得到了不同高度主梁截面在-3°、0°、3°风攻角时的三分力系数,并对其随梁高的变化规律进行了分析。     

连续宽梁桥偏载作用下的剪应力放大系数分析

通过剪应力放大系数修正按平面杆系计算的活载剪应力值,来考虑空间扭转和畸变影响带来的剪应力放大,结合泰州长江大桥引桥为例对活载应力放大系数进行探讨,通过基于有限元的数值计算,探讨了变截面的剪应力放大系数沿跨度分布规律,研究表明,变截面连续宽梁桥的剪应力放大系数沿桥是变化的,剪应力放大系数取以前的1．05经验值对于支座附近以外的区段是偏于不安全的,除墩顶附近截面外,其他部位的剪应力放大系数可达1．7左右,在腹板上缘取得最大值。     

考虑流体加载效应的板结构声辐射损耗因子和辐射效率的计算分析

采用有限元法和Rayleigh积分耦合方法对考虑流体加载效应的板的结构声辐射损耗因子和声辐射效率进行了计算分析,其中结构振动模态的声辐射损耗因子和声辐射效率分别基于模型降阶的结构模态参数识别方法和考虑流体附加质量的实模态进行计算。对板在空气和水中的声辐射损耗因子和辐射效率进行了计算,计算结果表明：板的奇奇振动模态的声辐射损耗因子远大于其他类型模态;板奇奇振动模态在空气中的声辐射损耗因子远小于水中的声辐射损耗因子,约差一个数量级;板在水中的声辐射损耗因子远大于板的结构损耗因子,空气的声辐射损耗因子与结构损耗因子相当;空气中的声辐射效率比水中的声辐射效率约高两个数量级。     

Multi-level forces and differential effects affecting birth cohorts that stimulate mobility change*

This paper presents a dynamic model at three levels to understand changing mobility trends at the population level. A multi-level framework is proposed that enables existing research and analysis to be considered in a more holistic sense. This framework assists in identifying predictions and transition pathways for different birth cohorts, particularly as they reach older age. This has the aim of bringing about a greater understanding of the socio-demographic influence on mobility trends, with a focus on the cultural transitions that affect birth cohorts differently in terms of their travel behaviour. The framework presented here captures the multi-level forces and structural effects that impact mobility. The paper examines how these forces and effects interact at different levels to influence the changing mobility of birth cohorts at different points in time. Examining the simultaneous operation of these levels is of conceptual importance to assist in the interpretation of mobility trends, as well as understanding future mobility implications, of future generations.     

Time-dependent drivers’ merging behavior model in work zone merging areas

This study investigates the drivers’ merging behavior in work zone merging areas during the entire merging implementation period from the time of starting a merging maneuver to that of completing the maneuver. With the actual work zone merging traffic data, we propose a time-dependent logistic regression model considering the possible time-varying effects of influencing factors, and a standard logistic regression model for the purpose of model comparison. Model comparison results show that the time-dependent model performs better than the standard model because the former can provide higher prediction accuracy. The time-dependent model results show that seven factors exhibit time-varying effects on the drivers’ merging behavior, including merging vehicle speed, through lane lead vehicle speed and through lane lag vehicle speed, longitudinal gap between the merging and lead vehicles, longitudinal gap between the merging and through lane lead vehicles, types of through lane lead and through lane lag vehicles. Interestingly, both the through lane lead vehicle speed and the through lane lag vehicle speed are found to exhibit heterogeneous effects at different times of the merging implementation period. One important finding from this study is that the merging vehicle has a decreasing willingness to take the choice of “complete a merging maneuver” as the elapsed time increases if the through lane lead vehicle is a heavy vehicle.     

Effects of corruption on efficiency of the European airports

The effect of corruption on airport productive efficiency is analyzed using an unbalanced panel data of major European airports from 2003 to 2009. We first compute the residual (or net) variable factor productivity using the multilateral index number method and then apply robust cluster random effects model in order to evaluate the importance of corruption. We find strong evidence that corruption has negative impacts on airport operating efficiency; and the effects depend on the ownership form of the airport. The results suggest that airports under mixed public–private ownership with private majority achieve lower levels of efficiency when located in more corrupt countries. They even operate less efficiently than fully and/or majority government owned airports in high corruption environment. We control for economic regulation, competition level and other airports’ characteristics. Our empirical results survive several robustness checks including different control variables, three alternative corruption measures: International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) corruption index, Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Control of Corruption Index (CCI). The empirical findings have important policy implications for management and ownership structuring of airports operating in countries that suffer from higher levels of corruption.     

Transitioning to energy efficient vehicles: An analysis of the potential rebound effects and subsequent impact upon emissions

Given the shift toward energy efficient vehicles (EEVs) in recent years, it is important that the effects of this transition are properly examined. This paper investigates some of these effects by analyzing annual kilometers traveled (AKT) of private vehicle owners in Stockholm in 2008. The difference in emissions associated with EEV adoption is estimated, along with the effect of a congestion-pricing exemption for EEVs on vehicle usage. Propensity score matching is used to compare AKT rates of different vehicle owner groups based on the treatments of: EEV ownership and commuting across the cordon, controlling for confounding factors such as demographics. Through this procedure, rebound effects are identified, with some EEV owners found to have driven up to 12.2% further than non-EEV owners. Although some of these differences could be attributed to the congestion-pricing exemption, the results were not statistically significant. Overall, taking into account lifecycle emissions of each fuel type, average EEV emissions were 50.5% less than average non-EEV emissions, with this reduction in emissions offset by 2.0% due to rebound effects. Although it is important for policy-makers to consider the potential for unexpected negative effects in similar transitions, the overall benefit of greatly reduced emissions appears to outweigh any rebound effects present in this case study.