Current Transportation Systems Research Articles

Improving health and preventing cancer through a better transport system in Aotearoa/New Zealand

ABSTRACT The transport system influences health, including the onset of new cancers, in both positive and negative ways. Transport affects the frequency of cancer via access to healthcare, employment and other goods and services of society; physical (in)activity; exposure to transport-related pollution and climate change. In addition, avoidable transport health impacts overload the health system that delivers cancer care. The current transport system in Aotearoa/New Zealand is the result of policy choices made in the last 50–70 years which have privileged the private motor vehicle. We discuss examples of local work to support a healthier transport system, including action research with government partners creating infrastructure to support healthy travel, health professional advocacy in transport policy processes and involvement in coronial processes and a subsequent government advisory group. These, and other attempts at change, have had limited impact because of the elements that hold the current system in place; the weak regulatory architecture and institutions, commercial influences on policy and funding arrangements. Creating a healthy, cancer-preventing transport system requires not just focus on specific policy changes but reform of the policy making apparatus to ensure healthy people and planet are at the centre of decision making.

Fuel blend combustion for decarbonization

The utilization of fossil fuels is currently transforming to low-carbon or zero-carbon fuels, which is one of the solutions to global warming. Hydrogen and ammonia are regarded as promising zero-carbon fuels in power supply and transportation scenarios but the availability of hydrogen and their distinctly different chemical activity constrain their large-scale direct utilizations. Fuel blends with physical and chemical complementary are considered as the effective approaches in the utilization of hydrogen and ammonia because no significant modification to the existing end-user infrastructures is needed. This paper reports recent progress in the fundamental combustion behaviors of fuel blends, focusing on hydrogen-hydrocarbon blends and ammonia-hydrocarbon blends. Firstly, laminar flame behaviors, auto- and forced-ignition characteristics, and pollutant emissions of binary fuels containing hydrogen are reviewed, all of which are supplemented with a discussion on the governing hydrogen-enriched combustion chemistry. Subsequently, the hydrogen-enriched flame responses to the flow conditions are discussed, including the turbulent burning velocity and statistical structures, the flashback swirl flames, thermoacoustic instabilities, and the jet ignition characteristics; Furthermore, with the increasing concern over ammonia as a zero carbon fuel and its extremely weak reactivity, recent progress on combustion of fuel blends containing ammonia are also reviewed. The fundamental combustion chemistry studies including laminar burning velocity, the ignition delay times data collection, as well as the attempts for chemical kinetic modeling development for fuel blend with ammonia are presented. The literature reported ammonia containing blends of turbulent flame characteristics are presented. Finally, from an engineering point of view, examples using hydrogen blends in practical internal combustion engines and in gas turbines are introduced, including the topic of engine efficiency performance and pollutant emissions and different combustors for gas turbines. It is suggested that fuel blends with hydrogen or ammonia that potentially monitors the overall reactivity will be one realistic solution to de-carbonization, on the basis of current transportation and power generation systems.

An evaluative study on parking challenges and future demand forecasting at Kano Farm Center Market, Nigeria.

Parking involves stopping and disengaging a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied. Commercial centers require assistance in providing adequate parking facilities for vehicles to transport people, deliver goods, or conduct business transactions. Failing to meet the expected demand for parking can lead to frustration, safety concerns, and accidents. Our study involved conducting reconnaissance and surveys to assess parking demand and duration in the area. The objective was to provide valuable insights into the current urban transportation system, focusing on parking patterns and proposing a parking system specifically for Kano Farm Center Market. Our findings indicate an estimated annual growth rate of 10%, suggesting that in 15 years, the number of daily parkers will rise to 3,308. This means that more than the existing parking space of 2710 stalls will be required, and we recommend providing a larger area of 300m x 300m. This underscores the importance for urban planners and commercial center managers to invest in expanded and innovative parking solutions to enhance efficiency, safety, and accessibility for all users.

Hetero-associative Memory Based New Iraqi License Plate Recognition

نتيجة للتطورات الأخيرة في أبحاث الطرق السريعة بالإضافة إلى زيادة استخدام المركبات، كان هناك اهتمام كبير بنظام النقل الذكي الأكثر حداثة وفعالية ودقة (ITS) في مجال رؤية الكمبيوتر أو معالجة الصور الرقمية، يلعب تحديد كائنات معينة في صورة دورًا مهمًا في إنشاء صورة شاملة. هناك تحدٍ مرتبط بالتعرف على لوحة ترخيص السيارة (VLPR) بسبب الاختلاف في وجهة النظر، والتنسيقات المتعددة، وظروف الإضاءة غير الموحدة في وقت الحصول على الصورة والشكل واللون، بالإضافة إلى الصعوبات مثل ضعف دقة الصورة ، الصورة الباهتة ، الإضاءة السيئة، التباين المنخفض، يجب التغلب عليها. اقترحت هذه الورقة نموذجًا باستخدام تعديل الذاكرة الترابطية ثنائية الاتجاه (MBAM)، وهي نوع واحد من الذاكرة الترابطية غير المتجانسة، وتعمل MBAM على مرحلتين)مرحلتي التعلم والتقارب) للتعرف على اللوحة، ويمكن لهذا النموذج المقترح التغلب على تلك الصعوبات بسبب قدرة الذاكرة الترابطية لـ MBAM على قبول الضوضاء وتمييز الصور المشوهة، وكذلك سرعة عملية الحساب نظرًا لصغر حجم الشبكة. نتيجة دقة تحديد منطقة اللوحة هي 99.6٪، ودقة تجزئة الأحرف 98٪، والدقة المحققة للتعرف على الأحرف هي100 ٪ في ظروف مختلفة.

The Analysis of Electric Phase Separation and Common Technical Issues of High-speed Railway System in China

The electric railway, as a vital economic transportation artery, offers high efficiency and effectiveness compared to other modes of transportation. The characteristics of efficient transport, comfortable ride and environmental friendliness have effectively driven regional economic construction and industrial economy along the route, which has significantly enhanced cultural and economic exchanges between different regions, becomes the preferred mode of transportation for medium-distance and long-distance travel, and plays an irreplaceable role in China’s current transportation system. Under the increasing demand for passenger flow, the high-speed and high-density tracking operation of trains has become the new normal of high-speed railway operation management. In the background of national science and technology innovation development strategy, how to further shorten the train tracking interval to improve transportation efficiency and further reduce the energy consumption of train operation to improve the energy utilization level of the railway industry is the focus of the current electric railway construction and operation management department. The electric phase separation is a special and intricate part of the traction power supply system in China’s electric railway, and it is an indispensable component. The article describes that some main techniques relating to electrical phase separation are utilized extensively in China’s high-speed railway, by studying the technologies of electric phase separation, a few new methods were given and shared, which will solve the issues of high energy consumption, increased breakdowns, large equipment loss, and the lower speed, to better serve economic and social development and people’s travel.

Road user opinions and needs regarding small modular autonomous electric vehicles: Differences between elderly and non‐elderly in Norway

AbstractThis study examines road user opinions regarding small modular autonomous electric vehicles, focusing on the differences between the elderly and non‐elderly populations in Norway. The data allowed for a comparison between 193 respondents under 65 years old and 208 respondents over 65 years old. The results highlighted significant differences between the two groups about the vehicles, their usability, and the likeliness of using them as public transport if implemented in the future. Traffic safety and personal security were found to be decisive aspects, for respondents over 65 years old being more worried about safety and security than their counterparts. Trust that the authorities will ensure the safe implementation of such vehicles in the current transportation system was also significantly different between the two groups, with the younger generations having more trust in the authorities than the older group. The results shed light on road user opinions about a small modular transport mode, particularly on those over 65 years old, indicating a need for research efforts to better identify how this new form of public transport should be implemented in the future to improve the mobility of all travellers and meet the needs of the seniors.

Sustainable propulsion technology selection in penultimate mile delivery using the FullEX-AROMAN method

Sustainable transport is the priority for future cities and society. It is necessary to make sustainable urban transport policies to mitigate the harmful effects of current transportation systems. One of the essential issues in making cities cleaner is the propulsion technology of light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Most of the LCVs are compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel-powered. However, cleaner, sustainable power sources, such as hydrogen, hybrid, solar, and electric have appeared in the market. This paper addresses the selection of propulsion technology for LCVs up to 3.5 tones for the Czech Post vehicle fleet. In this study, three main pillars are considered: economic, socio-environmental, and technical. Czech Post currently uses CNG-powered vehicles to transport shipments in penultimate mile delivery. The integrated FullEX-alternative ranking order method accounting for the two-step normalization (AROMAN) approach selects the best sustainable propulsion technology for the Czech Post vehicle fleet. The FullEX method identifies the criteria weights, while the AROMAN method ranks propulsion technologies. The results of the integrated approach reveal that the best propulsion technology for penultimate mile delivery is electrically powered, followed by hydrogen, hybrid, and CNG. A comparative analysis with other multi-criteria decision-making methods is also performed. The results confirm that the electrically powered solution is the best. The sensitivity analysis is carried out. The FullEX-AROMAN shows high resilience.

The application of renewable energy in transportation systems in China

The energy consumption level in transportation is projected to continue its current upward trend until the year 2040. Motor gasoline and diesel are the most consumed energy sources in common transportation, followed by jet fuel and natural gas. Regrettably, biofuel and electric energy, which are renewable energy sources, had only a little contribution to overall energy consumption in transportation. This indicates that the use of renewable energy sources in transportation is still in its early stages. The rapid advancement of energy innovation is causing alarm among the general people. In 2020, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation reached a record high. In order to predict the future trajectory of renewable energy, it is crucial to closely monitor the utilization of nonrenewable energy sources in transportation, which is currently at a high level. This study examines the existing energy sources in China and utilizes reliable research papers and data to demonstrate the practicality of several energy advancements in current transportation systems. The study will employ a literature review method to examine the advancements in energy innovation within the domains of internal combustion engines and electric motors in automobiles, waterborne transportation, and aircraft.

Integrating Tehran metropolitan air pollution into the current transport system and sprawl growth: an emphasis on urban performance and accessibility

Air pollution is one of the most challenging issues for urban environment and environmental management. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of Tehran metropolitan's performance and accessibility on urban transportation and air pollution as sprawl grows. Tehran, with a population of 15.98 million people, has many environmental issues, including air pollution. Secondary data were collected from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company as well as Landsat satellite imagery (OLI). The raw data of intra-city and suburban traffic counts for spatial analysis of movements, combined with the raw data of measuring stations, were then used as a sample in the ArcGIS software environment for three selected days in 2013, 2014, and 2016. Following geometric and radiometric correction, programming methods and a multivariate regression algorithm were applied to the images, yielding results in the form of additional stations. According to the results obtained (about 3.29 m) root-mean-square error (RMSE), the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) model was used in air pollution maps for better assessment. The findings suggest that Tehran is not the only source of air pollution and that TMA performance and accessibility play a significant role in the amount of air pollution. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation (more than 75%) between air pollution maps and transportation flow maps on specific days (February 23, 2013, February 26, 2015, and December 28, 2016). Finally, the analysis of this situation in three circles showed that the highest volume of traffic was done in the city of Tehran (CBD), suburban area (Suburban), and suburban area (Exurban), respectively, and the pattern of distribution and spatial accumulation of pollution has also been a function of this situation.

TRAFFIC PULSE-ROADWAY CONTROL SYSTEM

Rapid transit and transportation networks are essential to any country's economic progress. Long wait times, lost fuel, and financial losses are the outcomes of poor management and traffic congestion. For the sake of national development, a quick, affordable, and effective traffic control system is thus absolutely essential. In many nations, keeping an eye on and managing urban traffic is turning into a significant issue. The Traffic Monitoring Authority needs to come up with innovative ways to solve this issue because there are more and more cars on the road. Using automation and intelligent control techniques is one option to enhance the current transportation system's traffic flow and safety. Efficient and quick congestion relief is the aim. The project includes sound sensors that can recognize emergency cars as they approach in order to improve emergency vehicle detection. By prioritizing and streamlining emergency vehicle traffic at signalized junctions, this cutting-edge feature seeks to enhance overall traffic management and response times. Additionally, the concept has a novel element for pedestrian safety: when a signal changes from red to orange or orange to green, a dynamically triggered block is deployed. By erecting a barrier that guarantees pedestrians are securely clear of traffic before crossing, this creative solution seeks to improve pedestrian safety. Keywords: Traffic jams, traffic surveillance, automation, and clever control techniques, Changes in signals, sound sensors, emergency vehicle detection, quicker reaction times, barriers, and pedestrian safety.

Beyond the Current State of the Art in Electric Vehicle Technology in Robotics and Automation

The improvement of electric vehicles and their parts is currently the subject of several recent innovations, with an emphasis on advancements in batteries, energy management systems, autonomous features, and charging infrastructure. The current logistics and transportation (L&T) systems comprise heterogeneous fleets made up of both conventional internal combustion engine cars and other vehicle types that use environmentally friendly technology, such as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This helps significantly to the development of the upcoming generations of electric vehicles and promotes a more sustainable and effective ecosystem. This article offers insights into the most recent advancements in the field of electric cars (EVs) as new and innovative EV technologies based on data and statistics from science that may prove to be technically possible by 2030. Potential design and modeling techniques, including digital twins with linked IoT, are discussed in this paper. Additionally, all EV-related topics are covered, including hard-core battery material sciences, power electronics, and powertrain engineering, as well as market and environmental considerations and prospective technological obstacles and research gaps. This investigation is interesting since it offers thorough information on every facet of EVs. In conclusion, we offer to the readers several open issues in the field of EV as well as specific research directions to wrap up our work.

Study on energy capture characteristics of piezoelectric stack energy harvester for railway track

Railway traffic plays a pivotal role within the current transportation system, with ensuring its safety being of paramount importance. Real-time monitoring of train track health through sensor technology has emerged as a significant approach for achieving this objective. However, a persistent challenge lies in providing cost-effective and stable power to sensors in remote areas. This paper proposes the utilization of a novel piezoelectric stack energy harvester in railway systems to address this issue. The substantial and consistent vibration energy produced by railway operations makes it an ideal source for energy harvesting, unaffected by environmental conditions. Through simulation analysis and experimental verification, this study explores the impact of load size, load frequency, and external resistance on the energy harvesting efficiency of the proposed piezoelectric stack energy harvester. The results indicate that the output power of the energy harvester increases with the load size. Furthermore, the frequency significantly influences the energy capture efficiency when below 8 Hz, with minimal impact on frequencies above 8 Hz. Interestingly, the load dramatically affects the energy capture efficiency, even at higher frequencies. With the external resistance set to 250 kΩ, the harvester achieves a maximum output power of 42.76 mW.

STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PORT LOKO CITY

To create a framework for long-term, sustainable solid waste management, this paper examines the Port Loko municipalitys solid waste management plan and public involvement. It sets out: to examine the waste management tactics employed by the Port Loko City Council; to evaluate the methods used for solid waste management transportation; to investigate whether dustbins are available for collecting solid waste throughout the city; to determine whether land fill is available; to evaluate the degree of public involvement in the procedures related to solid waste management; to create a framework for long-term, sustainable solid waste management. The primary means of addressing the objectives was by means of semi-structured interviews and discussions with diverse stakeholders and members of the municipalitys community. The current solid waste management system was examined in the study, along with input from the general public, to determine its advantages and disadvantages. It was found that Port Loko Citys current solid waste management system is not sustainable. The separation of waste is not provided for. Waste is not being collected or transported in an appropriate or sufficient manner. Officially, recycling and composting of waste are not permitted. People are not involved in the decision-making process regarding solid waste because the majority of the waste is disposed of in open landfills. Additionally, the study examined the recently suggested solid waste management system. It was discovered that the recently suggested system, which includes a framework for a two-stream waste segregation system, is superior to the current system. The current waste collection and transportation system is not as good as the proposed one. A key component of the plan is the composting of biodegradable waste. But to create a solid waste management system that is sustainable, important issues were left out of the proposed system

Urban-scale estimation model of carbon emissions for ride-hailing electric vehicles during operational phase

Ride-hailing Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer a dual benefit by mitigating carbon emissions and providing convenient transportation solutions. Nevertheless, current emissions estimation models for urban-scale lack consideration of the real-world travel behaviors during operational phase. This study extracted the characteristics of ride-hailing EVs in Shanghai and Shenzhen based on 14.77 million real-world driving records, and established an emission estimation model. The emission estimation model delineates the relationship between speed State of Charge (SOC) and operational efficient of ride-hailing EVs in cities. Compared to traditional methods relying on manufacturer-claimed energy consumption rates, the developed model demonstrates a 38.4% increase in accuracy. It reveals that ride-hailing EVs deviate from the optimal speed in approximately 90% of their trips under the current urban transportation system. A 5 km/h increase in ride-hailing EV speed can improve emission reduction potential, cutting annual emissions by 0.89 ktCO2 in Shanghai and 4.74 ktCO2 in Shenzhen. Additionally, when a ride-hailing EV operates with SOC between 10 and 30%, emissions are 21.4%–36.0% higher compared to SOC between 70 and 90%. At last, the model derives emission factors for ride-hailing EVs during operational phase in Shanghai and Shenzhen are 0.2635 and 0.1535 10−5MtCO2kWh−1km−1

Exploring Sustainable Public Transport System for the Provision of Quality Education Services in Public Universities: A Situational Analysis

This study was conducted to explore the experience of university community regarding the use of available public transport in public universities in Tanzania. The study intended to explore the common transport systems used within the public universities; the risks and challenges of using the available transport systems in execution of day-to-day core functions of the university; and lastly, the effective and efficient transport systems in promoting the teaching and learning process in public universities. A cross-sectional survey design with mixed research approaches was employed. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to get a total sample of 125 respondents from public universities in Tanzania. Data were collected by using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interview. The findings revealed that common transport systems used within the campuses included motorcycle hire, commuter buses, walking, bicycle hire, private bicycle, private motorcycle, university buses, bajaji (rickshaws) hire, and taxi cabs. Moreover, the study revealed that the risks and challenges of using the current transport system within the university campuses included time consuming, costly, and getting late to classes, accident, tiredness, and theft. Furthermore, the study revealed that the effective and efficient transport system within university campuses included the commuter buses, motorcycle hire, private motorcycle, walking, and private cars. The study recommends establishing an internal transportation pool which will be able to offer sustainable, reliable, effective and efficient transportation means within the university. Understanding the campus impediments may help universities design more attractive and useful transport facilities. The current study will inform the university management about the need to promote bicycling and walking which are ecological friendly; improve social interactions; as well as spur physical well-being among the students, staff and university community.

An exact second order cone programming approach for traffic assignment problems

Demographic changes, urbanization and increasing vehicle ownership at unprecedented rates put a lot of strain on cities particularly on urban mobility and transportation and overwhelm transportation network infrastructures and current transportation systems, which are not built to cope with such a fast increasing demand. Traffic congestion is considered as the most difficult challenge to tackle for sustainable urban mobility and is aggravated by the increased freight activity due to e-commerce and on-demand delivery and the explosive growth in transportation network companies and ride-hailing services. There is a need to implement a combination of policies to ensure that increased urban traffic congestion does not lower the quality of life and threaten global climate and human health and to prevent further economic losses. This study aims to contribute to the United Nations (UN) climate action and sustainable development goals in tackling recurring traffic congestion problem in urban areas to achieve a sustainable urban mobility in that it offers a solution methodology for traffic assignment problem. We introduce an exact generalized solution methodology based on reformulation of existing traffic assignment problems as a second order cone programming (SOCP) problem and propose column generation (CG) and cutting plane (CP) algorithms to solve the problem effectively for large scale road network instances. We conduct numerical experiments to test the performance of the proposed algorithms on realistic road networks.

TRANSIENT ANALYSIS OF LIQUID-HYDROGEN TRANSFER IN CRYOGENIC STORAGE TANKS

Efficient transfer of liquid hydrogen is critical for a myriad of processes in terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications. The objective of this study is to model and quantify the amount of liquid parahydrogen vaporized during a discharging/charging process in a cryogenic storage system. The effects that are included include geometrical effects (storage tank volume), two-phase compressible flow, choking/unchoking, and wall-fluid heat transfer. A brief description of other physical boil-off mechanisms is also presented. This study provides a foundation for applicationspecific optimization. The storage system studied comprises two interconnected tanks whose transfer line has a variation in the flow area. This simulates current liquid-hydrogen storage and transportation systems. The model tracks the temperature- and pressure-time histories of liquid hydrogen as it flows between storage tanks, in both the choked and unchoked flow regimes. The transfer of liquid is induced solely by the pressure differential that exists between the two storage tanks. An iterative technique helps account for choking, which is likely to exist at the throat in two-phase flow. Cases of zero and infinite tank-wall thermal mass are also discussed. By analyzing the behavior of fundamental variables during the transient transfer of liquid hydrogen, boil-off losses may be minimized if the variables with the greatest effect on boil-off losses are controlled.

Enhancing passenger comfort and operator efficiency through multi-objective bus timetable optimization

<abstract> <p>The current public transportation systems predominantly rely on rigid schedules and service patterns, leading to suboptimal resource allocation that impacts both passengers and transit operators. This inefficiency results in the wastage of resources and dissatisfaction among users. The unsatisfactory passenger experience significantly contributes to the declining ridership, thereby diminishing revenue for transit operators. To specifically address these challenges encountered by Lhasa's public transportation system, we propose a multi-objective model for bus departure timetables. The model aims to synchronize the costs of passenger waiting time and bus operation costs concurrently, accounting for diverse constraints such as actual travel times, operational bus numbers, bus capacity limits, and arrival time distributions. In this research, we establish a multi-objective optimization model with the primary goal of maximizing passenger satisfaction while concurrently optimizing the revenue of the transit company. Implemented in Lhasa, China, we use the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-Ⅱ to derive Pareto fronts relevant for analysis. The research findings demonstrate a reduction in the frequency of departures by one bus within a one-hour timeframe. Additionally, a substantial 37% decrease is observed in both the count of buses not arriving at stations and the number of passengers waiting at these stations compared to previous timetables. These results suggest promising potential for significant benefits to both the transit company and passengers within the public transportation system.</p> </abstract>

Analysis of trip frequency choice of commute trips in the context of COVID-19 in India: A hybrid choice modelling approach with generalized ordered logit kernel

The paradigm shift in mobility and travel behaviour caused by the successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unreal. The long-term effects of the pandemic resulting from the fear of the spread of the virus against the belief in the remedial measures are to be understood from a behavioural perspective to strengthen the current transportation system against such impediments. The current study adds to the literature on COVID-19 pandemic by unravelling the long-term impacts of the pandemic on the trip frequency of commute trips. A dataset of 467 individuals from all over India is analysed to understand the factors impacting the willingness of the respondents to reduce their commute trips in a post-vaccinated scenario. An integrated choice and latent variable structure, with a generalized ordered logit kernel, was considered to incorporate the influence of psycho-attitudinal variables and socio-demographics on the willingness to reduce trip frequency among individuals. The results indicate a significant impact for variables including fear of the virus spread, age of individuals, and job satisfaction of working from home on the stated willingness towards trip reduction. The study concludes by presenting policy measures that target to overcome the effects of the pandemic and restore normalcy.

Intelligent Traffic System (ITS)

Abstract: One of the main issues of the modern day is effectively monitoring traffic. The influence on automobiles has increased in step with the population's exponential growth during the past century. The current transportation systems are under a great deal of strain as a result of this. Several traffic systems still operate today, ignoring the amount of traffic at that intersection, by assigning set timeslots to each traffic light. Millions of people lose valuable time in traffic as a result, while noise and air pollution also negatively impact the environment. In order to address these issues, we provide a system that controls traffic by using the main element of taking into account traffic density in real time. In order to accomplish its objective, this system makes use of cameras in addition to image processing.