European Transport Research Articles

Quay-to-quay mission with autonomous docking: a model-scale experimental validation

Transport of cargo by short-sea shipping is at the forefront of the European Union's transportation policy. It has the promise to alleviate congested land transport and decrease pollution [European Commission. 2021. Putting European transport on track for the future]. However, the shortage of qualified personnel might impede this solution. Autonomous sailing of ships could help, especially if the whole trip is automated. In this study a control system is designed that is capable of sailing a round-trip with a model-scale feeder vessel in Marin's Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin. The Guidance-Navigation-Control framework is used to sail this journey with attention given to smooth switching between the operational modes. A set of experiments is conducted to validate the controller and identify crucial parts in the operation. The experiments showed that the controlled vessel can sail a round-trip with different levels of waves and wind disturbances coming from different directions. Furthermore, the round-trip can be modified such that the approach angle to the quay changes and the ship still successfully docks at the quay. It was found that the approach to the quay is most difficult during transition from high to low speed, when the bow thrusters have yet to become effective, and a large change in course is needed. This can be circumvented by changing the trajectory to the quay to have a longer straight approach, or it can be corrected when the bow thrusters become active.

Paving the way towards safer and more efficient maritime industry with 5G and Beyond edge computing systems

The Maritime and Road Transport and Logistics (T&L) vertical industries account for 92.5% of the European total freight transport. Therefore, efficient T&L systems in busy port environments are critical for Europe’s global competitiveness. The emergence of 5G and Beyond, including Standalone (SA) with data rates up to 20 Gbps, latencies as low as 5 milliseconds (ms), and exceptional reliability (99.999%), offers a significant opportunity for innovation in the Maritime sector, in terms of smarter and safer operations. In this paper, we investigate the enhancements brought forth by Edge Network-aware Applications (EdgeApps) strategically positioned at the network edge, focusing on a practical maritime use case denominated as “Assisted Vessel Navigation”, all within the overarching framework of the edge-cloud/core continuum paradigm. We utilize the so-called edge network softwarization and intelligence that allows us to create EdgeApps, capable of running on 5G and Beyond-enabled edge and cloud infrastructure to increase the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. The EdgeApp framework simplifies the creation of complex 5G and Beyond vertical services and fosters collaboration between industry stakeholders, network experts, and EdgeApp developers. The contributions of this paper are threefold: i) this paper focuses on the significance of edge computing systems within the 5G ecosystem and their role in enhancing vertical industries such as transport and logistics (T&L), with a specific focus on maritime applications, ii) the core contribution of this paper lies in the design and implementation of EdgeApps tailored to vertical industries. We explore their deployment in a real-life maritime environment, and iii) we share valuable insights derived from our real-life experiments conducted in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, analyzing network and service performance results based on the use case requirements. Therefore, we examine the deployment options of EdgeApps, comparing edge versus cloud environments to assess where they need to run in the edge-cloud continuum. The outcomes and lessons learned from this article hold important implications for vertical industries.

TRENDS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIMODALITY

The construction of highways facilitated the adaptation of an economy to the road network, so that only a small proportion of industrial facilities were located near railway lines or canal networks. In addition, the competitiveness of rail transport is reduced due to a lack of flexibility on timetabled routes. This is in stark contrast to the freedom and flexibility of road transport, which is able to synchronize the freight movements and manufacturing and warehousing operations much better. In the Studies for the TRAN Committee Modal change in European transport: the way forward , multimodality is identified as a potential solution to the question of sustainable freight transport. KEYWORDS: Freight, Strategies, Transport, Trends, Tariff, Import Duty, Customs Authorities, Maritime Shipping

Green transport fleet renewal using approximate dynamic programming: A case study in German heavy-duty road transportation

Governments and manufacturers are starting to enforce the European transport industry’s transition to sustainable mobility. Meanwhile, transport companies have begun to set their own emissions goals. To achieve these sustainably, they must develop efficient policies to renew their fleets with alternative-fuel vehicles. However, since future trends in relevant parameters are highly uncertain, fleet managers struggle to make informed decisions. We formulate fleet renewal as a sequential optimization problem, considering multiple technologies and operational clusters. Vehicle purchase, sales, depreciation, fuel, carbon, and electric battery prices are modeled as stochastic variables. We propose approximate dynamic programming to calculate fleet renewal policies that achieve emissions goals while optimizing total costs of ownership. This approach is tested in a case study of a German logistics service provider. We investigate optimal timings of purchases and sales for a heavy-duty truck fleet, considering four drivetrain technologies. Our approach can guide decision making in various fleet renewal settings. By applying it to the case study, we derive important managerial implications. The mobility transition will significantly increase transport fleets’ total cost of ownership. To minimize costs, companies should not move prematurely to low-emissions technologies, but hold vehicles for as long as possible to benefit from fewer purchases and sinking prices. The optimal policy depends on the distance driven. For short-distance operations, diesel trucks will remain the dominant technology in the next years, but will be replaced by battery electric trucks in the medium term. In the far future, trucks powered by electricity and hydrogen will be equally important.

Government support in the European air transport sector during Covid-19: A Delphi study

Covid-19 has been a major shock for European aviation. After the general relaxation of state aid rules by the European Commission, Member States stepped in to support airlines, airports and other stakeholders in aviation. However, distribution of state resources raised significant doubts from competitors, as well as academic literature, with regard to the conditions of the aids and their effect on competition. A two-round Delphi study was employed in order to investigate the opinion of experts in European aviation, with the participation of thirty experts from airlines, airports, handling agents, government authorities and academia. The results show an overall appraisal of the European framework and its flexibility, but also desire for a greater degree of control, complaints over bureaucracy and procedural delays, as well as concern on the effects of state aid on competition in the internal aviation market.

Renewable Hydrogen Supply Scenarios for Inland Waterway Transport in Europe

The European inland waterway transport needs to substitute 6.2 TWh of fossil diesel by renewable energy carriers. For hydrogen retrofit solutions investigated in the European project “Synergetics”, different Well-to-Tank pathways have been analysed to supply renewable hydrogen to Rotterdam, including buffer storage and fuelling to vessels. This paper compares two dominant scenarios with regards to GHG emissions and costs. One scenario is based on PV electricity from Morocco, transported to Rotterdam for electrolysis. The other scenario is calculated with electricity from offshore wind farms in the Northern Sea. The calculation of the PV scenario leads to specific emissions for the hydrogen supplied to vessels of 51 gCO2eq/kWhH2 with levelized costs of hydrogen of 0.12 €/kWhH2. The wind scenario led to 16 gCO2eq/kWhH2 with 0.19 €/kWhH2. The electrolysis has the highest impact on emissions and costs, especially the electricity demand. Accordingly, lower emissions of PV electricity supply would have a high influence on the overall results. On the other hand, for the low emission renewable hydrogen supply with wind power a further reduction of the costs of the installation will be relevant.

Grain wholesale in the context of Ukraine’s integration into the EU

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the development of grain wholesale trade in the context of Ukraine's integration into the EU. It is determined that the wholesale trade in Ukrainian grain occupies a leading position in the production and export of agricultural products in the world market, and the critical direction of development is Ukraine's integration into the EU. The current state of Ukraine's grain wholesale trade in the EU market is determined, the volume of grain exports to the EU countries is estimated, fundamental problems are identified, and directions of development of grain wholesale trade in the context of Ukraine's integration into the EU are generalized. The article analyses the volumes of grain exports by Ukraine to the EU countries in 2022, including more than 53 million tons of grain: wheat - 20.7 million tons, corn - 26.1 million tons, rye - 314 thousand tons, and 6.6 million tons of other grains. The most significant Ukrainian grain exports were to the EU countries: Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Poland, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, and others. The potential of the grain market in Ukraine is substantiated, and its place in the world rankings of production and export of wheat and corn as the main types of Ukrainian grain is determined. It is determined that the most significant export potential in terms of wheat is in such countries as: Australia with an export-to-production ratio of 79.6%, Argentina - 58.4%, Ukraine - 54.1%, the USA - 46.5%; in terms of corn, it is Ukraine - 96.2% and Argentina 60%. It is outlined that the quality of Ukrainian grain and its adaptation to the requirements of the EU countries remains a problem. It is noted that in developed European countries, the protein and gluten content is not the basis for classifying grain quality and is taken into account only when determining the price of high-quality milling wheat, especially durum wheat. The critical issues in the grain wholesale trade are as follows: assessing the quality of Ukrainian grain and adapting it to the requirements of the EU countries; integrating the Ukrainian transport system into the European one; ensuring compatibility of the transport systems of Ukraine and the EU; strengthening cooperation with European transport companies; and developing governmental decisions between Ukraine and the EU countries to address grain export issues. One of the most promising areas of grain wholesale development is the establishment of grain transportation between Ukraine and the EU countries using modern information support. Keywords: wholesale trade, grain, production, export, transportation, Ukraine, European Union, integration, martial law, problems, ways of development.

Climate neutrality in European heavy-duty road transport: How to decarbonise trucks and buses in less than 30 years?

The decarbonisation of heavy-duty road transport is subject to many uncertainties regarding fuel choices and the role of efficiency and demand-side measures. Moreover, the various segments of heavy-duty road transport exhibit distinctive characteristics, posing challenges in identifying a one-size-fits-all solution. In a scenario-based analysis with coupled modelling of the European energy system and its endogenous transport demand (driver training, improved logistics and collective mobility) we study the decarbonisation of European heavy-duty road transport through 2050, with a granular representation of its segments in the modelling exercise. Our modelling results show that battery electric vehicles are the key enablers of climate neutrality, representing 60 %–89 % of trucks and 79 %–96 % of buses by 2050. Yet, this important level of electrification, in a climate-neutral Europe, represent at most 4 % (320 TWh) of final electricity consumption. While shifting to electric and hydrogen vehicles brings significant fuel savings (41 %–66 %) and emission reductions (33 %–60 % cumulatively), demand-side operational measures can quickly and cost-effectively complement fuel switching, bringing up to 50 % of cumulative emission savings. The modelling results are highly sensitive to policy assumptions, especially regarding those related to the role of clean hydrogen. This calls for long-term planning with stable and clear signalling of technology choices.

POSSIBILITIES AND TRENDS OF APPLICATION OF DIGITALIZATION IN THE ORGANIZATION OF RAILWAY PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION IN UKRAINE

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to adapt the experience of leading European countries in the implementation of digital technologies in the organization of railway passenger transportation in the transport market of Ukraine. Method. The following methods were used to achieve the set goal and solve the identified tasks: comparative and graphic method - to display trends in the development dynamics of European countries; systematization and classification - to classify areas of application of digital technologies in the organization of passenger rail transport, modeling - to form a model of the development of passenger rail transport based on digital technologies. Results. In order to increase the competitiveness of passenger transportation in the modern transport market, PJSC "UZ" in the conditions of digitalization of the industry must use the proposed digital marketing tools in the organization of passenger rail transportation and a comprehensive model of the development of passenger rail transportation based on digital technologies. Scientific novelty. Digital marketing tools in the organization of railway passenger transportation are offered. A model for the development of passenger rail transportation based on digital technologies has been created to increase competition in the market of transport services. The practical significance. The proposed digital marketing tools and the formed model for the development of passenger rail transportation based on digital technologies will allow us to adapt to the conditions of the European transport market more quickly and receive additional revenue from passenger transportation.

The possible future of electric road systems in Europe—time to decide and act

Electrification of road transport is crucial to limit global warming. Battery electric vehicles with stationary charging infrastructure have received considerable attention in the scientific literature for both cars and trucks, while dynamic charging via electric road systems (ERS) has received much less attention and their future role in low-carbon road transport is uncertain. Here, we envision three potential scenarios for the future of ERS in European low-carbon transport. We sketch a potential European ERS network and discuss the political, technological, and market steps needed to realize these. We argue that existing field trials, tests, and research projects have collected sufficient evidence to make the next step: Decide and act. Decision-makers will never have perfect information about all aspects of ERS or competing technologies, but the urgency of the climate crisis requires a commitment one way or the other. A clear decision with respect to ERS would send a clear directive and would help focus time, effort, and money on the necessary infrastructure and policies to implement ambitious GHG abatement targets in road transport.

Dynamic monitoring of a masonry arch rail bridge using a distributed fiber optic sensing system

AbstractMasonry arch bridges are an integral part of the European transportation infrastructure. Regular inspections are critical to ensure the safe operation of these bridges and also to preserve historical heritage. Despite recent advancements in assessment techniques, monitoring masonry arch bridges remains a difficult and important research topic. This paper describes a proof-of-concept study carried out on a masonry arch rail bridge in Gavirate, Italy, to investigate the dynamic responses of the bridge to train-induced moving loads. The dynamic measurements are obtained by a distributed fiber optic sensing system that enables a novel inspection of the integrity of masonry arch bridges. The focus of this field study is to quantify the dynamic strain induced by train moving loads and reveal the masonry arch bridge’s dynamic behaviors through the use of an innovative distributed fiber optical sensing-based technique. The results may provide a useful guideline for the application of distributed fiber optical sensing to monitoring masonry arch bridges.

About the Main Directions of Transport Strategies of the State and Private Companies

The article discusses the main positive and negative factors that determine the volume of the cargo base of the east-west transboundary transport corridors passing through the territory of Georgia. The emphasis is placed on the problems of the development of rail transport to the Caspian Sea and water transport along the route of the Caspian and then the Black Sea. The new evolutionary concept for attracting additional cargo on Eurasian routes is proposed. In addition, the author discusses the global maritime container services, which are represented by transnational corporations that carry out significant assets in the world market, and own fleets of container ships, containers, container terminals in ports, dry ports, and land transport systems. Cargo shipping lines and a wide clientele were established. The article notes that business concentration processes continue in the market to ensure a continuous and efficient transport and logistics process, to reduce the cost of cargo delivery, to meet better the needs of customers, and to strengthen the competitive advantages compared to other maritime and land operators, trains. The work includes the examples of the world's largest companies in the field of container shipping: Maersk Lines (Denmark), Mediterranean Shipping Company (Switzerland), and CMA CGM (France), which have created a powerful alliance called the P3 Network, which includes the creation of Joint Vessel Traffic Operations Center. The alliance aims to provide the worthy European response to China's growing influence on the global transport sector. The article mentions Georgia's interest in integration into the European transport system. Keywords: Railway transport, transport corridors, containerization of cargo flows, transport engineering.

Possibilities for the Development of Intermodal Transport in Slovak Republic

One of the main goals of the EU transport policy in the field of freight transport is to improve interoperability, unify technical standards and procedure support more ecological and energy efficient freight transport. In the area of freight transport, support for intermodal transport is essential. The synergistic effect created by the combination of several modes of transport has significant technological and environmental benefits. Such a supportive approach can lead to a more efficient and reliable transport of goods, thus improving the competitiveness of European freight transport. The aim of this contribution is the variants of proposals for intermodal transport support in the Slovak Republic.

Hidrografski premer međunarodnih plovnih puteva u Republici Srbiji

European inland waterways are a key element of the European transport network and are mostly used for freight traffic. The hydrographic surveying is the basis for the maintenance of inland waterways and the establishment of safe navigation. A part of the European waterway corridor E80 consists of the rivers Danube, Sava and Tisza, which part of their course also flows through the Republic of Serbia. On these sections of the mentioned rivers, the competent state institutions are conducting a continuous campaign of hydrographic measurements, which, among other things, includes GNSS RTK positioning and depth measurement with a single-beam ultrasonic echo sounder. In this paper, the characteristics of these sections of rivers, the current methodology of depth measuring and positioning during depth measuring will be shown in details.

Decarbonising mobility in port cities

Ports play an important role in the European transport decarbonisation agenda. Due to the complex characteristics of ports, coordinated and holistic approaches between port authorities and municipalities are of utmost relevance to tackle greenhouse gas emissions reduction. This paper analyses the mobility challenges of a port city and associated carbon dioxide CO2 emissions. The specific objectives of this research are: firstly, to study the implementation of integrated mobility measures in ports to reduce the carbon footprint by promoting an efficient use of transport infrastructure and smart mobility strategies to/from/in the port; secondly, to define and implement electric mobility and digitalization solutions for transport in ports (including the connection between the city and the port). The traffic modelling software PTV VISSIM and the Vehicle Specific Power methodology were used to estimate the emissions of the vehicles present in the road network of a study area. The methodology was applied to the case study of Aveiro, Portugal, which has a port located 8 km from the city centre. The baseline scenario and three alternative scenarios: implementation of electric mobility; digitalization of work patterns through remote work; and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) were defined. Results showed a reduction in pollutant emissions in all tested scenarios in comparison with the baseline scenario.

Structural Health Monitoring of Typical Urban Bridges in the Netherlands Combining Collapse Simulations and Monitoring Data

Bridges play a vital role in the European transport network, and their preservation is of utmost importance. Despite many centuries- old bridges still being in use in European cities, their structural integrity may be compromised due to factors like material degradation, increased traffic loads, extreme events, or slow deformation phenomena. It is essential to regularly assess the current conditions of these structures and monitor their evolution over time to enable timely intervention when necessary. This study presents the first results of a multidisciplinary methodology for the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of typical urban bridges in the Netherlands, combining numerical simulations using the Applied Element Method (AEM) with monitoring data derived from various sensing sources. These sources range from standard in situ techniques to satellite remote sensing using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR). The methodology is applied to a representative bridge of Amsterdam canals. The nonlinear analyses have led to a numerically predicted crack pattern consistent with on-site observations. The simulated damage progression until collapse identifies critical points of the bridge to be kept under control with monitoring activities.

Assessing the Attractivity and Accessibility of the Romanian Airports

Assessing the attractivity and accessibility of the Romanian airports. The research examines the changing dynamics of Romanian airports within the framework of European air transport deregulation and the subsequent “open skies” policy. A basic accessibility assessment method was applied, which involved weighting destinations according to their relative significance. The results highlight the dominance of certain airports and the limited competition for global hubs. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for detailed airport analysis to develop an attractiveness model specific to Eastern-Central Europe, incorporating economic, geographic, demographic, political, and infrastructure factors. Keywords: accessibility, weighting, ranking, competition, airport.

Effects of Digitalization on Labor Market Development in Transport Sector in Post- Covid Environment

The development of digitalization processes in a post-pandemic environment has the potential to seriously affect the labor market in the transport sector in South- Eastern European countries, which sector is not prepared for such a transformation. An increasing number of transport companies will face the dilemma of keeping their workforce or replacing it with digital devices and robots. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to many small and medium-sized enterprises bankruptcies in the sector, will make it even more difficult for transport companies to remain competitive both on the national and European transport market. Based on statistical and descriptive analysis, the article aims to forecast the emerging trends in the sector and to give recommendations for a smooth transition, considering the specifics of the transport sector in terms of social and technological sustainability. The study identifies the problems, related to the digitalization of the transport sector and reveals the possibilities for their overcoming in regard to road passenger carriages in intercity lines in developing countries with transition economies like Bulgaria.

Legal regulation of the international transport sphere in the conditions of European integration

The article conducts a scientific and practical study of the organizational and legal issues of the integration of the transport system of Ukraine into both European and world transport systems with the aim of forming and further developing a single trans-European transport network.
 The international documents of the European Union and the national legislation of Ukraine in the international transport sphere were analyzed in order to identify problematic issues, search for effective organizational and legal mechanisms for their solution and priority forms of cooperation in this sphere.
 It was revealed that the main concepts, ways to achieve the goal and even specific actions regarding the creation of a modern transport network are outlined in the strategy of the European Commission "Transport - 2050: road map for the formation of the Single European transport space - on the way to a competitive and resource-efficient transport system” - " White book - 2011”.
 One of the main goals of cooperation in accordance with the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand, was specified, and its content was formed.
 It was emphasized that the situation with European integration in the international transport sphere remains difficult and this is a negative phenomenon and a joint responsibility of the Government and the Parliament regarding the obligations of Ukraine's implementation of mandatory and directly related regulations and directives of the European Union.
 The necessary steps for the implementation of the organizational and legal mechanism of European integration processes regarding the liberalization of international transportation and the development of the international transport sphere with the European Union and its member states are proposed, which can be the conclusion of bilateral agreements between Ukraine and the European Union on the simplification of the permit system between Ukraine and the member states of the European Union. of the Union for transit transportation by transport, making appropriate changes to already existing bilateral agreements regarding the conditions of transit transportation of goods between Ukraine and the member states of the European Union, in general, resolving issues regarding the obligations of implementing the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union , the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand, in the field of infrastructure, acceleration of the stages of reform in Ukraine within the framework of the implementation of the Association Agreement, in particular, the approval by the parliament of European integration bills in the field of transport infrastructure.

An accessibility-based methodology to identify corridor speed upgrades in the European rail network

The European Union's Trans-European Transport Network policy (TEN-T) is a key instrument for developing rail networks and achieving the European Union's modal shift and territorial cohesion objectives as set out in the White Paper on Transport. High-speed rail (HSR) is a key element of this policy, as the core TEN-T rail network is to be designed for high speeds. Since the effectiveness of HSR in achieving its objectives has been repeatedly criticized, it is difficult to justify the high cost of developing rail corridors for such speeds. The European Commission has therefore proposed a reduction in the minimum speeds for HSR in a revised proposal concerning the regulation defining the TEN-T network. In this paper, we apply the betweenness-accessibility methodology to model the contribution of each rail corridor in the European long-distance rail network to the accessibility by rail of EU metropolitan regions. After simulating the completion of the already defined TEN-T network which is to be completed by 2030, we simulate speed increases on all remaining corridors with speeds below 160 km/h up to this speed to evaluate the potential accessibility gains of these speed increases. A total of 13 corridors have been selected for the estimation of their upgrade costs, most of which are in Eastern Europe. The upgrade costs were compared with the potential accessibility gains to provide guidance on the most cost-effective way to improve rail accessibility on the European long-distance rail network.