Main Mode Of Transport Research Articles

Scheduling of a branched multiproduct pipeline system with robust inventory management

As the main transportation mode of refined products, multiproduct pipelines play an important role in ensuring the downstream energy supply. Before the market-oriented reform of refined products, the construction and management of multiproduct pipelines were monopolized by giant state-owned enterprises, forming the self-operation mode. However, with the development of refined products market, the market-oriented operation mode has gradually formed. Under the new mode, the market demand presents a stronger uncertainty, resulting in the scheduling method under self-operation mode may not be able to cope with the supply interruption risk caused by demand uncertainty. The robustness of the obtained schedule is low. Aiming at above issue, this paper proposes a method for scheduling of branched multiproduct pipeline system under market-oriented mode. The method considers market demand uncertainty and robust inventory management. It can not only reduce additional operation cost caused by demand uncertainty, but also decrease the adjustment frequency of schedule, so that the schedule is still feasible within a certain fluctuation range. Finally, the proposed model is validated by applying it to a real-world multiproduct pipeline system.

Health Effects of Near-Roadway Diesel-Related Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations in Beijing, China

Traffic exhaust is a main source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities. Heavy-duty diesel trucks (HDDTs), the main mode of freight transport, contribute significantly to PM2.5, posing a great threat to public health. However, existing research based on dispersion models to simulate pollutant concentrations lacks high-spatiotemporal-resolution emission inventories of HDDTs as input data, and health effects in different populations have not been thoroughly assessed. To fill this gap, we, taking Beijing as the research area, constructed a high-resolution PM2.5 emission inventory for HDDTs based on Global Navigation Satellite System-equipped vehicle trajectory data. We then simulated the fine-scale spatial distribution patterns of PM2.5 by integrating the RLINE dispersion model to assess the exposure risk of different populations and to quantify mortality attributable to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) plus lower respiratory infections (LRIs) related to high PM2.5 concentrations. The results showed that the per-capita exposure dose of PM2.5 from HDDTs in Beijing first increased and then decreased with age, peaking at four times the minimum in individuals 20–44 years of age. In general, the per-capita exposure dose for male (186 μg) was significantly higher than that for female (147 μg). Moreover, the number of NCD+LRI annual premature deaths caused by PM2.5 from HDDTs in Beijing was 559 (95% confidence interval: 466–648). The number of premature deaths in male was 1.6 times higher than that in female, although the total population of male was approximately the same as that of female. Furthermore, 94.5% of premature deaths occurred in individuals 60 years age and older. These findings provide important insights into the adverse health effects from HDDTs and help authorities establish early warning strategies for high-risk populations in Beijing.

Energy consumption in university commuting: Barriers, policies and reduction scenarios in León (Spain)

There is a growing interest in university commuting that aims at identifying patterns of behavior, as well as the main barriers limiting the advances in sustainable mobility on campus. This work analyzes, on the basis of an online survey conducted at the University of Leon (ULE), the following issues: a) the behavior of ULE users in their weekly commuting; b) the environmental implications of such behavior in terms of non-renewable cumulative energy demand (NR CED), and c) the main barriers/disincentives to implementing a modal shift as declared by the respondents, according to their work status (students or workers) and gender. The data reveal differences in habits, especially in relation to the users’ work status, while differences by gender are not so significant. Still, this case study shows how men students use bicycles and motorcycles slightly more often than women, while the car is the main transportation mode for women workers. Car use is in fact the main hotspot of university commuting to the ULE (approximately 95% of the NR CED). Unsafe cycle paths, thefts at university, bus fares and frequency of service were the main barriers to a greater use of bicycle and bus identified by the survey respondents, with some differences by gender and work status. Measures aimed at minimizing these barriers could achieve maximum reductions of the NR CED ranging between 18.1% and 35.0%. This article discusses measures and policies that could be implemented to improve sustainable mobility at university.

Walking, cycling, and public transport for commuting and non-commuting travels across 5 European urban regions: Modal choice correlates and motivations

The objective of this study was to explore individual and contextual-level characteristics associated with active (walking and cycling) and public transport as main travel modes for both non-commuting and commuting purposes, in residents of five European urban regions. We also described participant-reported motivations for modal choice for each journey purpose. The study used multilevel models to investigate cross-sectional associations of individual (i.e. age, gender, educational level) and contextual (defined by a combination of residential neighbourhood characteristics in typologies) characteristics with the choice of active and public transport as outcome. Based on an online survey of 6037 residents of Ghent and suburbs (Belgium), Paris and inner suburbs (France), Budapest and suburbs (Hungary), the Randstad (including the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht in the Netherlands) and Greater London (United Kingdom), we observed associations with both individual and contextual characteristics.Results of the multilevel modelling show that the probability of using active or public transport as main mode varies depending on both individual and contextual characteristics. At individual level, relations with gender, age, education, weight status and having at least one child varied according to main transport mode and/or purpose. For example, overweight participants reported lower level of cycling for commuting and non-commuting travels than normal-weight participants. In the context of non-commuting travels, participants with one or more child reported less public transport use and more walking (vs participants without children). Among contextual-level variables, urban characteristics of the residential neighbourhood defined by four clusters (according to food environment, recreational facilities and active mobility opportunities) were associated with public transport and walking but not with cycling. For active transport the most important reasons were “I like to travel (on foot or by bike)” and “I want to be physically active” for both travel purposes. “Public transport facilities nearby” was indicated as the most important reason for public transport (for both trip purposes) – the second was “Journey time”.Our findings highlight the importance of exploring a combination of multiple correlates at individual and contextual level according to journey purposes and suggest that the role of health-related individual characteristics such as weight status need further exploration.

Modelling school travel mode choice – the case of hanoi, vietnam

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in adopting massively social distancing measures to tame the human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus and protect public health. These intervention policies have caused changes in travel behavior, thereby expressing a need to update profiles of factors associated with mode choice. To respond to this research gap in part, this current study aims to model children’s mode decisions for school trips in the post-pandemic time in Hanoi. As regards mode usage, cycling is the main mode of active transport with a share at 23.3%, doubling the rate of 11% for walking. The dominant mode of traveling to school is the motorized modes (i.e., cars and motorcycles) with a proportion of 60%, meanwhile, school buses account for only 6.2%. As regards the determinants, when growing up, children tend to shift from being driven to traveling actively. The availability of cars increases the likelihood of using other modes compared to cycling. An opposite association is seen for the availability of bicycles. The flexibility in terms of a mother’s job is involved in a higher possibility of being driven for a child. A home-school distance less than 1 km is more suitable for walking compared to cycling; however, an inverse relationship is witnessed for a distance between 1 and 2 km. A distance over 2 km is more appropriate for motorized modes and school buses. To promote active transport to school, children’s travel demand should be taken transport planning into consideration. Developing cycling and walking facilities is essential, especially in urban districts. Additionally, limiting the use of private motorized modes would be useful.

A photoactivatable chemotherapeutic Ru(II) complex bearing bathocuproine ligand efficiently induces cell death in human malignant melanoma cells through a multi-mechanistic pathway

Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) is an emerging strategy for targeted cancer therapy. Strained Ru complexes with pseudo-octahedral geometry may undergo photo-induced ligand dissociation, forming aquated photoproducts that are significantly more cytotoxic compared to the precursor complex. The complexes investigated were the strained complex [Ru(bpy)2BC]Cl2 (where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and BC = bathocuproine) and its unstrained control [Ru(bpy)2phen]Cl2 (where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). The uptake of [Ru(bpy)2BC]Cl2, assessed by ICP/MS, started immediately post-incubation and plateaued after 24 h. Active transport was found as the main mode of intracellular transport. Cell viability assays on A375 cells indicated a mean phototoxicity index of 340-fold, and the effect was shown to be primarily mediated by the aquated photoproducts rather than the dissociating ligands. A significant increase in ROS production and DNA damage was also observed. Flow cytometry confirmed the induction of early apoptosis at 48 h that proceeds to late apoptosis/necrosis by 72 h post-treatment. Western blot analysis of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins revealed that apoptosis was mediated through an interplay between the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, as well as autophagy and via inhibition of the MAPK and PI3K pathways. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that [Ru(bpy)2BC]Cl2 is a multi-mechanistic PACT drug which exhibits promising anticancer potential.

Assessing Urban Accessibility in Monterrey, Mexico: A Transferable Approach to Evaluate Access to Main Destinations at the Metropolitan and Local Levels

Cities demand urgent transformations in order to become more affordable, livable, sustainable, walkable and comfortable spaces. Hence, important changes have to be made in the way cities are understood, diagnosed and planned. The current paper puts urban accessibility into the centre of the public policy and planning agenda, as a transferable approach to transform cities into better living environments. To do so, a practical example of the City of Monterrey, Mexico, is presented at two planning scales: the metropolitan and local level. Both scales of analysis measure accessibility to main destinations using walking and cycling as the main transport modes. The results demonstrate that the levels of accessibility at the metropolitan level are divergent, depending on the desired destination, as well as on the planning processes (both formal and informal) from different areas of the city. At the local level, the Distrito Tec Area is diagnosed in terms of accessibility to assess to what extent it can be considered a part of a 15 minutes city. The results show that Distrito Tec lacks the desired parameters of accessibility to all destinations for being a 15 minutes city. Nevertheless, there is a considerable increase in accessibility levels when cycling is used as the main travelling mode. The current research project serves as an initial approach to understand the accessibility challenges of the city at different planning levels, by proving useful and disaggregated data. Finally, it concludes providing general recommendations to be considered in planning processes aimed to improve accessibility and sustainability.

Noise annoyance and vibration perception assessment on passengers during train operation in Guangzhou Metro.

With the development of urban rail transit, taking the metro train has become one of the main modes of transportation, and passengers have an increasing demand for the comfort of taking the metro trains. This paper mainly discusses the impact of noise and vibration caused by metro train on passengers. All 13 metro lines in Guangzhou, China, were selected to conduct the questionnaire survey on the subjective perception of 601 respondents. At the same time, noise and vibration measurements were carried out in the train. The results show that the distribution of noise and vibrations along the metro lines is not uniform, and 50.6% of the interviewees are disturbed by noise. Wheel-rail squeal was found to be the most annoying and disturbing noise source. Three dose-response relationships for noise, vertical vibration, and horizontal vibration are proposed, respectively. The proposed dose-response relationship can be applied to the evaluation of noise annoyance or vibration perception in an environment similar to metro lines. Once the noise or vibration level of a metro line is obtained, the noise disturbance or vibration perception can be estimated. As for the dose-response relationship of vibration perception, people's sensitivity to vibration is much lower than that to noise. Horizontal vibrations are more acceptable to passengers, while vertical vibrations are more disturbing to passengers. The results are helpful to predict the noise annoyance and vibration perception of train passengers between metro stations, and to achieve the purpose of designing effective noise and vibration reduction measures.

Significance analysis of influencing factors of highway freight transportation in China and multi-variable grey prediction for its development

With the prosperity of national economy and the development of highway construction, highway freight transportation plays an increasingly important role in the market economy. Due to its great flexible characteristic, highway freight transportation has been the main mode of transportation in China. On the macro level, there are many factors affecting the development of highway freight transportation especially under the background of the new era. Based on the historical data of the development of highway freight transportation, grey entropy analysis method is applied to analyze the significance of influencing factors for the development of highway freight transportation whose key indicator is highway freight turnover. Then GM (1, N) model is established to predict the development trend of highway freight turnover and its significant influencing factors. Finally, main problems existing in highway freight transportation and development prospect were discussed and analyzed. The research results show that the three most significant factors affecting the development of road freight turnover in China are the total state revenue, GDP and average distance of highway freight. The established GM (1, N) model can conduct high precision prediction for the development of highway freight transportation. Opportunities and challenges of highway freight transportation industry coexist and its development prospect is promising. It is expected to provide beneficial references for the development strategy and decision-making of highway freight transportation in China.

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision analysis including sustainable indicators for prioritization of public transport system.

Paratransit modes dominate the public transportation industry in the majority of developing countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa. The number of these modes has increased rapidly over the years. Authorities have not yet been able to provide a better alternative for passengers, whose demand is ever-growing. In this research, the main modes of public transport in a Sub-Saharan African city, Kampala, have been studied. Here we used multi-criteria decision-making methods to find out which among the four major public transport modes in Kampala, Uganda, are best from a transportation operator's perspective. The evaluation of alternatives was conducted using Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Elimination Et Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE III) methods. Both the ANP and the ELECTRE III analysis results demonstrate that alternative "Coaster" is the most appropriate alternative from a public transport operator's point of view. A sensitivity analysis consisting of four different scenarios was considered in the changing of weighting percentages (for benefit, cost, and risk clusters) in the ANP and the ELECTRE III analyses, to show the robustness of the ranking results. According to the sensitivity analysis results, there was no change in the final ranking. The findings of this paper are crucial to policymakers within the transportation sectors of developing countries. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:25-38. © 2021 SETAC.

The Method and Practice of Container Electronic Tag Performance Test

With the rapid development of container transportation, container transportation has become the main mode of transportation that promotes social development and accelerates the process of globalization. The container RFID electronic tag is expected to improve the transportation efficiency of the container. This article describes the testing methods of container electronic tags. At the same time, through the actual application test of container RFID tags, it summarizes and proposes how to optimize the reading efficiency of container electronic tags, so as to achieve the best performance of container RFID tag system.

Research and Method for In-line Inspection Technology of Girth Weld in Long-Distance Oil and Gas Pipeline

With the increasing demand for energy, long-distance oil and gas pipeline has become the main mode of transportation of oil and gas resources. High pressure, inflammable and explosive medium, complex and changeable route environment and other factors make the safe transportation of pipeline concerned. The girth welds of oil and gas pipeline have always been the weak part of the pipeline due to the technical level during the construction, on-site welding practices and operation environment, and the girth weld cracking is one of the main failure forms of oil and gas pipeline. It is an effective way to ensure the safety of pipeline to adopt various advanced and targeted inspection to identify pipeline defects, judge the types of defects, and then carry out safety evaluation and maintenance. This paper analyzes the main failure factors of girth weld of oil and gas pipeline, and systematically summarizes the content and methods of various in-line inspection on girth weld in view of these failure factors, so as to provide reference for the development and application of in-line inspection technology on girth weld of oil and gas pipeline.

Reducing private car demand, fact or fiction? A study mapping changes in accessibility to grocery stores in Norway

BackgroundTravel surveys show that the amount of private car driving in Norway has increased significantly since the mid-1980s. Private car driving has for a long time been the main mode of transport for retail and service trips, and grocery shopping trips represent over 60% of the retail and service travels. Despite the growing number of studies addressing accessibility to daily destinations, to the best of the authors’ knowledge there are no studies examining these issues over time.MethodsThis paper aims to investigate changes in accessibility to grocery stores over time and use two counties in Norway as examples. Based on GIS data at a detailed level, distances from dwellings to nearest grocery store has been examined.FindingsThe results from the spatial analyses reveal significant changes from 1980 to 2019: The share of the population living within 500-m from a grocery store has decreased from 55% to 34% in one of the counties examined and from 36% to 19% in the other. This indicates that the share of people living within walking distance to a local grocery store has nearly halved. With such changes in accessibility to grocery stores, increased car driving for grocery shopping should not come as a surprise. Contrary to the frequent statements about sustainable urban development and active transportation, it seems that Norway still is developing as a country that in the future will be more and not less dependent on private cars.

Driving Distance and Glycemic Control in Patients with Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus

Context: Driving distance to health-care facilities has been associated with suboptimal glycemic control in patients with diabetes. The data pertaining to the driving burden on patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia is lacking. Aims: This study aims to assess the driving distance to healthcare facilities and the glycemic control of patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) in Saudi Arabia. Setting and Design: This study is part of the diabetes and driving study–a cross-sectional project conducted on individuals with ITDM in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Data collection was performed from August 2016 to February 2017 from the designated clinics every alternate day, for 4-h intervals. We included men aged more than 18 years, with at least 1 year of follow-up with the clinic, and using a car as the main mode of transportation. Results: A total of 429 individuals were included in the study, they were mostly from Riyadh (95.3%, n = 409) with an average age of 49.54 ± 15.20 years. The distance driven was on average 32.09 ± 115.23 km. The average duration of diabetes was 14.36 ± 8.44 years. Most (80.4%; n = 345) had uncontrolled diabetes and were almost equally distributed between those driving

Analyzing traffic violations among motorcyclists using structural equation modeling

In developing countries, the motorcycle is one of the main modes of transportation, especially in the downtown area. Motorcyclists’ safety is a common issue since they have more vulnerability for severe crashes. Thus, it is necessary to decrease the probability of encountering high-risk situations. The main reason for motorcycle crashes is human errors in the form of traffic violations. This article aims to identify the role of seven factors on traffic violations, including motorcyclist characteristics, road conditions, environmental circumstances, riding skills, cycling statuses, motorcycle age and previous negative experiences such as fines and accidents. The structural equation modeling was applied to evaluate the impact of these factors pertinent to motorcyclists’ crashes. To assess these factors, 600 motorcyclists have been interviewed in Kerman, Iran. The results indicated that motorcyclists’ characteristics are the most effective factor in violation commitment. Since most motorcyclists are young, with low income and education, it is necessary to pay more attention to their training and education before giving a cycling license. In addition, those with more previous crashes and violations are more susceptible to committing violations. This relates to the lack of enough control and enforcement in developing cities; also, it shows that the current traffic fines are not deterrent enough. Finally, considering the results of this research can help to minimize traffic violations among motorcyclists, which is a step towards safer roads.

Multi-period optimal schedule of a multi-product pipeline: A case study in Algeria

The oil supply chain plays a vital role for both economic and social sectors in Algeria. Pipeline is the main oil transportation mode from production sites to distribution centers. However, finding the optimal schedule for a multi-product pipeline is among the most difficult optimization problems. In this article, we propose an operational schedule for a long-term horizon for a multi-product pipeline system. In our model, we link a refinery to multiple storage and distribution fuel centers. The proposed approach aims to satisfy the demands of different distribution centers in a timely manner by respecting quality and cost requirements. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed and solved by a branch and cut algorithm. Our model is tested on a real case of an Algerian oil company. The obtained schedule satisfies variable demand while respecting quality and cost requirements.

First train timetabling and bus service bridging in intermodal bus-and-train transit networks

Subway system is the main mode of transportation for city dwellers and is a quite significant backbone to a city's operations. One of the challenges of subway network operation is the scheduling of the first trains each morning and its impact on transfers. To deal with this challenge, some cities (e.g. Beijing) use bus ‘bridging’ services, temporarily substituting segments of the subway network. The present paper optimally identifies when to start each train and bus bridging service in an intermodal transit network. Starting from a mixed integer nonlinear programming model for the first train timetabling problem, we linearize and reformulate the model using the auxiliary binary variables. Following that, the bus bridging model is developed to cooperate with the first train operation for reducing long transfer waiting times. After realizing the low computational efficiency of solving the integrated model, a tailored algorithm is designed to optimally solve the first train timetabling and bus service bridging problems. The exact models and algorithms are applied to the Beijing subway network to test their effectiveness and computational efficiency. Numerical results show that our approaches decrease the total passenger waiting time by 53.4% by a combined effect of adjusting the first train departure times and operating 27 bridging buses on 7 routes.

Functional Evaluation Of Pathologies In Flexible Pavement

Highways are of essential importance, since they are the main mode of transportation in the country, with a vast territorial extension of roads. However, many of these highways present some kind of alteration in their initial shape. The concept of paving, pathologies and their causes, as well as their recovery, are thus constituted. These problems were visually evaluated according to the Asphalt Pavement Restoration Manual of the DNIT (National Department of Transportation Infrastructure) in accordance with the TER 005/2003 and PRO 009/2003 standards, in a different area of the city of Manaus, namely the South Zone, consisting of the roads of the Industrial Complex, which allows the transportation of containerized cargo to the ports. The results, based on the visual surveys carried out and the current serviceability values, indicated roads with a concept between bad and regular.

АНАЛИЗ ПУТЕЙ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИОННОЙ СКОРОСТИ НАЗЕМНОГО ГОРОДСКОГО ПАССАЖИРСКОГО ТРАНСПОРТА ОБЩЕГО ПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ

The main mode of transport in large cities is urban passenger transport. It is this type of transport that ensures the mobility of the population and plays an important role in densely populated cities. Nevertheless, the use of urban passenger transport by the population is decreasing every year. This article discusses various approaches to assessing the performance of vehicles, analyzes ways to increase the operating speed and quality of passenger service, taking into account the current trends in the development of public transport. Key words: operational speed, increased operating speed, ground–based urban passenger transport, public transport, speed improvement routes, vehicle performance, transport services.

Crude oil and refined products transportation from the Caspian region to the European Union

This article provides in-depth description of the situation with crude oil and refined products transportation from the Caspian Region to the European Union. It describes demand and supply, main transportation routes and modes of transport. The article then addresses existing and potential issues and discusses the ways to resolve them. There are two knowledge gaps associated with the topic of this article: (i) transportation of crude oil and refined products from the Caspian region to the European Union receives limited attention of researchers, and (ii) the majority of related scientific publications consider mainly the aspects of geopolitics and the European energy security, but not the transportation itself. The author attempts to partially close these gaps.