Operation Of Transport Infrastructure Research Articles

Thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled model of unsaturated frozen soil considering frost heave and thaw settlement

Frost heave and thaw settlement of subgrade is the most typical engineering disease in permafrost regions, which seriously threatens the safe construction and operation of transportation infrastructure. On the basis of the Modified Cam Clay model, a thermoelastoplastic constitutive model of unsaturated frozen soil is proposed. This model can effectively describe two key issues of the mechanical behavior of frozen soils, that is, soil hardening caused by temperature reduction and volume compression during thawing. The proposed constitutive model is realized in the established thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled mathematical model, and the reliability of the coupled model is verified by comparing with the experimental results. In addition, the proposed THM framework is applied to describe the long-term freezing and thawing behavior of typical railway subgrade sections in the permafrost region of western China. The results show that water-heat transfer and deformation frequently occur on the subgrade surface as the seasons change. Moreover, the variation of thaw settlement is greater than that of frost heave, which seriously threatens the operation safety of railways in permafrost regions.

Evaluation of Influence of Seasonally Operating Cooling Devices on Thermophysical Processes of Soils of Railway Embankment Foundation

Construction in the regions of the Far North is characterised by numerous natural barriers, the presence of permafrost soils in the foundations of structures, the lack of infrastructure and extreme natural and climatic conditions. Thus, the most urgent task both in design and construction, and in further operation of transport infrastructure in the Arctic regions is to ensure reliability of the foundation of the structure.To ensure reliability of structures designed on permafrost soils, it is necessary to carry out thermophysical calculations and make forecasts of the influence of temperature processes on the foundation soils.The territory of the permafrost soils (PFS) occupies a large part of Russia, therefore, expanding the possibilities of using these regions for development of the transportation network is an important strategic task for the state. Today, in accordance with the Strategy for Spatial Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025, the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is a priority region in terms of economic growth and strategic impact.The article analyses the impact of the technology of seasonally operating cooling devices on the foundation soils of Salekhard- Nadym section of the Northern Latitudinal Railway line (Kilometre points 2825+00 - PK 2830+00). The effectiveness of seasonally operating cooling devices on permafrost soils of the railway embankment foundation is shown in combination with heat­insulating material. The advantages and disadvantages of seasonally operating cooling devices are summarised.

The impact of politics on transport system of the Russian Federation

The article presents a detailed analysis of the impact of policy on the transport system of the Russian Federation. The main directions of state policy related to transport are studied, considering both global trends and regional characteristics. The article pays special attention to safety issues, environmental aspects and meeting the needs of passengers and cargo carriers. The impact of political decisions on creating a safe transport environment, preventing accidents and reducing the number of victims is analyzed. Meeting the needs of passengers and freight carriers is considered an important aspect of transportation policy development and implementation. The article also discusses the main regulatory documents governing transportation infrastructure in Russia, including federal laws and government resolutions. These documents establish rules and requirements for the development and operation of transportation infrastructure, as well as regulate the activities of transportation companies and organizations. The paper also examines the impact of policy on the transportation infrastructure of two major cities in Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg. These cities have complex transportation systems with high passenger and freight volumes. Based on the analysis, conclusions are formulated to assess the results of policy influence on the development of the transportation system in Russia. These include evaluating the effectiveness of policy interventions, meeting their objectives, identifying problems and making recommendations for improving transport policies. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the importance of developing and implementing sound transportation policies to create a modern, efficient, and sustainable transportation system in Russia that can meet contemporary challenges and societal needs.

ANALYSIS OF EXISTING METHODS OF EVALUATING THE TECHNICAL CONDITION OF TRANSPORT STRUCTURES UNDER SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The technical condition of transport facilities is a critical factor for ensuring the safety, efficiency and reliability of the transport infrastructure. Operating conditions can significantly affect the technical condition of buildings, especially in conditions characterized by high humidity, extreme temperatures or chemical pollution. This is especially true for structures that are exposed to natural factors such as sea water, aggressive environments or severe frosts. The article analyzes various methods of assessing the technical condition, which are used to detect defects and search for signs of damage to transport facilities. Traditional methods such as visual inspection and non-destructive evaluation are considered, as well as newer approaches including the use of remote sensing technologies, sensor monitoring and machine learning data analysis. The main purpose of the article is to identify the advantages and disadvantages of various assessment methods, as well as to determine the most effective approaches to assessing the technical condition of transport facilities in conditions that correspond to the specifics of the transport infrastructure. The obtained results can be useful for specialists in the field of transport engineering, who are engaged in the operation of transport infrastructure and road safety. Taking into account the technical condition of the facilities, it is possible to make informed decisions regarding repair work, planning regular maintenance and establishing preventive measures aimed at maintaining the safety and reliability of transport facilities.

Recycled materials as part of climate adaptive paved surfaces

Climate adaptability of the pavement is an inseparable part of the holistic concept of sustainable development, construction, and operation of transport infrastructure in Slovakia. The constructions are implemented at a reasonable price and quality concerning transport and environmental safety. Currently, the emphasis is on the circular economy and the resulting minimization of the carbon footprint. One way to achieve this is using climatic, energetically active STERED material. Preliminary measurements of the absorption and retention of the STERED boards were objectified as part of the research on the design of new “green” pavements.

Simulation Analysis of the Evolution of Sustainable Operation of Transport Infrastructure Projects under Government Regulation Based on Prospect Theory and BP Neural Network

The decisions and actions of operators in the operation of transport infrastructure play a crucial role in the sustainability of the project but are influenced by factors such as the strength of government regulation and the frequency of use by users. The influence of social recognition and acceptance by the authorities on the decisions of the various parties involved in a project is becoming increasingly significant. To address this issue, this paper attempts to apply prospect theory to characterize the impact of changes in recognition on the decisions of project managers and the government from the perspective of recognition and to construct a tripartite evolutionary game model for the government, the operator, and the users, taking into account the combined effect of multiple factors, to explore the evolutionary law of the operator’s strategy choice. Evolutionary game theory, in which each person is considered irrational and behavior is changeable, is more realistic. The addition of prospect theory allows the model to more realistically reflect the decisions of each participant in the game process when faced with risk. The results of the study show that there is an optimal level of external regulation to maximize the benefits for all three parties in the game, strong government regulation does not necessarily improve service quality, operators tend to provide low-quality services in the game process and incentives should be increased, and that attempts should be made to provide users with a variety of transport infrastructure options to ensure that users’ interests are maximized. The paper further analyzes the indicators established by sensitive factors using BP neural networks on the basis of the analysis of transportation infrastructure operation and impact sensitive factors using evolutionary games and finds that the conclusions obtained by deep learning algorithms are more consistent with those obtained using evolutionary games, achieving cross-validation of the results. The reliability of the result is improved, and it is demonstrated that deep learning algorithms can be introduced as a supplement in the process of future analysis of transportation infrastructure operations. Finally, management suggestions are made in light of the actual situation.

Особенности прокурорского надзора за расследованием преступлений на железнодорожном транспорте

The article deals with certain issues of the organization of Prosecutor’s supervision over the implementation of legislation on traffic safety and operation of transport infrastructure, in particular, the specifics of supervising the investigation of crimes on railway transport. The main violations on railway transport and the reasons contributing to them are shown. Revealing the causes of crime at transport infrastructure facilities, the author makes suggestions for improving law enforcement activities in transport.

Characteristic degradation processes and defects of reinforced concrete bridges

Abstract: The unambiguous identification of degradation processes and the damage they cause is a very important part of the diagnostics of bridge facilities and, as a result, has a fundamental impact on the efficient management of the maintenance and operation of transport infrastructure. The paper provides an overview of the degradation phenomena characteristic for reinforced concrete bridges, as well as a classification of degradation stimulators and degradation mechanisms showing their mutual conditions. The characteristics of typical degradation processes, usually combinations of two or more degradation mechanisms, are also presented. A hierarchical multi-level classification of damage to the bridge structure type concerned was proposed, as well as the relationship between the most common degradation mechanisms and class-specific damage was shown. Keywords: Reinforced concrete bridges; Degradation stimulators; Degradation mechanisms; Degradation processes; Damage

NATIONAL INNOVATIVE TRANSPORT HUB AS A SYSTEM OF STATE REGULATION OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Introduction. The transport industry and its supporting component – transport infrastructure are extremely important for ensuring the innovative development of the country. This is due to the fact that the operation of transport infrastructure, transport networks and vehicles covers almost all types of innovations: product, procedural, marketing, management.The hypothesis of scientific research is finding out that the results of the transport industry obtained in the course of innovation activities extend to other sectors of the economy (there is a so-called diffusion of innovations).The aim is substantiation of the architecture of the national innovative transport HUB as a system of state regulation of innovative development of transport infrastructure.The research methodology is comparative analysis and graphical method – to reflect trends in transport infrastructure; systematization and classification – for the classification of structural elements of transport infrastructure; system approach – for the formation of theoretical foundations of state regulation of transport infrastructure in the system of economic knowledge; modeling – to substantiate the model of innovative development of transport infrastructure.Results: the main factors determining the conditions and nature of forced internal migration in Ukraine in 2014–2017 were determined. The main directions of forced internal migration since the beginning of hostilities in the Donbass were determined. The emergence of regional asymmetry of migration processes at the level of aggregate migratory flows is investigated developed a model of innovative development of transport infrastructure in the form of national innovative transport HUB as a system of state regulation of the hexagon of individual components: innovation-production, resource-energy, environmental, investment, international and social, the use of which will create integrated into the world transport network safe, interactive, innovative and efficient transport infrastructure of Ukraine, increase the level of competitiveness of the national economy. Conclusions: the concept of innovative development of transport infrastructure is specified; a systematic analysis and classified models of state regulation of transport infrastructure, proposed a theoretical and methodological approach to the formation of national innovative transport HUB as a system of state regulation of innovative development of transport infrastructure, the implementation of which will bring the level of their provision and infrastructure to European standards. environment, to ensure socially responsible innovative development of transport infrastructure.

Economic mechanisms of public-private partnership in transport construction

A whole complex of transport networks is needed for the quality functioning of the entire economic system of the country: railways, highways, river communications, ports, airports, train stations, etc. The Russian transport framework is based on a network of railways as a rule with radial structure. The country’s Federal highway network has not yet been formed, even in the form of a radial structure, and chord lines are almost not developed. The creation, development, and operation of transport infrastructure — roads, bridges, tunnels, ports, airports — has historically been considered the exclusive prerogative of the state. However, the situation has changed in recent decades. With the growth of requirements to the quality of infrastructure in the context of economic development, the budget deficit and organizational shortcomings that are objectively inherent in the system of public administration are increasingly affected. However, attempts to apply full privatization in this sector are usually unsuccessful, since private owners act solely in the interests of profit, without caring about maintaining the public orientation of the privatized enterprises. For this reason, the mechanisms of public-private partnership, which is an “intermediate” solution between completely public provision of services and full privatization, are becoming more and more common in the world practice. Public-private partnership reflects the growing trend in the global economy of the counter movement of the state and the private sector and is successfully applied not only in transport, but also in energy supply, water supply, public utilities and other areas.

Multi-criteria analysis of transport infrastructure projects

Planning, construction and operation of transport infrastructure are associated with a multitude of adverse effects on the environment. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are important legal instruments of the European Union's environmental policy that allows for identifying, predicting, preventing, and mitigating and or compensating for these adverse effects. As part of the environmental impact assessment, variants of planned activities and investment projects are considered in order to select the option, which is the most favourable from the environmental point of view. The primary goal of this work is to examine the possibility of using multi-criteria methods in order to select the route variant most favourable for the environment. In the first stage, a review of global literature from 2010 to 2019 was conducted on the subject of MCDM/MCDA (Multi-Criteria Decision Making/Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis) methods used in transportation. Based on the review, it was proven that the most popular methods used to solve multi-criteria decision problems in the field of transport are respectively: AHP with modifications, TOPSIS, DEMATEL, as well as methods encompassed in the so-called European trend, i.e. PROMETHEE and ELECTRE. Four selected methods were used in the empirical part of this work. They were used to select the variant of the expressway section in north-eastern Poland and compare the result of the analysis with the choice made in the analyzed environmental impact report.

ТРАНСПОРТНО-ЛОГІСТИЧНА СИСТЕМА РЕГІОНУ: СТАН ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ

Introduction. The article considers the state and prospects of development of transport and logistics systems in the region, which will help to accelerate cargo delivery, increase the competitiveness of transportation, improve the investment climate of the transport industry in the region, as well as expand the activities of companies providing comprehensive logistics services. The purpose of this article is a study of experience of using mechanisms of state regulation of development of regional structural transformations in agribusiness. Results. The basic principles of functioning of the transport and logistics system of the region, which integrate the transport industry into the transport and logistics systems of the country by ensuring their effective interaction, are highlighted; satisfy the needs of consumers of transport and logistics services by harmonizing their interests with the interests of all participants in the logistics process. The functions of the transport and logistics system that influence the efficiency of its activity at the regional level are revealed. Conclusions. The functioning of an advanced transport and logistics system, provided with adequate transport infrastructure in all regions of the country, will contribute to the development of many sectors of the economy and will serve as the basis for economic development of the country. In order to effectively develop the transport and logistics system of the regions, it is advisable to intensify the following areas: state regulation of logistics processes, including their legal support; creation and operation of transport infrastructure by type of activity; stimulating the development of logistics projects by region. The formation of high-quality transport and logistics systems in the region provides a full range of transport services, including multimodal transportation, the development of logistics schemes for freight, insurance, transportation security. Development of transport and logistics systems in the region can be ensured by updating the logistics base of transport; increased informatization; quality improvement and development of transport and logistics infrastructure of the region; expansion of the internal market of transport and logistics services; improving the efficiency of transportation; improvement of customs tariff and investment policy; the interaction of all participants in the supply chain; development and implementation of joint programs for the development of transport and logistics systems in the region. Key words: transport and logistics system; transport industry; region; logistic approach; transport; integration.

Экспертная оценка соотношения затрат при строительстве нефтяной транспортной инфраструктуры в Арктике

When assessing the cost of construction and operation of transport infrastructure in the early stages of the investment process, there is a problem in the formalization of some indicators of the factors influencing decision-making. The temporary impossibility to express them in monetary or comparable natural quantities leads to uncertainty in the ratio between these two groups of factors. On the example of one of the discussed objects of oil transport infrastructure in the territory of the Russian Arctic, quantitative estimates of such uncertainties are obtained, the value of which was very weighty and variable depending on the considered alternative. The authors propose an approach based on the vector representation of factors, fuzzy set theory and expert estimates, which allows developing a criterion of the limit value of uncertainty, allowing making management decisions in the problems of choice. The corresponding model giving the possibility of calculation of such criterion is constructed.

Protection of the Transport Infrastructure from Influence of Landslides by Suspension Grouting

Construction and operation of transport infrastructure in the mountainous areas is an extremely important task. The complex structural-tectonic conditions with highly broken relief contribute to the development of modern landslide processes. Unexpected landslide activity carries a significant threat to both the road and transport infrastructure, as well as the life and health of people who use it. There are now known many different methods for protection of transport infrastructure by landslides, but the classic methods are not sufficiently effective to ensure reliable work of roads in mountainous areas and the considerable material costs involved are not justified. The reason for this is often the heterogeneity of a soil in composition and properties. A solution to this problem is to use suspension grouting to stabilize the landslide body. It was found that the injection of cement slurries with high water-cement ratio is only possible in weathered mudstone with cracks width> 10mm, with injection pressure less than 6 atm. In this case, there is a uniform filling of cracks at a distance of 1, 5-2,0 meters from the injector. When the injection pressure increase occurs the hydraulic fracturing with the output hydraulic cement slurry to the surface. Processing of dense unweathered mudstone by suspension of colloidal silica with a concentration of 29% is possible to obtain a solid array with high strength characteristics that do not change even after 10 cycles of soaking/drying.

A Conceptual Framework for Transport Infrastructure PPP Project Credit Assessments

Project credit assessments have been increasingly used in order to evaluate the creditworthiness of infrastructure projects. In light of the benefits that can be achieved from changing the financial basis of such projects during their life-cycle, the accuracy and comparability of project credit assessments become of cardinal importance to the successful financing or re-financing of a project. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for assessing project creditworthiness based on the study of risks that are encountered during the life-cycle of transport infrastructure projects. The proposed framework is based on a generic classification of risks and has risk allocation among the project’s counterparties at its core. The proposed framework intends to reflect the true risk status of such projects and consider asset-specific characteristics that are important to the role and operation of transport infrastructure. The findings of this paper aim to serve as a starting point for future research on the development of transport infrastructure project credit assessments that can overcome potential limitations and accurately reflect risk bearing and coping.

Risk Mitigation and Sharing in Motorway PPPs: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Alternative Approaches

The detailed contracts between private parties and public sector project sponsors that provide for the construction and operation of transportation infrastructure are often referred to as public–private partnerships (PPPs). Risk-mitigation and risk-sharing arrangements are critical to the long-term success or failure of transportation PPPs. This article examines the distribution of the key risks inherent in a PPP across public sector and private sector partners in road infrastructure PPPs. It draws lessons from the use of alternative risk-mitigation mechanisms across several countries, focusing on how aspects of PPP concession contracts allocate risks on both demand and cost sides of an infrastructure facility.

Canadian pension fund investors in transport infrastructure: A case study

Policy makers and scholars have increasingly identified pension funds as an important source of private capital to finance the next generation of critical investment in infrastructure. However, to date pension funds globally have not been significant direct investors in infrastructure. This paper examines the opportunities and barriers to pension funds taking on a more significant role in the financing, delivery and operation of transportation infrastructure. This assessment is based on a case study of seven large Canadian pension funds, which have been at the forefront of a new wave of institutional investing in infrastructure. Drawing on key informant interviews with fund managers as well as an examination of annual reports, industry studies and media coverage, I illustrate how pension funds have specific characteristics that direct the types and locations of projects that they will invest in, as well as the models of deal structuring that are appealing. The results show that Canadian pension funds have focused primarily on investing in operational projects in established marketplaces, where they have demonstrated a willingness to assume traffic volume risk on projects that have demonstrated suitable demand in early operations.

Privatization: A New Transportation Paradigm

A new approach to the funding, management, and operation of transportation infrastructure is emerging. “Privatization” refers to several different ways in which private sector firms, usually under some form of government supervision, assume significant responsibility for these major systems. Although the traditional U.S. model of user taxes, trust funds, centralized resource allocation, and government ownership and operation has produced reasonably good transportation infrastructure, this approach carries with it incentives for suboptimal performance—such as allocating resources on political rather than economic-value grounds, encouraging congesation at peak hours, and skimping on maintenance. The privatization techniques offer the potential of institutionalizing a better set of incentives for cost-effective performance. This article explores the use of (1) contract management and operation, (2) long-term franchises and concessions, and (3) divestiture as privatization modes that can be applied to highways and airports.

Lessons from Private Financing of Transport Infrastructure : Dutch Infrastructure in the 19th Century and European projects in the 20th Century.

In the past decade serious doubts have been expressed on the efficiency of a strong public financial involvement in infrastructure. This provokes the question whether financing of infrastructure should be a task of the government. For this purpose, the paper first presents a concise theoretical overview under which circumstances there is a case for public intervention. Interestingly, the financing and operation of transport infrastructure has not always been the task of the public sector. In the 19th century, the railway infrastructure in Europe was financed and operated by the private sector. Later, the government took over more and more responsibilities. This paper analyses then for the Netherlands the reasons for the government to take over the financing of infrastructure, in order to draw conclusions for the present and the future. Also in the 20th century many European projects have been privately financed. In the third part of the paper an overview is presented of several projects (e.g., Channel Tunnel, Mont Blanc Tunnel, Dartford Bridge, Dutch tunnels, Storebelt, etc.) as well as an analysis of the circumstances under which these are economically

Indirect Transportation Energy

Construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation infrastructure and vehicles represent a substantial energy investment. This indirect energy consumption per vehicle kilometer was estimated for auto, bus, and rail transit through an energy investment analysis. Initially, total construction and manufacturing energy were converted to annual energy by assuming a service life. The annual operations and maintenance energy were added to this amount to obtain the total annual facility energy consumed. The total energy per vehicle kilometer was then derived based on observed levels of traffic on each type of road and transit facility. Finally, the vehicle manufacturing energy was added to obtain a grand total estimate of the megajoules per vehicle kilometer. The resulting modal energy estimates in megajoules per vehicle kilometer were: Freeways, 1.368; arterial streets, 1.525; 2-lane roads, 1.582; trolley buses, 1.503; diesel buses, 1.568; at-grade street car, 10.778; commuter rail, 14.154, and subway, 22.636. The indirect energy associated with rail transit facilities is sizable both in absolute terms, and as a proportion of the total energy consumed. It should be carefully estimated and must be included in modal energy intensity analysis.