Supply Points Research Articles

Comparative view of the modified Vogel’s approximation methods in transportation problem

Recently, the whole world is experiencing economic hardship and one fast road to ply is to cut out some expenses. Xlife group is equally affected and so the study proposes a means to minimize its transportation cost if effected. A comparative surgery on Vogel’s approximation with its modified versions were conducted on minimizing the cost of transporting manufactured goods from (Xlife group’s) points of supply to certain destinations was undertaken. The Vogel's Approximation Method (VAM) and the Modified Vogel's Approximation Method based on standard deviation, distribution indicators and average cost were applied to determine an initial basic feasible solution and optimal solution for certain transportation problems. All methods yield identical minimum transportation cost except at an instance.

Flood risk assessment under the shared socioeconomic pathways: a case of electricity bulk supply points in Greater Accra, Ghana

This study evaluates flood susceptibility and risk on Bulk Supply Points in the Greater Accra region (GAR) using a Frequency Ratio model based on 15 flood conditioning factors. The model explores the influence of natural, meteorological and anthropogenic factors on flooding occurrences under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios and assesses flood risks at Bulk Supply Points (BSPs). Flood susceptibility mapping was conducted for both current and future periods under various SSP scenarios. Results reveal that elevation, slope, soil type, distance from urban areas, and SPI are the most influential factors contributing to flooding susceptibility in the region. The current flood map, about 37% of the total area of GAR categorized under the moderate flood-susceptible zone category followed by about 30% categorized under the low flood-vulnerable zone. However, about 16% was categorized under the very high flood-vulnerable zone. The study projects increasing flood susceptibility under the SSP scenarios with intensification under SSP2 and SSP3 scenarios. For instance, the areas categorized as high and very high flood susceptibility zones are projected to expand to approximately 32% and 26% each by 2055 under SSP3. The study also assesses flood risks at Bulk Supply Points (BSPs), highlighting the escalating susceptibility of power assets to flooding under different scenarios. For instance, in the very high scenario, flooding is estimated to reach 640 h in 2045 and exceed 800 h in 2055—more than double the 2020 baseline. The analysis shows the bulk supply points face increasing flood susceptibility, with risks escalating most sharply under the severe climate change SSP3 and SSP5 scenarios. Over 75% of BSPs are expected to fall in the low- to medium-risk categories across SSPs while more than 50% of BSPs are within medium- to high-risk categories in all scenarios except SSP1, reflecting the impact of climate change. SSP3 and SSP5 stand out with over 60% of BSPs facing high or very high flooding risks by 2055. It indicates moderate resilience with proper adaptation but highlights potential disruptions in critical infrastructure, such as BSPs, during persistent flooding. The findings of the study are expected to inform Ghana’s contributions towards addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 11 and 13 in Ghana.

Through-Window Home Aerial Delivery System with In-Flight Parcel Load and Handover: Design and Validation in Indoor Scenario

Abstract This paper presents the design, development, and validation in indoor scenario of an aerial delivery system intended to conduct the delivery of light parcels directly to the user through the window of his/her home, motivated by the convenience of facilitating the access to medicines to people with reduced mobility.The system consists of a fully-actuated multi-rotor (FAMR) equipped with a front basket where the parcel to be delivered is loaded by a lightweight and compliant anthropomorphic dual arm system (LiCAS) located at the supply point, using one of the arms to drop the parcel in the basket while the other arm holds its base to support the sudden moment exerted at the FAMR. The paper analyses four types of physical interactions raised during the operation on flight: (1) sudden changes in the mass distribution of the FAMR during the load/unload phase, affecting the multi-rotor position-attitude controllers, (2) impact and impulsive forces exerted by the human on the FAMR to demonstrate the reliability and robustness of conventional cascade controllers, (3) passive accommodation of the LiCAS while holding the FAMR during the parcel load, relying on the mechanical joint compliance, and (4) compliant human–FAMR interaction, interpreting the multi-rotor pose control error as a Cartesian/angular deflection to implement an admittance controller that allows the user guiding the platform. Experimental results allow the identification and characterization of these effects for different payload masses. The execution of the complete operation, involving the parcel load with the LiCAS and handover by the user through a window, is validated in a representative indoor scenario. Graphical Abstract

Research on energy storage capacity planning based on AGC strategy of new energy power station

Abstract With the rapid development of emerging energy technologies, the percentage of clean energy in the power system has increased. However, the uncertainty surrounding the output of new energy sources contributes to the need for further analysis and evaluation, and its grid supply point will bring challenges to the network frequency. This paper studies this issue. First, different frequency response models are established. Secondly, it proposes a frequency response fuzzy control strategy to the frequency response capability of new energy power stations for the generation control of the collaborative wind energy and energy storage system. Meanwhile, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimal configuration of energy storage capacity. The actual case is analyzed to verify that the AGC strategy is effective.

A two-stage optimization model for relief distribution to disaster survivors under two-fold uncertainty

Disasters are unforeseen occurrences requiring extensive transport deployment to support and relieve victims. Sometimes, this transportation is not feasible directly from some supply points to some destination points. Due to this tragedy, it is unclear precisely what is available at supply points, what is needed at destinations, how much transportation capacity there is, and what the routes are like. In this study, we investigate a two-stage multi-item fixed charge four-dimensional transportation problem using the concept of big data theory under the two-fold uncertainties. Here, the model’s parameters such as unit transportation costs, availabilities of items at the suppliers, fixed charges, capacities of conveyances, and demands of the items at the retailers are considered type-2 zigzag uncertain variables. Using big data theory and based on uncertain programming theory, two novel uncertain models are developed such as chance-constrained programming and expected value programming model. These two uncertain models transformed into the deterministic form via uncertainty inverse distribution theory. A critical value based reduction method with three categories (i.e., expected value, pessimistic value, and optimistic value) is applied to reduce the type-2 zigzag uncertain variable to the type-1 zigzag uncertain variable. The genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization techniques have been proposed to find the optimal solution for the two deterministic models. The efficiency of our proposed approach is demonstrated with a real-life numerical example.

Coca-Cola Transfer Pricing Dispute: United States Case Analysis and Tax Policy Lessons for Indonesia

Decision of the Coca-Cola transfer pricing dispute in the United States Tax Court, which resulted in tax underpayment, can be used as a lesson for Indonesia. This research method is doctrinal, with a law, case, concept and interpretation approach. The data studied is secondary data in the form of laws, cases and relevant references, which are analyzed to obtain conclusions and recommendations. Research shows that the court considered using the Comparable Profits Method by tax authorities to evaluate the profitability of The Coca-Cola Company's supply points, given the difficulty of valuing intangible assets directly and the need for disproportionate profit adjustments. To avoid similar problems, companies in Indonesia must use transfer pricing methods that are reliable and appropriate to local conditions, as well as ensure good intellectual property management and documentation transparency, while tax authorities must monitor transactions between affiliated entities by international standards and the Arm's Length Principle.

Analysis of the Effect of Layer Height on the Interlayer Bond in Self-Compacting Concrete Mix in Slab Elements.

This paper presents a study on the influence of the layered casting technology of self-compacting concrete (SCC) on the load-bearing capacity of interlayer bond in slab elements. The research was conducted on slab elements with dimensions of 750 × 750 × 150 mm, concreted from a single point of concrete delivery. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the height of the concreting top layer on the bond strength between the layers. The study utilised top layer heights of 50, 75, and 100 mm, which, according to the authors' experience, are the most common cases when making slab elements. The interlayer bond was determined by investigating the splitting tensile strength of cubic specimens cut from the concrete slabs. Computed tomography (CT) was employed to image the contact zone between the concrete layers. Based on the analysis of the CT imaging and the results of the strength tests, it was shown that the interlayer bond is influenced by both the height of the top layer and its free-spread distance from the casting point. A reduction in the interlayer bond strength was observed with decreasing the height of the top layer and increasing distance from the mixture supply point. The relationships obtained were linear and had a clearly negative slope. It was concluded that the valid recommendations and standards for the multilayer casting of SCC are too general. Therefore, we propose to detail the recommendations to reduce the risk of cold joints, which diminish the bond strength of the interlayer joints.

Athletes’ medical preventive behaviors: the case of oral health and ultraendurance trail runners

Ultra-endurance runners are particularly exposed to caries risk factors due to the continuous intake of sugars in liquid or sticky forms during long-distance exercise. The risk of caries increases due to a failure to perform oral hygiene during races. Ultra-endurance runners had good oral health status despite these particularities. Our hypothesis is that high compliance with preventive oral health recommendations (toothbrushing and preventive or regular dental visits) counterbalance the risks associated with their exposure to caries. We aimed to gain a better understanding of preventive dental behaviors in ultra-endurance runners. We then studied the determinants of two major recommendations: (1) visiting a dentist for preventive check-ups and (2) visiting a dentist during the year. 37% of the total sample reported patterns of both preventive dental visits and recent visits. Early visits (ORa = 4.8***), good oral health (ORa = 8.8**) and tooth brushing (ORa = 2.2**) were associated with preventive dental visits, but there was no significant influence of snacking or weekly work hours. The ultra-endurance race frequency was associated with early dental visits despite equal needs. Most risk-control behaviors were associated with each other, indicating that they are all-or-nothing behaviors. Individual prevention strategies implemented at the dental office may not be as effective as they predominantly target individuals who are already aware of and interested in preventive care. Instead, developing targeted primary prevention strategies that are accessible at race venues, such as stands, villages, or food supply points, could be more effective.

Research on the supply point mechanism of Shanghai during the closure of COVID-19 in 2022 from the perspective of urban resilience

Research on the supply point mechanism of Shanghai during the closure of COVID-19 in 2022 from the perspective of urban resilience

Hierarchical dynamic estimation of fire service accessibility based on POI big data

Failure to obtain timely fire services will lead to thermal runaway phenomenon, which will seriously threaten the lives of people and property safety. In this study, a dynamic method was proposed to estimate fire service accessibility based on real-time traffic. To validate the method, a total of 110,055 POls extracted from online maps and existing 12 fire stations in Yiyang were used as fire service demand points and supply points. Travel times of fire trucks from supply points to demand points were calculated based on real-time traffic, and a total of 550,275 valid samples were obtained. The results showed that the ≥10 min fire service coverage rate in Yiyang is only 71.60 %. Based on the distribution area of demand points ≥10 min, the locations of three optimization solutions of new fire stations are proposed. By calculating the total average time (TAT) of the three optimization solutions of proposed new fire stations, it is concluded that TAT decreases by 743.99 s, 99.72 s, 92.59 s, respectively. From perspectives of safety and economy, the construction of the 10 fire stations of optimized solution I will effectively improve the regional fire service level.

Improvement of Power Factor in Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Using Inductive Power Transfer Topology

The EV requires energy supplied to its motors to function properly. This required energy either can be transmitted by a physical wired connection or by wireless power transfer firstly to the battery using charging of the EV system and then battery discharges to supply to the vehicle. This paper deals with the wireless transfer of power using the induction method for charging battery of the vehicle using electric energy for its functioning as it is the most suitable and fast mode to charge the batteries of many vehicles altogether at charging station. The challenges recently faced by EV’s includes the movement of energy from the energy supply point to the destination i.e., EV’s without the direct interaction of battery and energy source. Many topologies have been introduced in this regard and several simulation models are built.

How informal water supply points using private wells worked in an emergency: A quantitative evaluation

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of an emergency water supply using private wells has been asserted theoretically but not evaluated in detail. This paper aims to consider the effectiveness and shortcomings of emergency water supply based on local wells and to support policy formulation regarding groundwater usage in the event of a disaster. In Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, not only public-operated formal water supply points using water trucks but also informal water supply points using private wells were open to address water outages following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. This study clarified the pattern of appearance and spatial distribution of those points by combining information from local newspapers, Internet archives, and an original questionnaire survey. In addition, the function of informal water supply points was quantitatively evaluated using GIS by comparing cases with and without informal water supply points. Analysis revealed that informal water supply points expanded the size of the serviced population within a 500-m radius of the water supply points by 47%, compared with cases when only formal water supply points were available. However, well water was not necessarily suitable for drinking owing to quality issues. As a policy lesson, the importance of sharing well information is indicated.

SIMULATION OF SOIL LOOSENING PROCESSES WITH COMPRESSED AIR

A model for describing soil loosening when exposed to compressed air is considered. The model allows you to calculate, depending on the compressed air pressure, the diameter of the hole and the depth of the feed point, the dilatancy zone (the area within which the created stresses will exceed the threshold and the loosening process will begin). The developed model is also used to describe soil loosening at several air supply points and at different jet directions.

Multi-point method using effective demodulation and decomposition techniques allowing identification of disturbing loads in power grids

The paper presents an innovative approach to identifying voltage fluctuation sources in power networks, also considering the localization understood as the indication of supply points of disturbing loads. The presented approach considers disturbance sources that change their operating state with a frequency higher than the power frequency. The implementation of the proposed solution is also proposed in such a way that its implementation in the smart meter infrastructure allows automatic localization of disturbance sources without additional expert knowledge. In the proposed approach, the modulation signal is estimated using a carrier signal estimator, which allows the estimation of a modulation signal with a frequency higher than the power frequency. The estimated modulating signal is decomposed into component signals associated with individual disturbing loads by decomposition by approximation using pulse waves. The decomposition process allows for the estimation of selected parameters associated with disturbing loads, on the basis of which the assessment of propagation of voltage fluctuations associated with the impact of individual disturbance sources is performed, which allows for the indication of their supply point. The proposed approach was verified in numerical simulation studies using MATLAB/SIMULINK and in experimental studies carried out in a real low-voltage power grid.

Forecasting electricity demand of municipalities through artificial neural networks and metered supply point classification

This study develops a methodology to characterise and forecast large consumers’ electricity demand, particularly municipalities, with hundreds of different metered supply points based on the previous characterisation of facilities’ consumption. Demand forecasting allows consumers to improve their participation in electricity markets and manage their electricity consumption. The method considers a classification by different types of metered supply points combined with artificial neural networks to obtain hourly forecasts using well-known parameters such as day types, hourly temperature, the last hour of electricity consumption, and sunrise and sunset time. We apply the methodology to the municipality of Valencia using over five hundred hourly load profiles for a year during 2017 and 2018. Our results present aggregated forecasts with a maximum Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 3.8% per day, outperforming the same forecast without classifying Metered Supply Points. We conclude that a correct electricity demand forecast for a consumer with different types of consumption does not need submetering, but characterising Metered Supply Points is an option with lower costs that allows for better predictions.

Bike rebalancing: How to find a balanced matching in the k center problem?

In the bike-sharing system, inspired by the problem proposed by O’Mahony and Shmoys (AAAI 2015), we present a new model called the balanced k center problem with matching constraints. Given a network containing the same number of two types of points, supply points and demand points, we aim to allocate k (supply) centers for supply points, and k (demand) centers for demand points. The k supply centers should be perfectly matched with the k demand centers, within an allowed distance. The goal is to minimize the maximum distance from each supply (or demand) point to its closest supply (or demand) centers.The model is motivated by the real-world application in rebalancing bikes, where the bikes are collected in supply centers, and delivered to the matched demand centers, and then distributed from there to serve their demand vertices. Therefore, to successfully complete this rebalancing procedure, two matched groups must have the same number of points. Otherwise, the bikes collected at the supply center may not be enough to serve the demand stations assigned to the demand center.To fully capture the problem, we bring an identical restriction L, which restricts the exact number of vertices assigned to a single center. As a result, all matched centers must serve the same number of bikes. Hence, they are balanced. Our main result is a 9 approximation algorithm. The algorithm is built on the technique called transfer preserving network that successfully combines the approach for the capacitated k center problem with the maximum flow network.

Application study of radiant floor compo site air-conditioning system for heating and cooling

Radiant floor air-conditioning systems are characterized by energy efficiency and comfort. However, at higher sensible heat loads and higher humidity conditions, problems such as condensation, poor comfort, slow thermal response, and difficulty in zoning control may occur. To mitigate these limitations, this study presents a composite air-conditioning system for radiant flooring that includes an air source heat pump., an underfloor coil, a fan coil and a dehumidifier for fresh outdoor air. The composite system was experimentally tested and analyzed for indoor thermal comfort under various operation modes in summer and winter in a specific thermal zone. On the basis of the experiments, the composite system comprises multiple energy supply points, and varying combinations between these functional endpoints can fulfill the comfort needs of the human body even in year-round working conditions. The radiant floor temperature varies from the dew point air temperature by roughly 7°C. Following the test day, summer radiant systems take approximately 30 minutes to reach the set indoor temperature and humidity level.. An hour after the indoor air has reached the desired temperature and humidity, the winter radiation system is activated.

ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ОПТИМАЛЬНИХ ЦЕНТРІВ РОЗТАШУВАННЯ РАЙОНІВ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ЯЙЦЯМИ ГЯНДЖІНСЬКО-ДАШКАСАНСЬКОГО ТА КАЗАХСКО-ТОВУЗСЬКОГО ЕКОНОМІЧНИХ РАЙОНІВ

The purpose of the article. Most of the products of the main demand among livestock products are perishable products. Along with the requirements attributed to the quality of this category of products, the requirements for their storage distinguish them from other products. This feature is due to the need to maintain the required temperature regime throughout the entire period of existence of perishable products, from the moment of their manufacture to the moment of consumption. Thus, the quality of the transported product is ensured, on which the safety of the population directly depends. Thus, the process of transporting perishable products is considered actual in its essence. This makes it necessary to investigate, analyze and solve existing problems in the specified area. This article is devoted to the problem of transportation of eggs to the supply points of livestock products produced in farms. The methodology and methods used are the theoretical and methodological basis of the research, the works of local and foreign scientists dedicated to the deployment of production forces, the transport provision of cargo transportation, as well as the operation of the collector transport system, scientific literature on statistics, probability, graphs and management theories, economic mathematical modeling. The main scientific innovation put forward is the development of the methodology, mathematical model of the optimal location of supply and reception points in the territory according to the minimum cost of transportation and the maximum profit, and the determination of optimal centers. The result of the research is the determination of the optimal location centers by establishing a mathematical model of the supply points of the eggs belonging to livestock products in Ganja-Dashkasan and Gazakh-Tovuz economic regions. Based on the software developed in the MathCAD computer optimization system, it is possible to determine the coordinates of the optimal location centers of the supply points, which are considered relevant as a large-scale problem in a short period of time. The high accuracy and authenticity of the obtained results indicate the possibility and significance of the wide application of the developed methodology in agriculture.

Design of Fuel Monitoring Application for Reservoir Tanks in Army Fuel Supply Point on Military Logistics Corps Based on Internet of Things

Design of Fuel Monitoring Application for Reservoir Tanks in Army Fuel Supply Point on Military Logistics Corps Based on Internet of Things

An electricity smart meter dataset of Spanish households: insights into consumption patterns

Smart meters are devices that provide detailed information about the energy consumed by specific electricity supply points, such as homes, offices, and businesses. Data from smart meters are useful for modeling energy systems, predicting electricity consumption, and understanding human behavior. We present the first smart meter dataset from Spanish electricity supply points, expanding the geographic diversity of available data on energy consumption at the household level and reducing biases in existing data, which typically come from a limited number of countries. The dataset consists of 25,559 raw hourly time series with an average length of nearly three years, spanning from November 2014 to June 2022. It also includes three subsets obtained by segmenting and cleaning the raw time series data, each focusing on the periods before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns in Spain. This dataset is a valuable resource for studying electricity consumption patterns and behaviors that emerge in response to different natural experiments, such as nationwide and regional lockdowns, nighttime curfews, and changes in electricity pricing.