Public Transport Fleet Research Articles

Designing and Implementing a Public Urban Transport Scheduling System Based on Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities

Many countries encourage their populations to use public urban transport to decrease pollution and traffic congestion. However, this can generate overcrowded routes at certain times and low economic efficiency for public urban transport companies when buses carry few passengers. This article proposes a Public Urban Transport Scheduling System (PUTSS) algorithm for allocating a public urban transport fleet based on the number of passengers waiting for a bus and considering the efficiency of public urban transport companies. The PUTSS algorithm integrates artificial intelligence (AI) methods to identify the number of people waiting at each station through real-time image acquisition. The technique presented is Azure Computer Vision. In a case study, the accuracy of correctly identifying the number of persons in an image was computed using the Microsoft Azure Computer Vision service. The proposed PUTSS algorithm also uses Google Maps Service for congestion-level identification. Employing these modern tools in the algorithm makes improving public urban transport services possible. The algorithm is integrated into a software application developed in C#, simulating a real-world scenario involving two public urban transport vehicles. The global accuracy rate of 89.81% demonstrates the practical applicability of the software product.

The Electric Vehicle Scheduling Problem for Buses in Networks with Multi-Port Charging Stations

As more and more cities try to reduce their CO2 emissions, public transport fleets are undergoing a transition from conventional to electric vehicles. To complete this shift, there is a need to build the required charging infrastructure. When the first electric buses were adopted, the charging stations were mostly built in the locations of large bus depots. However, in recent years, there has been a crowding problem in the charging stations resulting in queuing and unnecessary delays. In this study, we explore the potential of replacing single-port charging stations with multi-port charging stations that can serve multiple vehicles at once with a reduced charging rate. Because the charging rate reduces with the number of ports, we develop a mixed-integer linear program to determine the charging schedules of bus fleets in order to reduce the overall delays in the bus network. The novel formulation is tested in benchmark instances of various sizes demonstrating the improvement potential.

Analysis of the Influence of Public Transport Fleet on Regional Development through Community Accessibility and Road Connectivity in the City of Lhokseumawe

Currently, a new concept in the transportation system has developed, namely a sustainable transportation system. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of the public transportation network system on community connectivity in Lhokseumawe City. The analytical method used in this research is a descriptive quantitative method using primary and secondary data. Quantitative descriptive is a type of research that is used to analyze data by describing or describing the data that has been collected as it is. This research uses multiple linear regression analysis tools. The results showed that the number of fleets, passenger capacity, routes had a positive and significant effect on the accessibility of the people in Lhokseumawe City. The number of fleets, passenger capacity and public transport routes have a positive and significant effect on community connectivity. The results of research on community accessibility and road transportation connectivity have a positive and significant effect on the development of the Lhokseumawe City area.

Investigation of alternative vehicle applications for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in urban public transport: The case of Adana province

Passenger cars, trucks, commercial airplanes, and railways all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions as part of the transportation sector. The usage of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel emits exhaust gases commonly referred to as greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. The buildup of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly pronounced in today’s climate. In response to the GHG problem, cities have started setting targets to reduce their emission values. Adana is one of the cities that has set reduction targets. In all of the studies forming the basis of this research, the potential for transitioning buses and minibuses used in public transportation in Adana to alternative vehicles is investigated, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study includes a comparison between electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen and conventional vehicles, considering various parameters such as fuel economy estimates, vehicle size, and emission calculations. The research delves into greenhouse gas emission calculations specific to the Adana province, along with potential alternative applications in public transportation. Within the province, the transportation sector accounts for 27% of the total city inventory’s emissions. This study shows that converting the existing urban public transport fleet to alternative buses can lead an impressive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as 81.93% with electric car, while hydrogen vehicles achieve a commendable 57.37% decrease. This underscores the substantial potential of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles to lead to a significant reduction in transportation-related carbon emissions in the city. Consequently, the research places significant emphasis on addressing the transportation sector, which stands out as a primary contributor to emissions.

Mechanism for Development of Transport and Logistics System: Electric Transport Infrastructure

In the Republic of Belarus in 2021, the volume of electricity consumption at car charging stations increased by about 38 % compared to 2020 and amounted to about 10 million kW∙h. Belarusian experts noted that the operation of an electric car is about 2 times more profitable for its owner than a car with an internal combustion engine. In general, for the economy, under the condition of equality of environmental pollution at the stages of extraction of natural resources and the disposal of electronic waste, the electric car retains a win. Renewal of the fossil fuel vehicle fleet with vehicles powered by renewable energy sources is a task that requires the implementation of a mechanism for adapting the transport and logistics system to modern challenges of the global economy. To date, the number of electric vehicles and rechargeable hybrids in Belarus is slightly more than 10 thousand units. An increase in the public electric transport fleet was noted – over 100 elect-ric buses. In turn, the development of the IT sector and the need to switch to the production of vehicles for environmentally friendly types of the Euro-7 standard, the introduction of which is expected from 2025, prompted global car manufacturers to produce electric vehicles and rechargeable hybrids, which are superior in environmental parameters to fossil-based counterparts fuel and correspond to the time of growth of the disposable income of the mass consumer. In order to avoid the loss of economic benefits with the renewal of the car fleet with electric vehicles, the paper examines the mechanism for adapting the infrastructure of the motor transport service to the modern challenges of the global economy.

Space Utilization Policy in Payakumbuh City to Support The Public Transportation

The strategy that might be applied to increase the use of public transportation is to apply space utilization incentives and disincentives. Incentives and disincentives for space use contain elements of regulation and control that are accommodating to various actual changes that occur in cities. The stages of this research are: : 1) distribution of questionnaires, 2) ranking of Alternative Incentives and Disincentives with Likert scale. The formulation of incentives and disincentives for space utilization that are predicted to increase the use of public transportation, Alternative incentives sequentially are: 1) Policy for subsidizing public transportation fares, 2) Policy for Rejuvenating Public Transport Fleet, 3) Improving infrastructure and supporting facilities for the use of public transportation, and for Disincentives: 1) Progressive Tax Implementation Policy on vehicle ownership, 2) Mandatory garage policy for prospective owners of private vehicles. The results of this study can be used as input for the Payakumbuh City government in making decisions related to spatial planning and transportation and further research needs to be done on alternative incentives and disincentives that have been formulated.

METHODS AND MODELS FOR FORMATION A PORTFOLIO OF URBAN TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BASED ON THE SMART PORT CITY CONCEPT

Renovation of public transport fleets was carried out in different cities of the state before the outbreak of hostilities. In year 2020 "Urban public transport of Ukraine II" project was approved by the Government. Among eighteen cities-participants of this project, Odessa was the only one that had a maritime transport usage option. However, the specifics of the territorial location and the experience accumulated by the previous decades in the maritime coastal communications were not taken into account by that project. This article aims to study the specific features of the city's transport infrastructure development projects portfolio formation with the involvement of the off-street transport modes (including its maritime component), based on the latest Smart Port City concept, which reflects the harmonious targeting of the city and port development main directions. Results. Smart City is the concept, which encourages innovative solutions to the management of all transport types at a particular city level. The carried-out goals systematization reflects the involvement of the city's public administration and commercial players into the initiation of projects intended to enhance the use of off-street transport types. The ability to initiate a wide range of projects is provided by Smart Port concept to cities where the port operation role is decisive. The combination of these two concepts is presented in the form of Smart Port City, which contains the foundation for a significant number of project initiatives for new products and services in the promising areas of city and port development, improving the quality of urban environment and the port production operations efficiency results. Conclusions. The approach to determine projects structure, which is based on a system of objectives to resolve the city transport problems and ensure the port development, has been proposed. The formalized procedure of projects selection to the portfolio from the Smart Port City perspective has been developed, which allows: first, − to identify projects that match the city and the port general goals; second, − to produce a rating system for the city and the port projects respectively; third, – given the set threshold value, to identify the projects with the highest priority.

Appraising the nexus between influencers on the public transport choice by women commuters in South Africa

Women represent the largest share of public transport users in developing countries, yet they face many barriers that limit their mobility. In South Africa, safety and security concerns and limited access to reliable transport reduce women's participation in the labor market. This study analysed 1,243 questionnaires collected from female commuters. The study developed a causal model of public transport choice by women. The casual model and the nexus between the influential factors, their sub-factors and women's choices were validated using structural equation modeling. The investigation found that women's inclusivity in public transport is extremely low, and that neither the public transport fleet nor transport facilities, provide for the needs of women commuters. Moreover, the study revealed that the rate of violence against women in South African public transport is significantly high, and that the majority of female passengers has experienced violence several times. The study deduces that public transport performance and socio-demographics are the main factors influencing women's choice of public transportation. Hence, by addressing gender-based violence, the level of use of public transport by South African women should increase significantly. In conclusion, the study recommends the need for immediate short-term remedies incorporating new technologies alongside long-term policy objectives to enhance the inclusivity of public transportation. The validated casual model can be used as a robust framework for improving the inclusivity and performance of public transport for women in Africa and diminishing gender violence.

The calm before the storm? The making of a lithium frontier in transitioning Portugal

A nation undergoing accelerating energy transitions with ambitious climate targets discovers lithium. In recent years, Portugal has made headlines inter alia for running on renewable electricity for over a month, setting world records at solar auctions, closing its last two coal-fired power plants, and investing majorly in green hydrogen for regional public transport fleets. Lithium extraction for battery manufacture can give it leverage in a sector where it has lagged: manufacturing for energy transitions. Bureaucratic machinery has begun whirring in this direction. Yet, extraction carries risks of environmental destruction, community displacement, and populist backlash. Hence, mapping extraction sites has evoked public opposition and triggered debate. Drawing on civil society publications, policy papers and reports, media coverage, field observations, and interviews with social movement representatives, we interrogate the emergence of a lithium frontier in this greening country. We analyse the human geography and social anthropology of mapped extraction sites, to discuss what social movements have emerged and how they are reflected in official political frames. We do not take a position based on technical assessment, but rather analyse available facts as energy social scientists familiar with the sociotechnical geographies of the Portuguese energy system. We conceptually engage literature on the making of resource frontiers and moments of transition, to foreground the sort of meaning being made and performed in this rapidly unfolding national low-carbon energy future. While unpacking exploration and licensing processes reveals tensions with social justice issues, how hybrid governance navigates these issues will define emergent extractive proclivities.

Evolution of second-generation electromobility in public transport in Polish cities

Transport activities are a significant factor in environmental pollution, especially in cities. Therefore, measures aimed at electrification of public transport are particularly important. The aim of the paper is to present the origins, status and development dynamics of electromobility in Polish cities, especially the second generation of electromobility, i.e. vehicles that do not require continuous connection to the energy source. In practice the second-generation electric vehicles can be identified with battery-powered vehicles, hydrogen and hybrid vehicles. The study was prepared on the basis of an analysis of literature, industry documents or development strategies. In addition, a database of information on zero- and low-emission vehicles in public transport (i.e. electric and hybrid buses) was compiled to analyse the phenomenon. The study shows that the implementation of electromobility in Poland has already emerged from the initial phase. The possibilities for developing battery technology vary in cities of different sizes. In 2021 in Poland, the share of low-emission buses in the public transport fleet was several times higher than that of electric vehicles among passenger vehicles. It is most likely that the Polish road to electromobility leads primarily through public transport. The following factors influencing the development of electromobility were identified: these were primarily EU and Polish legislation and regulations, the presence of manufacturers of rolling stock and electrotechnical equipment, and – at the local scale – organisational, economic and social issues.

Opportunities for Water Reuse Implementation in Metropolitan Areas in a Complex Approach with an LCA Analysis, Taking Warsaw, Poland as an Example

Water shortages are currently becoming a more global than local issue. This paper aims to demonstrate a complex, universal urban water reuse system, allowing for a reduction of freshwater withdrawal. Opportunities for improvement were analyzed in the categories of municipal services: power and heat production, greenery irrigation, landscaping, street and public transport fleet cleaning. Technical possibilities were coupled with current international legislative requirements. Two scenarios for universal, complex water reuse systems in the municipal area were evaluated, including all essential city services. Results of the case study show that ozonation and filtration of treated wastewater should be sufficient to obtain the desired water quality for urban purposes. Current legislation mainly addresses agricultural water reuse, so their requirements should be adjusted to assess the water quality needed for other applications. When water is used in public spaces, constant monitoring for the presence of pathogens should be maintained due to the risk of human exposure. A life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the topic of water transportation in urban areas, which is infrequently considered in such studies. Two scenarios including different means of transport were compared. It was shown that with constant daily operation, it is necessary to build an independent water network, since the environmental impact of water delivery by tank lorries increases substantially.

Greening of Public Transport in Pune – A Feasibility Study

India's commitment to Electric Vehicles (EV) is a prime program furthering the country's achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 7. However, in spite of the much-needed policy push, EV adoption in India has been slow, both in private ownership and in public mobility. The average Indian commuter still depends heavily on public transport such as public buses, railways and rickshaws. Thus, the success of the EV transition in India lies in the speed with which e-vehicles can be developed and adopted in public transport solutions. This study assesses the feasibility of converting the public transport fleet (buses and 3 wheelers) into e-vehicles for the city of Pune. Pune records high per capita private vehicle ownership, resulting in high traffic congestion, traffic indiscipline issues and high vehicular fatalities. It is thus imperative that not only should public transport usage increase in the city, but it should also be electric, such that sustainability goals are achieved. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of greening Pune's public transport fleet. This paper begins with section 1, which introduces the EV landscape in India. Section 2 details the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) framework, which evaluates financial costs associated with EVs in public transport fleets. Section 3 presents model results from the TCO analysis. Payback calculations are also presented to understand the minimum number of years to realise EV investment payback. Section 4 finally concludes this paper by presenting demand-side and supply-side interventions for a speedy EV transition for public transport fleets in Pune Metro Region.

Позиції автовиробників КНР на світовому автомобільному ринку

The global car market is one of the most competitive markets in the world, with characteristics including technological advancements, product diversity, competition, and innovation. The aim of the article is to study the experience and features of participation of car manufacturers of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the world car market. It is determined that the leading car manufacturers in the world market are China, the USA, Japan, India, and Germany. The leading exporters of cars, in terms of value, are Germany, Japan, the USA, South Korea, and Mexico, in terms of quantity – Japan, Germany, China, South Korea and the USA. It is specified that the contemporary automotive industry of the People’s Republic of China consists of a small number of large companies, most of which have a State-owned share, and thousands of small enterprises that produce auto components and spare parts for local companies. The competitive advantage of Chinese cars, which increases their exports, remains their cost. The results of the carried out trend analysis indicate that the growth of exports of cars produced in China will continue in the coming years. It is examined how the PRC government stimulated car manufacturers to achieve leadership in the production of electric vehicles. That is, electric bus lines were laid in several cities of the country and electric vehicles were purchased, all of them made in China. It was the introduction of electric public transport and taxi fleets that helped Chinese car manufacturers subsequently become leaders in the global electric transport market. In the field of production of environmentally friendly cars, the leader is BYD company, being the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world. The following features of the participation of automobile companies of the People’s Republic of China in the world car market are specified: export of a wide range of cars (from the least expensive to premium), the quantitative output of which is larger than in any country in the world; the People’s Republic of China not only develops its own production, but also expands its presence in the global automotive industry, using acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships; China is one of the largest markets for potential car consumers in the world, from which global car manufacturers are being gradually squeezed out, who cannot compete with locally produced cars in terms of price and range; it is projected that the average annual growth rate in the automotive industry of the People’s Republic of China in the coming years will reach 4.0%. It is concluded that China’s car manufacturers are active participants in the global car market and leaders in the export of new cars, including electric vehicles, the quality and safety of which have significantly improved in recent years.

A review on best practices using hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles in public transport

Road transportation sector is responsible for 21.8% of EU’s CO2eq emissions forcing the shift to a de-carbonised mobility scheme, whilst maintaining competitiveness and satisfying the increasing demand mobility needs. Thus, the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and the investigation of alternative fuels by the research community have emerged. Hydrogen is considered a good substitute fuel for the road transport sector if it is produced from renewable energy sources. Several cities have already started to replace a percentage of their conventional public transport fleet with fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV). This paper provides a detailed presentation of several best practices applied in small-medium scale European cities and regions. Best practices are investigated from a city-centred point of view to provide a clearer understanding of the hydrogen initiatives performed in the specific areas. The selected scenarios have demonstrated and implemented different state-of-the-art hydrogen applications in the hydrogen mobility supply chain, which could be potentially tested in other regions with similar geographical, economical and transport activities. Finally, the outcomes of this review study identify different challenges, barriers and opportunities of hydrogen mobility applications which other cities should take into consideration before investing in this technology.

Investment Decision Making for Alternative Fuel Public Transport Buses: The Case of Brisbane Transport

Cleaner and less polluting public transport buses based on alternative fuels are of paramount importance if cities are to attain their ambitious emissions reduction targets. Public transport buses are high usage vehicles that operate in heavily congested areas where air quality improvements and reductions in public exposure to harmful air contaminants are critical. As such, they are good candidates for achieving both near-term and long-term emission reductions. Decision making for the investment in alternative fuel buses is dependent on future technological development and emissions standards, and it is difficult, given the uncertainty in regards to both these factors. The objective of this paper is to develop an analytical framework that will give us more insight into the trends in emissions standards as well as technology development, and eventually translate these insights into a sound investment decision making strategy. This paper concludes that, due to presence of uncertainties, the decision maker (public transport fleet manager) can take only incremental steps that will allow him or her to safeguard investments. Furthermore, if policy makers are serious about accelerating the diffusion of alternative fuels, they should aim at creating stable policy environment.

Benefits of Replacement Public Transportation Fleet With Electrical Buses in An Urban Area in Egypt

Benefits of Replacement Public Transportation Fleet With Electrical Buses in An Urban Area in Egypt

Analysis and Design of Public Transport Route Planner: Dijkstras Algorithm

Abstract: Nowadays, vehicle tracking is extremely useful for many things: personal vehicle security, public transportation management, fleet management, and mass transit management, among others. It is common for passengers to use public transport applications that propose the best route for them. Users may prefer a different route for public transportation depending on their preferences. Most users find the shortest route based on this criteria when choosing an ideal route. The shortest path is frequently determined using Dijkstra's Algorithm, according to our research. For this project, we designed a GIS application to improve public transportation using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Based on the system's real-time location tracking, Dijkstra's algorithm provides taxis with the appropriate category for passengers. With this system, taxi drivers will not have to drive across town to pick up passengers, as confirmations will be sent directly to their phones. If you frequently have to wait for a taxi that has been booked, this will be helpful, especially if you are frequently left waiting

Public Transport Decarbonization via Urban Bus Fleet Replacement in Portugal

The transport sector accounts for around one-quarter of the GHG emissions in Europe, and, in Portugal, it represents almost one-third of the total emissions to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, these emissions have increased in recent years. Hence, cities and countries need plans to decarbonize their public transport fleets, and, more specifically, to replace fossil-fueled buses with electric buses that produce zero CO2 emissions. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to present a method to decarbonize the bus fleet in Portugal by a scheduled replacement of the current fleet, which is fueled by fossil fuels, with a completely electric fleet, in fourteen years. The study shows that it is possible to replace all Portuguese urban bus fleets with electric vehicles considering that all vehicles will be replaced when reaching the age of 14 years. Replacing the urban bus fleet with zero-emission buses would aid policymakers and bus companies to reduce the GHGs, and therefore contribute to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely, Goal 13—take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Wrocław Tourist Lines: The changing nature of its offer and the tourist product life cycle

Tourist lines serviced by historic vehicles function in several cities. One of them is Wrocław (Poland) in which the current offer based on trams was extended with buses in 2021. In the article, an assessment of Wrocław Tourist Lines has been carried out regarding the tourist product and its development, while additionally determining its stage in the product life cycle. To this end, among other elements, data on the number of passengers and ticket sales have been used. After 13 years of existence, the offer has developed traits of a mature product, displaying fairly stable journey figures. However, it did not use the significant potential of the heritage public transport fleet in Wrocław to the full. That is why, in recent years, several changes have been introduced to the structure, marketing and pricing of the tourist product, which have improved journey frequencies and, even more importantly, increased the passenger rate per service. Therefore, it can be claimed that as a result of the actions undertaken, the product has entered a rejuvenation stage, but this process is still fairly unmarked. The main disadvantage of the product is its marketing and the way the offer is communicated to potential passengers.

Urban Cycling Mobility in the European Green Deal

Abstract The European Green Deal aims at achieving a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050. To this end, it sets forth a Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, providing a roadmap for the reduction of transport-related emissions. Investments in alternative fuels, electric cars and the renewal of public transport fleets rank high on the agenda. On the contrary, comparatively less attention is devoted to the promotion of cycling mobility, despite the well-demonstrated benefits of increasing the cyclability of urban areas. Such benefits encompass, on one hand, substantial environmental improvements that would arise from the replacement of motorized transport with human-powered forms of mobility, in terms of both ghg emissions reduction and air quality improvement. On the other hand, investing in cycling mobility also has important health and social co-benefits, for instance in terms of prevention of cardiovascular diseases and economic affordability. Against this background, this paper examines whether, and how, the policy framework laid out in the European Green Deal can drive the growth of cycling mobility in European cities. The paper is structured as follows. First, it introduces the concept of cycling mobility, focusing in particular on its environmental and economic benefits. Then, it turns to an analysis of cycling mobility policies in the EU law, with special focus on the European Green Deal. Lastly, it explores how the EU normative framework can be strengthened in order to enhance the promotion of urban cycling mobility.