Transport Routes Research Articles

Oxygen Vacancies Regulated S-Scheme Charge Transport Route in BiVO4-OVs/g-C3N4 Heterojunction for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance.

Oxygen vacancies (OVs) are widely considered as active sites in photocatalytic reactions, yet the crucial role of OVs in S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts requires deeper understanding. In this work, OVs at hetero-interface regulated S-scheme BiVO4-OVs/g-C3N4 photocatalysts are constructed. The Fermi-level structures of BiVO4 and g-C3N4 lead to a redistribution of charges at the heterojunction interface, inducing an internal electric field at the interface, which tends to promote the recombination of photogenerated carriers at the interface. Importantly, the introduction of OVs induces defect electronic states in the BiVO4 bandgap, creating indirect recombination energy level that serves as crucial intermediator for photogenerated carrier recombination in the S-scheme heterojunction. As a result, the photocatalytic degradation rate on Rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracyclines (TCs) for the optimal sample is 10.7 and 11.8 times higher than the bare one, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate is also improved to 558 µmol g-1 h-1. This work shows the importance of OVs in heterostructure photocatalysis from both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects and may provide new insight into the rational design of S-scheme photocatalysts.

Investigating how consumption values and place identity shape long-haul truck drivers’ intention to visit roadside rest areas

Transportation business organisations, policymakers, and government entities attempt to enhance the welfare of long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs) by promoting safe driving practices. LHTDs spend long hours on goods delivery journeys, and that causes various health and in-route safety issues for drivers. For improved LHTD health and safety, many developed nations introduced the concept of roadside rest areas (RRAs) for regulated, safe, and enhanced driving experience for LHTDs, whereas developing nations’ research on RRAs development is nascent. The RRAs offer a chance to reduce negative truck driving impacts and promote wellbeing among LHTDs, but why drivers will visit RRAs during their tracking journey is a question for policymakers. Hence, the present study tries to comprehend the significance of drivers’ visit consumption values in terms of functional, social, emotional, epistemic, conditional value, and place identity concerning visit intentions towards RRAs. In addition, the present work examines the influence of consumption values on word of mouth (WoM) for RRAs by LHTDs. The research problem is examined via the lens of the theory of consumption values. The study utilised 247 valid responses for model analysis, using the partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings establish that consumption value is a formative construct that further positively influences place identity, intentions to visit RRAs, and WoM for RRAs by LHTDs. This implies that the intentions of LHTDs to visit relaxation sites are mostly influenced by the values they perceive from such places. This perception of consumption values also helps LHTDs develop place identity with RRAs and influences them to spread positive WoM about it. However, the results of the present study did not find the mediation role of place identity. This implies that Indian LHTDs will develop the intention to visit RRAs because of the consumption values rather than any attachment to the place. The findings of this paper will help transport policymakers develop adequate measures for developing rest areas on major transport routes to improve road safety and drivers’ wellbeing.

Logistic transportation role for sustainable ecotourism industry

Abstract Transportation plays a pivotal role in the industrial landscape, and the ecotourism sector, particularly sustainable ecotourism, is no exception. Sustainable ecotourism places emphasis on the responsible management of natural resources, aiming to foster comprehension, appreciation, and the conservation of both the environment and cultural heritage. The purpose of this research is to examine how the emergence of logistics transportation studies is driven by the transportation needs of island communities and tourists to increase sustainable ecotourism industry activities. Logistics transportation services that support ecotourism is a relatively new study of existing logistics resources in Indonesia. This study chooses sea transportation routes for the Karimunjawa Islands and Jepara. The logistics services for tourism transportation provided by the government and third parties pay little attention to sea transportation routes that pass-through conservation areas, namely the Panjang Island Conservation Area and Karimun Jawa National Park. Indeed, there has been a sea route provided, but several obstacles arose when passing through the conservation area. The establishment of novel transportation routes emerges as a viable solution for bolstering the sustainable ecotourism sector and addressing the transportation requisites of the local community. Additionally, these new transportation routes can yield positive outcomes for the safeguarding of conservation areas.

Identifying key safety investments needed for arctic shipping via a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach

ABSTRACT The retreating ice coverage and reduced (ice) thickness scientifically recorded in the wider Arctic region, during the last few decades, are transforming it into a more accessible operating environment. Vessels engaged in maritime transport activities can now navigate the already established routes for more extended periods each year. With this background, Arctic shipping routes have attracted the interest of academics and maritime stakeholders because of the potential distance reduction compared to other existing (and often viewed as) conventional routes utilizing the Suez and Panama Canals today. However, the existing Arctic shipping environment requires specific future safety investments. This paper intends to provide input towards better-informed decision-making and identification of priority investments needed to improve the level of safety related to the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Northwest Passage (NWP). A multi-attribute decision-making methodology, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, is applied to rank the various proposed safety investments. The results indicate that “infrastructure and facility” should come first, followed by “personnel,” “technology,” “measure,” and “management” investments. Ice monitoring and weather forecasting, strengthening Arctic seafaring expertise, and icebreakers stand out as the top three most important future investments required in the region.

A quadratically constrained mixed-integer non-linear programming model for multiple sink distributions

Rising traffic congestion and fuel costs pose significant challenges for supply chains with numerous retailers. This paper addresses these challenges by optimizing transportation routes for processed tomatoes within a long-haul and intercity distribution network. We use the heterogeneous capacitated vehicle routing problem framework to create a new quadratically constrained mixed-integer non-linear programming model that aims to meet demand at multiple destinations while minimizing transportation costs. Our model incorporates real-time data and route optimization strategies that consider traffic conditions based on freight time and route diversions for expedited deliveries. It aims to devise an optimal transportation schedule that minimizes fuel, operational, and maintenance costs while ensuring efficient delivery of tomato paste. By applying this model to a real-world case study, we estimate a significant 27.59% reduction in transportation costs, dropping them from GH¢20,270 ($1,638.91) to GH¢14,676 ($1,186.61) on average. This highlights the effectiveness of our strategy in lowering costs while maintaining smooth and efficient deliveries.

Unveiling risk factors influencing the selection of the Northern Sea Route: A conjoint analysis approach for Japanese shippers

This paper explores how Japanese corporations assess risks associated with using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a new maritime transport route in Asia and identifies measures to promote its usage. We address two key questions: (1) What risks influence shippers' route choices in maritime transport? (2) Does risk evaluation vary by cargo type and company size? Using choice-based conjoint analysis and a conditional logit model with online survey data, we identified five main risk factors influencing shippers: route unavailability rate, delay probability, piracy probability, transport costs, and war conditions, ranked in importance from highest to lowest as war conditions, delay probability, transport costs, route unavailability rate, and piracy probability. Additionally, the risk factors significantly influencing route selection were found to be robust, showing minimal variation across company size, type of trade (import/export), and the nature of the goods transported. Our findings suggest several policy implications. Diplomatic efforts are crucial for safe vessel navigation on the NSR. Government initiatives should focus on reducing transport delays through technology investments and implementing strategies to decrease NSR delay rates without increasing shippers' costs. Additionally, emphasizing the lower piracy risks on the NSR compared to Suez Canal Route could boost its attractiveness.

Ammonia Sprays for Combustion: A Review

Ammonia is a globally transported chemical used for a variety of applications, most notably, the production of fertiliser. Over the past decade, attention has been afforded to the use of ammonia as an energy carrier, coupling global supply of renewable energy to demand regions. Ammonia’s advantages as an energy carrier include its ease of liquefaction and established international transportation routes; overcoming its low reactivity, excessive production of nitrogen oxides and its toxicity remain as challenges. For energy applications, fuel delivery is a critical aspect of effective combustion in boilers, burners and engines. Due to its adaptable phase change characteristics, ammonia fuel may be injected as a liquid or vapour, each with respective advantages or disadvantages. The focus of this review concerns the characterisation of liquid ammonia fuel injection for combustion, including recent research findings from experimental and simulation studies. Liquid ammonia injection can result in the highly dynamic so-called ‘flashing’ or ‘flash boiling’ phenomena. Research findings have been drawn from other related applications such as accidental hazardous releases. Bespoke optical experimental rigs together with diagnostic techniques and two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have enabled studies of the flashing jets under various initial or final conditions, with recent work also examining ammonia spray combustion. The review concludes with an insight into future trends and requirements for liquid ammonia combustion. Reciprocating engines for marine propulsion are cited as potential early adopters of ammonia energy.

Pickup and Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem with Hybrid Missions and Third-Party Vehicle Rentals: A Case Study of Animal Feed Industry

The vehicle routing problem for small and medium-sized animal feed manufacturers is a complex challenge because each transport route can vary significantly between delivering products to customers and picking up raw materials to return to the factory. Currently, businesses lack well-planned management for utilizing a limited number of trucks. As a result, they often incur additional costs by relying on third-party vehicle rentals. This research aims to reduce transportation costs for small and medium-sized animal feed manufacturers by solving a formulated mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, using experimental data that accurately reflects the actual problems faced. The MILP model results help reduce transportation costs by up to 18.5% compared to current practices by optimizing route sequences and incorporating the use of third-party vehicle rentals. This also serves as a guideline for reducing transportation costs in other similar industries.

Protein Medium Facilitates Electron Transfer in Photosynthetic Heliobacterial Reaction Center.

This computational study addresses the question of how large membrane-bound proteins of electron transport chains facilitate fast vector-based charge transport. We study electron transfer reactions following ultrafast initial charge separation induced by absorption of light by P800 primary pair and leading to the electron localization at the A0 cofactor. Two subsequent, much slower reactions, electron transfer to the iron-sulfur cluster Fx and reduction of the menaquinone (MQ) cofactor, are studied by combining molecular dynamics simulations, electronic structure calculations, and theoretical modeling. The low value of the electronic coupling between A0 and Fx brings this reaction to the microsecond time scale even at the zero activation barrier. In contrast, A0-MQ electron transfer occurs on a subnanosecond time scale and might become the preferred route for charge transport. We elucidate mechanistic properties of the protein medium allowing fast, vectorial charge transfer. The electric field is high and inhomogeneous inside the protein and is coupled to high polarizabilities of cofactors to significantly lower the reaction barrier. The A0-MQ separation puts this reaction at the edge between the plateau characterizing the reaction dynamical control and exponential falloff due to electronic tunneling. A strong separation in relaxation times of the medium dynamics for the forward and backward reactions promotes vectorial charge transfer.

Sucrose-responsive osmoregulation of plant cell size by a long non-coding RNA

In plants, sugars are the key source of energy and metabolic building blocks. The systemic transport of sugars is essential for plant growth and morphogenesis. Plants evolved intricate molecular networks to effectively distribute sugars. The dynamic distribution of these osmotically active compounds is a handy tool for regulating cell turgor pressure, an instructive force in developmental biology. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanism behind the dual role of the receptor-like kinase CANAR. We functionally characterized a long non-coding RNA, CARMA, as a negative regulator of CANAR. Sugar-responsive CARMA specifically fine-tunes CANAR expression in the phloem, the route of sugar transport. Our genetic, molecular, microscopy, and biophysical data suggest that the CARMA–CANAR module controls the shoot-to-root phloem transport of sugars, allows cells to flexibly adapt to the external osmolality by appropriate water uptake, and thus adjust the size of vascular cell types during organ growth and development. Our study identifies a nexus of plant vascular tissue formation with cell internal pressure monitoring, revealing a novel functional aspect of long non-coding RNAs in developmental biology.

TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AS ESSENTIAL PART OF GOVERNMENT POLICY

The paper discusses the significance of transport systems as a crucial compone nt of public policy in the majority of countries worldwide. Transport policy aims to achieve various objectives, including promoting economic growth, enhancing accessibility, improving safety, reducing environmental impacts, and promoting social equity. A significant aspect is the substantial funding required to construct and maintain transportation infrastructure, includin g roadways, railway tracks, airports, harbors, and publictransportation systems.Special emphasis is placed on international transport corridors such as the Trans-Caspia n International Transportation Route, which complements the Chinese Belt and Road initiative and presents new opportunities for trade between China and European nations. The paper emphasize s the importance of collaboration between different levels of government and internationa l stakeholders to address cross-border transportation challenges and harmonize regulations. The authors also discuss the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the development of regional transportation infrastructure and logistics. They highlight key issues such as outdate d infrastructure, high transportation costs, low efficiency, and the need for increased transit capacity. Additionally, they discuss other international initiatives, such as the Eurasian Economic Union and Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation that aim to improve regional connectivity and facilitate trade.In conclusion, they emphasize the importance of strategic planning and investment in transportation systems to promote sustainable economic growth and enhance transportation links between Central Asian countries and other regions of the world.

Optimizing Road–Rail Multimodal Transport Schedule for Emergency Response with Congestion and Transshipment Sequence Selection

The current literature mainly uses hub capacity or transport route selection to manage the congestion of emergency multimodal transport and pays less attention to transshipment scheduling. This paper proposes an integrated optimization problem of transport routes and transshipment sequences (ITRTSP) and constructs a hybrid flow shop scheduling model to describe it. Based on this model, a recursive method is proposed to calculate the minimum waiting times that cargoes consume in queues at hubs, given the transport routes and transshipment sequences. Furthermore, a memetic algorithm is designed with route selection as the outer layer and transshipment sequence selection as the inner layer for solving ITRTSP. Compared with existing achievements, the model and algorithms can quantify the dependency between transshipment sequence selection and emergency transport time in multimodal transport network settings. The model and algorithms are applied to solve some real-scale examples and compared with the first-come-first-served (FCFS) rule commonly used in the current literature. The results indicate that the makespan is reduced by up to approximately 4.2%, saving 33.68 h. These findings demonstrate that even with given hub capacities and transport routes, congestion can still be managed and the schedule optimized through transshipment scheduling, further improving emergency transport efficiency.

Learning-based Pareto-optimum routing of ships incorporating uncertain meteorological and oceanographic forecasts

In modern shipping logistics, multi-objective ship route planning has attracted considerable attention in both academia and industry, with a primary focus on energy conservation and emission reduction. The core challenges in this field involve determining the optimal route and sailing speed for a given voyage under complex and variable meteorological and oceanographic conditions. Typically, the objectives revolve around optimizing fuel consumption, carbon emissions, duration time, energy efficiency, and other relevant factors. However, in the multi-objective route planning problem involving variable routes and speeds, the extensive solution space contains a substantial number of unevenly distributed feasible samples. Traditional heuristic optimization techniques, such as multi-objective evolutionary algorithms, which serve as the core component of optimization programs, suffer from inefficiencies in exploring the solution space. Consequently, these algorithms may tend to converge toward local optima during population iteration, resulting in a solution set characterized by sub-optimal convergence and limited diversity. This ultimately undermines the potential benefits of routing optimization. To address such challenging problem in route planning tasks, we propose a self-adaptive intelligent learning network aiming at capturing the potential evolutionary characteristics during population iteration, in order to achieve high-efficiency directed optimization of individuals. Additionally, an uncertainty-driven module is developed by incorporating ensemble forecasts of meteorological and oceanographic variables to form the Pareto frontier with more reliable solutions. Finally, the overall framework of the proposed learning-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is meticulously designed and validated through comprehensive analyses. Optimization results demonstrate its superiority in generating routing plans that effectively minimize costs, reduce emissions, and mitigate risks.

The Northern Sea Route as a shipping route and an investment transport megaproject

The Northern Sea Route as a shipping route and an investment transport megaproject

Multi-objective intermodal transportation planning with real-life application

ABSTRACT This paper explores the optimal route selection problem within an intermodal transportation network that comprises road, rail, sea, and inland waterways. Initially, we propose a multi-objective integer linear programming model that aims to minimize total cost, transport time, and carbon emissions. Subsequently, we apply two multi-objective programming approaches: Fuzzy Goal Programming and Compromise Programming. These approaches are implemented in a real-life case study, aiming to determine the optimal intermodal transportation route from Türkiye (Denizli) to Germany (Duisburg). Four out of the six methods suggest the same road and maritime pathway. Furthermore, this model has the potential to aid decision-makers in selecting routes based on customer requirements and serve as a valuable tool for policymakers in establishing an efficient intermodal transport network.

Projected changes to Arctic shipping routes after stratospheric aerosol deployment in the ARISE-SAI scenarios

Projected changes to Arctic shipping routes after stratospheric aerosol deployment in the ARISE-SAI scenarios

Economic and environmental benefits of optimized waste transportation routes in Khulna

Urban transportation is a big source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Khulna City handles the waste of 1.23 million people daily, using Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles (HDDV) that release major environmental pollutants. The current waste transportation routes lack proper planning, leading to extra fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. This study aims to reduce fuel consumption and socio-environmental costs by improving waste transportation routes. Present collection routes, collecting points, and the speed of 30 waste collector vehicles were tracked using GPS devices for ten months between July 2023 and April 2024. The network dataset was modified according to four types of waste collector vehicles. ArcGIS Pro was used to find the optimal paths and their lengths. Fuel usage and prices were estimated using simple fuel consumption rate calculations. The lengths of current and optimal routes were used in COPERT to measure pollutant emissions. The results show that improved routes lower fuel consumption costs by approximately USD 55.39 per day and CO2 emissions by about 38.242 tonnes per year. Reductions in CO, CH4, NMVOC, NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 were roughly 9.3%, 9.53%, 9.21%, 9.29%, 9.35%, and 9.3%, respectively. This study demonstrates a comprehensive approach for improving solid waste management covering both financial efficiency and environmental effects.

Connectivity Analysis of Non-Container Ports at PT Pelindo Multi Terminal Using SNA and GIS / Connectivity Analysis of Non-Container Ports at PT Pelindo Multi Terminal Using SNA and GIS

This study aims to analyze the connectivity of non-containerized ports, particularly in the sub-commodity of vegetable/animal oils and fats, within the operational area of PT Pelindo Multi Terminal. Using Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, this study builds a network based on nodes (ports) and assesses inter-node connections with metrics such as degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and hub index. Gephi application was used for the calculation of network metrics, while QGIS visualized the shipping routes. The research revealed that high traffic ports such as Belawan, Dumai, and Tanjung Priok play a crucial role in the network. The findings support recommendations for infrastructure development and implementation of an integrated Terminal Operations System (TOS) to improve logistics efficiency.

Enhancement of tunneling electroresistance in metal/two-dimensional ferroelectric tunnel junctions: route for polarization-modulated interface transport

In fabricating ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) devices, it is essential to employ low-resistance metals as electrodes interfacing with two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric materials. For FTJs with a top contact configuration, two interfaces for charge transport are present, namely the vertical interface between the metal electrode and the 2D ferroelectric material, and the lateral interface between the electrode and the central scattering region. These interfaces significantly influence the tunneling electroresistance (TER) of FTJs. However, there exists a notable deficiency in comprehension concerning the physics of charge transport at the interface. In this work, we explore the interface transport properties in FTJs featuring a top contact configuration between metal and the typicalα-In2Se3monolayer. By employing the non-equilibrium Green's function method, we observe a TER ratio of1.15×105% for the Pd top contact interfacing with anα-In2Se3monolayer. The significant TER effect is attributed to polarization-controlled interface transport, which is further elucidated through an analysis of the transport mechanisms influenced by the out-of-plane polarization ofα-In2Se3at the vertical interface and the in-plane polarization at the lateral interface. This investigation of the fundamental physical mechanisms of polarization-controlled interface transport demonstrates significant potential for enhancing non-volatile memory devices.

Selection and planning of hazardous materials transportation routes based on explosion accident risks

The explosiveness of hazardous materials determines that once an accident occurs during transportation, severe damage will be imposed on surrounding targets. However, the increasing complexity of the road network significantly augments the risk of damage occurrence. To maintain low accident risks in transporting hazardous materials, this study proposes a method for selection and planning of transportation routes based on explosion accident risks. Firstly, the road network topology is associated with vehicle status to establish a relationship between the accident probability and speed gradient. Meanwhile, an independent grid-based approach is used to perform multi-level damage quantification on various objects. Secondly, route risks are quantitatively characterized, and a comparison system for multiple risk metrics is established. Based on search algorithms, route planning and risk ranking are achieved. Finally, the method is validated. It has been confirmed that this method can quickly and accurately obtain route ranking and risk distribution. The results offer practical guidance for relevant organizations to improve risk management and strategy development, and provide reference for future research.