Field Transport Research Articles

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF UKRAINE IN THE FIELD OF RAIL TRANSPORT

The purpose of this article is to determine the competitive position of Ukraine in the field of railway transportation in comparison with Poland (a neighbouring country), Switzerland (a benchmark in the field of railway transportation) and Canada (which professes a completely different “American” principle of operating railway networks, where freight transportation is a priority). Methods. In the process of working on the article, the following research methods were used: analysis and synthesis in the selection of indicators and their grouping (production and financial, scientific and technical development, personnel characteristics) depending on the direction they characterise; methods of economic analysis – multidimensional comparative analysis, index analysis, Delphi method in determining the weight of indicators selected for analysis, rating to determine the final positions of each of the countries selected for analysis. Results. Among the main results of the study is the determination of Ukraine’s competitive position, primarily in comparison with Poland as a neighbouring country. The next most important is the group of indicators that put Ukraine behind the Swiss railways’ benchmarks, in particular, the quality of infrastructure and electrification. The scientific novelty of the results obtained is an attempt to assess the competitive positions of railway transport, which seemingly cannot compete with each other, since each of them operates in a separate territory (in most cases within the same country) and their interests hardly overlap. Currently, this is not entirely true, since, after the large-scale invasion, due to the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, a significant part of export and import commodity flows has moved to rail transport, and by analysing the situation in each individual transit country, it is possible to choose the direction that will be most acceptable for the long-distance transportation of goods to “third” countries. The practical significance of the results obtained can be viewed from at least two perspectives. The first is the indicators that have caused the Ukrainian railway to lag behind the benchmark state (Switzerland) and the work to improve the situation in each of the areas. The second side is the possibility of conducting a similar assessment of the situation in rail transport among all of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries and identifying the highest priority areas for sending most of the export and import cargo to “third” countries.

THE IMPACT OF DIGITALISATION ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF PASSENGER RAIL TRANSPORT

Objective. To analyse the impact of digitalisation on passenger rail transport and assess its role in increasing the competitiveness of this sector. Methods. The following methods were used to achieve the goal and solve these tasks: literature and research analysis - the authors conducted a thorough analysis of scientific papers, studies and publications covering the topic of digitalisation in the field of public transport; comparative analysis - comparing different approaches and technologies in the field of digitalisation allowed to identify the most effective methods and strategies that can be implemented in public transport; forecasting and modelling - using models and forecasts to assess future development Results. It has been determined that the introduction of digital technologies will automate a number of processes in railway traffic management, increase efficiency and reduce operating costs, increase passenger satisfaction and loyalty, reduce the risk of accidents and incidents, increase revenues by improving the quality of services and reduce costs by optimising resources. In general, it is proved that digitalisation contributes to the creation of new and more flexible tariff offers that are focused on the individual needs of users. Scientific novelty. The authors propose directions for the digitalisation of passenger rail transport and identify key aspects related to the competitiveness of passenger rail transport. A methodological approach to assessing the effect of reducing travel time is proposed, the basis of which can be the economic value of time, and an alternative approach to assessing the effect of reducing travel time involves using the value of the gross regional product per capita generated in the region per unit of time as a cost equivalent of the saved time. Practical significance. The results of our study can be used by railway passenger companies to modernise existing systems and introduce new technologies, create new products and solutions that support the digitalisation and optimisation of public transport, develop new business models, optimise supply chains, improve transport efficiency and public transport safety, and improve the system of monitoring and responding to emergencies..

Research of urban passenger transport in countries with a high Human Development Index

The aim of this research is to investigate urban passenger transport in countries with a high human development index and establish a logical relationship between this index and the features of urban transport in developed countries worldwide. The study’s methodology is based on economic and statistical approaches to the economy’s main indicators. Mathematical modelling is used to obtain results on the influence of passenger traffic indicators on GDP. The study also assesses the role of regulators in this process. The study’s results are interpreted based on the experience of the largest countries with the highest degree of interaction between these indicators. Conclusions are drawn regarding the need to develop preventive measures, taking into account the best international practices. The results and conclusions of this research are significant for public transport workers. They provide a practical opportunity to improve various aspects of their activities and the quality of service in the field of public urban transport.

THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE IN AZERBAIJANI-TURKISH RELATIONS BEFORE THE SECOND KARABAKH WAR

Azerbaijan and Turkey are historically linked by many common cultural, linguistic and religious ties, which creates the basis for the development of strategic allied relations between these two countries. After President Ilham Aliyev came to power in 2003, relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey continued to strengthen, and both sides expressed interest in a deeper strategic partnership. In this article, we will consider the first steps towards strategic alliance in Azerbaijani-Turkish relations during the reign of Ilham Aliyev, especially in the context before the Second Karabakh War.
 To analyze the first steps towards strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey during the reign of Ilham Aliyev, a comprehensive analysis of official statements, political documents and treaties, as well as acts of foreign policy of both countries was carried out. Data from studies and analytical reviews published in various scientific journals and reputable analytical publications were also used.
 The purpose of this study is to identify the first steps taken by Azerbaijan and Turkey towards deepening strategic alliance during the reign of Ilham Aliyev before the Second Karabakh War. We strive to analyze the main stages and factors that contributed to the formation of closer ties between these two States.
 During the reign of Ilham Aliyev, a number of events and political initiatives aimed at deepening strategic relations with Turkey were initiated in Azerbaijan. This included increased military cooperation, the signing of agreements on security and mutual support, as well as agreements on cooperation in the field of energy and transport. Azerbaijan's support of Turkey in various international issues also played a key role in strengthening diplomatic ties.
 The first steps towards strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey during the reign of Ilham Aliyev turned out to be an important stage in the development of relations between these two states. The deepening of cooperation in various fields, including military, political, economic and cultural, contributed to the strengthening of mutual understanding and trust between Azerbaijan and Turkey. This process had a significant impact on the further development of relations and played a key role in the formation of a strategic alliance, which turned out to be especially important in the context of the Second Karabakh War and subsequent events.

경찰기관의 정보공개 처분에 대한 검토

In this study, examine information disclosure and the administrative judgment system, which are means of police control, and examine the current status of the Central Administrative Appeals Commission's citation decision that clearly recognized the illegality and unfairness of the disposition of information disclosure by police agencies in 2023. In addition, it was intended to provide suggestions for reasonable disposition of information disclosure by police agencies. When a citizen exercises the right to request information disclosure from a police agency, the police agency decides whether or not to disclose the information in accordance with the statutory procedures set forth in the Information Disclosure Act. A person requesting information disclosure may appeal a police agency's decision to disclose information by filing an administrative appeal with the Central Administrative Appeals Commission. After reviewing the decision to disclose information to police agencies, be able to confirm the following facts. First, police agencies identified cases where they did not comply with statutory procedures under the Information Disclosure Act or misjudged the application of reasons for non-disclosure. In addition, we were able to confirm cases where police agencies' information disclosure officers lacked basic knowledge of the Information Disclosure Act, adding or changing the reasons for disposition, or restricting the information disclosure claimant's right to object through a substantive refusal with formal legality. The suggestions derived from the review of citation decisions regarding information disclosure by police agencies as discussed above can be summarized as follows. There is a need to do about the First, strengthening disciplinary responsibility for those in charge who do not comply with information disclosure procedures, Second, regular education and evaluation on cases of illegal and unfair information disclosure, Third, the introduction of a training completion system for police agency-specific office workers in the fields of investigation, transportation, and life safety, Fourth, strengthening the supervisory function of the Supervisory Office, Fifth, disclosure of cases of illegal and unfair decisions

Analysis of the features of passenger transportation projects

In the era of active development of the transport industry, the introduction of digital technologies, the issue of the quality of passenger transportation still remains unresolved, despite the large number of carriers. The general transport system is an integral component of the country's economic development, and therefore research in the field of passenger transport becomes relevant and key aspects in solving the problem of improving the provision of transport services. The authors analyzed the features, main problems and risks of passenger transportation projects. It is noted that the majority of scientific works are devoted to cargo transportation, and those studies related to the field of passenger transportation consider the issue of quality provision of passenger transportation very superficially. The article demonstrates the need to replace traditional forms of project management in the transport sector with modern and progressive ones. Among a number of innovative approaches to management, the authors recommend the implementation of value-oriented management of passenger transportation projects, justifying the fact that value, as a rule, arises only in the process of operating a product, even if a high-quality and efficient system of passenger transportation is the value that will satisfy stakeholders, and primarily passengers. A value-oriented approach to passenger transport projects is determined by the main values that have a certain influence on the success and efficiency of such projects. The main idea is to take into account the needs and expectations of passengers, ensuring comfort, safety and efficiency of transportation. Conclusions were made regarding the need to continue researching value-oriented management in the field of passenger transportation, taking into account the specificity of projects in this field.

The subject of the contract of international mixed cargo transportation

The object of transportation is a key element in transportation relationships and constitutes an essential condition of the mixed transportation contract. The issue of the transportation object impacts whether transportation legal relations will arise at all and when they are considered to have started and finished. Specifically, it was concluded that certain categories of objects, such as deceased persons, cannot be considered cargo in international mixed transportation (i.e., they do not form respective legal relations) and have their separate legal regulation. The transportation object can be classified according to various criteria, including the type of product, physical state, presence of packaging, method of loading and unloading, specific properties (including the hazard class), weight, and dimensions, etc. Specific properties, such as the characterization of "live cargo," can significantly affect the order and possibility of the respective transportation as a whole. Of particular importance for the objects of mixed transportation is the cargo units (containers, trailers, barrels etc.), which essentially acts as the subject of the respective transportation. Based on this (in particular, the use of approaches that avoid reloading), mixed transportation can be classified into multimodal, intermodal, and combined. The specifics of mixed transportation objects require a detailed analysis of their status in each jurisdiction through which the transport route passes. The harmonization of national legislative acts with international standards is an important direction for ensuring legal certainty and avoiding conflicts in legal regulation in the field of mixed transportation. This will ultimately contribute to both improving the economic condition and meeting intangible social needs.

A unified dataset for the city-scale traffic assignment model in 20 U.S. cities

City-scale traffic data, such as traffic flow, speed, and density on every road segment, are the foundation of modern urban research. However, accessing such data on a city scale is challenging due to the limited number of sensors and privacy concerns. Consequently, most of the existing traffic datasets are typically limited to small, specific urban areas with incomplete data types, hindering the research in urban studies, such as transportation, environment, and energy fields. It still lacks a city-scale traffic dataset with comprehensive data types and satisfactory quality that can be publicly available across cities. To address this issue, we propose a unified approach for producing city-scale traffic data using the classic traffic assignment model in transportation studies. Specifically, the inputs of our approach are sourced from open public databases, including road networks, traffic demand, and travel time. Then the approach outputs comprehensive and validated citywide traffic data on the entire road network. In this study, we apply the proposed approach to 20 cities in the United States, achieving an average correlation coefficient of 0.79 in average travel time and an average relative error of 5.16% and 10.47% in average travel speed when compared with the real-world data.

Effect of laser shock peening on stress corrosion cracking of TC4/2A14 dissimilar metal friction stir welding joints

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of welded joints is a significant issue that affects the widespread application of multimetal welded structures in aerospace, transportation, and other fields. This paper investigates the effect of laser shock peening (LSP) on the SCC of TC4/2A14 friction stir welded (FSW) joints with dissimilar metals. The microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior with and without LSP treatment were investigated using optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, electrochemical testing, and slow strain rate tensile testing (SSRT). The results showed that the LSP significantly refined the grains and induced work-hardening on the near-surface of the material. After LSP, the compressive residual stresses on the surface of the titanium and aluminium sides were −817.6 MPa and −153.6 MPa for the joint, respectively. Corrosion resistance was also improved, with the self-corrosion current density on the Al side of the joints reduced by 77% and the SCC susceptibility index (Issrt) reduced from 0.140 to 0.121. The enhanced SCC resistance of the LSP-treated TC4/2A14 dissimilar metal FSW joints is primarily due to grain refinement, work-hardening effect, and high-level compressive residual stress. These factors not only enhance the material strength and improve the pitting resistance of the joints but also prevent the initiation and propagation of SCC.

Preface: 2nd International Conference on Civil Engineering, Architecture and Transportation (CEAT 2024)

On the behalf of the organizing committee, the 2024 2nd International Conference on Civil Engineering, Architecture and Transportation (CEAT 2024) was successfully held in Kyoto, Japan during January 20-21, 2024. Related exhibitors from research laboratories, industrialists and suppliers were invited to propose exhibitions and demonstrations. CEAT 2024 allows for the free exchange of ideas and challenges faced by these two key stakeholders and encourage future collaboration between members of these groups. The conference also fosters cooperation among organizations and researchers involved in the fields of civil engineering, architecture design, urban planning, transportation, and intelligent logistics. We enjoyed 4 keynote speeches and many oral presentations made by the authors which lasted for 15-20 minutes each, and a lot of inspiration sparked during the Q&A parts. Researchers who have contributed their work to CEAT 2024 shared their findings and experience with other researchers and attendees. Many participants without any contribution of research paper have also been allowed to attend the conference to gain knowledge in their respective areas. Within all contributions from the participants, less than 40 papers were final accepted from more than 60 submissions. Thanks to the dedication of every committee member and reviewer, we finally made this conference. CEAT 2024 Conference Committee Kyoto, Japan

Promotive effects of marine-derived dimethyl sulfoxide on the photodegradation of phenanthrene in the atmosphere

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a versatile medium, is a particular component in the marine atmosphere that possibly causes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to degrade differently than they do in the continental atmosphere. In this study, phenanthrene (Phe) was used as a model PAH in batch photochemical experiments to investigate the chemical actions of DMSO and the underlying mechanisms. The photodegradation of Phe in aqueous solutions with DMSO volume fractions from 0 % to 100 % was initiated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and promoted by singlet oxygen, which was consistent with pseudo-first-order kinetics. Phe photodegraded faster in a mixture of DMSO and water than in water or DMSO alone, and the rate constant showed a unimodal distribution over the DMSO fraction range, peaking at 33 % DMSO (0.0333 ± 0.0009 min−1) and 40 % DMSO (0.0199 ± 0.0005 min−1) under 254 nm and 302 nm UV radiation, respectively. This interesting phenomenon was attributed to the competition of DMSO for UV radiation and singlet oxygen and changes in dissolved oxygen and free water contents caused by the interaction between DMSO and water molecules. In addition, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PhQ) with high cytotoxicity was the main photodegradation product of Phe under various conditions. The photodegradation rate of Phe in the mixtures of DMSO and water was comparable to its reaction rate with OH radicals, suggesting that 9,10-PhQ can be rapidly generated in the marine atmosphere, driven by a mechanism different from that in the continental or urban atmosphere. Under the presented experimental conditions, UV intensity and DMSO fraction were the primary factors that affected the photodegradation rate of Phe and 9,10-PhQ and altered their integrated toxicity. The findings of this study support the conclusion that the marine atmosphere is an essential field in the atmospheric transport of PAHs, in which DMSO is an important component that affects their photodegradation.

Research on Data Fusion and Analysis Based on Artificial Intelligence Algorithm in Sensor Networks

This paper discusses the data fusion and analysis technology based on artificial intelligence algorithm in sensor networks. Firstly, the basic concept, composition and structure of sensor network are summarized, and its characteristics and challenges are analyzed. Then, the basic principle of data fusion technology and its application in sensor networks are introduced, and the basic concept, classification and application of artificial intelligence algorithm in data fusion are described in detail. On this basis, this paper constructs a data fusion framework based on artificial intelligence, and proposes a new data fusion method combining deep learning and machine learning algorithm. This method can effectively improve the accuracy and reliability of sensor data and reduce data redundancy and noise interference. In addition, the thesis also conducts in-depth research on the application scenarios of data fusion and analysis in sensor networks, including Environmental monitoring, intelligent transportation, medical health and other fields. The effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method are verified by experiments and case studies. Experimental results show that the data fusion technology based on artificial intelligence algorithm can significantly improve the data processing ability and analysis accuracy of sensor networks, and provide strong support for related applications. Finally, this paper summarizes the main conclusions of the study, and points out the shortcomings of current research and future prospects. In the future, the data fusion method based on artificial intelligence will be further optimized and improved, and its application in more fields will be expanded, which will provide more powerful support for the development and application of sensor network technology.

Additive manufacturing multiscale ultrahigh strength and high accuracy nanocrystalline nickel structures and components using ultrafine anode scanning through-mask electrodeposition

Through-mask electrodeposition (TM-ECD) is a widely-used technique for manufacturing mesoscale and microscale precision metal features and components in a mass-production manner. However, in most cases, the traditional TM-ECD processes are very hard to fabricate high-accuracy multiscale (macroscale, mesoscale, microscale) features simultaneously due to the inherent nonuniform distribution of the applied energy fields including electric field, mass transportation field, and temperature field during electrodeposition. Furthermore, nanocrystalline microstructures have not been realized by TM-ECD without additional nonmetallic additives or mechanical stirring. Here, a ultrafine anode scanning through-mask electrodeposition (UASTM-ECD) process operated at DC mode is developed to further trigger the formation of nanocrystalline without additives, in which a ultrafine wire-shaped inert anode embedded in a stirring paddle reciprocates over the top surfaces of the through-masks with a spacing of less than 100 μm. Experimental investigations into this unique TM-ECD were systemically carried out by examining the geometrical profile, surface morphologies, forming accuracy, grain size, and mechanical properties of the fabricated nanocrystalline structures and components. Our findings showed that the UASTM-ECD can facilitate to achieve a significantly improved thickness distribution uniformity and considerably fine nanocrystalline ultrapure microscale and mesoscale complex cross-sectional arrays components over the traditional TM-ECD processes even though the multiscale features and components are simultaneously deposited on the same substrate. These result from the unique deposition manner of the UASTM-ECD in which the metal materials are intermittently filled into the patterned photoresist cavity molds very locally and at the extremely high current densities. This versatile approach eliminates the possible contamination by additives and integration difficulty of mechanical stirring, which can be used to fabricate the multiscale ultrahigh strength and high accuracy ultrapure nanostructured-material features.

Optimal Transport with Tempered Exponential Measures

In the field of optimal transport, two prominent subfields face each other: (i) unregularized optimal transport, ``a-la-Kantorovich'', which leads to extremely sparse plans but with algorithms that scale poorly, and (ii) entropic-regularized optimal transport, ``a-la-Sinkhorn-Cuturi'', which gets near-linear approximation algorithms but leads to maximally un-sparse plans. In this paper, we show that an extension of the latter to tempered exponential measures, a generalization of exponential families with indirect measure normalization, gets to a very convenient middle ground, with both very fast approximation algorithms and sparsity, which is under control up to sparsity patterns. In addition, our formulation fits naturally in the unbalanced optimal transport problem setting.

Review of Hydraulic Balance and Energy Saving of Cooling Water System

Cooling water system is widely used in industry, transportation and other fields. Reasonable design and optimization of cooling water system is of great significance to reduce energy consumption and realize energy saving and emission reduction. This paper sorted out the articles about the cold water system in recent years, especially the hydraulic balance of pipe network, pointing out that the influence of the hydraulic balance of pipe network on the whole system can not be underestimated. At the same time, the research of cooling water system from the aspects of cooling water system design, hydraulic calculation and balance debugging device.

Microstructure and Properties of Al-Cu-Fe-Ce Quasicrystalline-Reinforced 6061 Aluminum Matrix Composites after Aging

Al-Cu-Fe-Ce quasicrystalline-reinforced 6061 aluminum matrix composites were prepared through hot press sintering and treated with a solid solution and aging treatments. The influence of the solid solution and aging treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated by XRD, EDS, SEM, and TEM. The results show that using Al-Cu-Fe-Ce quasicrystalline intermediate alloy as the reinforcing phase increases the interfacial areas of the composites and enhances the grain boundary strengthening effect, which is conducive to the improvement of the mechanical properties of the composites. And through the solid solution and aging treatment, the β phase and the Al2CuMg phase belonging to the orthorhombic crystal system, as well as the β″ phase and a small amount of the β′ precipitated phase, were formed in aluminum matrix composites, and these precipitated phases all existed in the composites in a fine and uniform distribution, which ensured the consistency of the mechanical properties of the materials and improved the mechanical properties of the composites. Meanwhile, the deficiency of quasicrystalline particle-reinforced 6061 aluminum matrix composites in age-hardening was solved and the age-hardening capability of the composites was further developed. This method provides a feasible process route for the preparation of high-performance aluminum matrix composites. The application of this process is expected to improve the mechanical properties and durability of this composite and offer a more reliable option for the application of aluminum matrix composites in aerospace, transportation, and other fields.

Place and role of transport law in the law system of Ukraine

The article reveals the place and role of transport law in the legal system of Ukraine and characterizes the peculiarities of transport relations, sources of transport law. It is noted that transport law is a complex sub-branch of law that combines norms of civil, economic, administrative, land, labor, commercial and a number of other branches of law. Transport law contains public-law and private­law norms that regulate social relations arising in the field of transport activities. Transport activity is accompanied, as a rule, by the conclusion of transport contracts. In its essence, transport law is more closely related to civil law, because property relations make up the material content of transport contracts, transport risk insurance contracts, legal situations of customs clearance of goods, etc. The main factor in property relations in the field of transport are transportation contracts, which are regulated by civil law. A special place is occupied by the protection of the property rights of the parties to obligations arising from transportation contracts.
 It is argued that transport activity includes both the physical movement of passengers, luggage, and cargo from the point of departure to the destination, as well as auxiliary services. Such activities are carried out on the basis of relevant transport contracts. This is the generalized name of all contracts that are regulated by the provision of certain transport services (transportation, forwarding, etc.). The main type of transport contracts is a contract of carriage. Article 908 of the Civil Code of Ukraine establishes the basic provisions regarding contracts for the carriage of cargo, passengers, and luggage, including liability for the main types of violations of obligations arising from carriage contracts; general regulations on transportation. The conditions of transportation of cargo, passengers and luggage by separate modes of transport, as well as the responsibilities of the parties regarding these transportations, are established by the contract, unless otherwise established by the Civil Code of Ukraine, other laws, transport codes (statutes), other normative legal acts and rules issued in accordance with them
 Transport activity, which is accompanied, as a rule, by the conclusion of transport contracts, gives rise to transport legal relations that arise in connection with the operation of transport for the purpose of providing transport services and carrying out related activities in the unity of the organizational-management and economic (civil- law) component of such exploitation
 The subjects of transport legal relations are state authorities and local self-government bodies in relations, in particular, regarding licensing of certain types of transport activities, approval of passports of transport routes, admission of carriers to the activity of transporting passages, etc.; suppliers of transportation transport services - railways, motor transport companies, airlines, etc., which provide relevant services on a contractual basis, at the same time observing certain requirements and standards established by the relevant state authorities; consumers of transport services, which in particular include passengers, consignors and consignees; various auxiliary participants in transport activities, in particular forwarders, agents, insurance companies, etc.
 The object of transport legal relations is activity related to the transportation of goods, passengers, luggage and mail. A distinction is made between the object of transport legal relations and the object (subject) of transportation. The first is a certain good, for example, a transportation service, for the purpose of which subjects enter into legal relations. The object of transportation is cargo, luggage, hand luggage, mail and, of course, a person-passenger.
 Sources of transport law, which are divided into international and national, are analyzed.

ПРОЄКТУВАННЯ БАГАТОПРОДУКТОВИХ ТРАНСПОРТНИХ МЕРЕЖ З ДИСКРЕТНИМИ ПОТОКАМИ МАГІСТРАЛЬНИХ ДАННИХ

The article considers the importance of transport and communication as key sectors for the development of the economy of Ukraine, as well as the need to create applied mathematical software for the optimization of transport processes and the development of information and analytical systems. Special attention is paid to the development and study of multi-product communication networks with discrete flows of small consignments, which have a significant impact on market transformations in Ukraine, especially in the field of transportation of small consignments. The study focuses on modern and future communication networks, which, as a rule, have a multi-level structure determined by the administrative division of the territory, management hierarchy and technologies for the processing and distribution of goods and information. The authors of the article emphasize the need to design multi-level communication networks, which would take into account the complexity of the system, as well as the impossibility of complete centralization of information processing and management in one link. The article also focuses on the analysis of existing research and publications in this field, paying attention to the contribution of foreign and domestic scientists to the development of models and methods of network resource management. Most research focuses on deterministic models and models based on the mathematical foundations of mass service theories and random Markov processes. The authors indicate the inadequacy of the existing mathematical tools for modeling and analyzing the functioning of multi-product networks with discrete flows, which requires the development of new mathematical models and methods.The purpose of the research is the development and analysis of effective approaches to the design of multi-tracks pipeline transport networks with a special focus on discrete trunk data flows. The authors note that this includes the development of new approaches and methods for effective management and optimization of resource allocation, as well as modeling the specifics of discrete flows in the context of trunk transport systems. An important part of the research is the creation of a hierarchical system structure for automated resource management and flow distribution in large-scale networks. The authors emphasize the need to develop a methodology that integrates already existing achievements in this field and allows to effectively solve practical problems related to long-term development, ongoing planning and operational management in large-scale networks. Such a methodology should include models of different levels of aggregation and be suitable for all levels of the network’s hierarchical structure. The study also includes consideration of mathematical models and algorithms for modeling and analyzing the functioning of multi-product networks with discrete flows.

Comparing Mini and full-size electric vehicles in China: Evidence from user heterogeneity and satisfaction asymmetry

Improving user satisfaction with electric vehicles (EVs) is crucial for their widespread diffusion and the development of sustainable transportation. Although numerous studies have investigated the impact of EV service factors on satisfaction, the nonlinear and asymmetric effects have been largely neglected. This study aims to fill this gap by comparing the factor differences in user perceptions, satisfaction asymmetries, and improvement priorities among heterogeneous adopters within two EV segments: Mini EVs and full-size EVs. Two common methods, the regression with dummy variables (RDV) and the Importance Grid (IG), are utilized to examine satisfaction asymmetry and determine which one is more appropriate for describing the relationship between service factors and overall satisfaction. Empirical evidence from EV segments in China indicates that the RDV method is more suitable than the IG method for characterizing factor attribute and asymmetry. Female, multi-vehicle, and daily users report higher levels of satisfaction and importance for service factors compared to male, single-vehicle, and weekly users. Based on the RDV method, the results emphasize the importance of improving charging satisfaction to enhance the overall satisfaction of Mini EV adopters, particularly for those who have multiple vehicles and frequent travel demands. For males and daily users of full-size EVs, it is critical to enhance vehicle performance and technology. This study not only expands the limited application of satisfaction asymmetry to the transportation field but also provides policy implications for Mini EV diffusion.

Preparation of a novel bio‐based aerogel with excellent hydrophobic flame‐retardancy and high thermal insulation performance

AbstractSodium‐alginate‐based aerogels possess wide prospects in the fields of packaging, aerospace, industrial construction and transportation because of their environmental compatibility and thermal insulation, but it is still a challenge to obtain a sodium alginate‐based aerogel with high flame retardancy and good thermal insulation. Herein, a sodium‐alginate‐based aerogel with high flame retardancy, thermal insulation and good hydrophobic properties was prepared by two‐step crosslinking strategy of phytic acid and metal ions and liquid phase deposition of trans‐cinnamic acid. As a result, the prepared SA/PA Mn+ aerogels obtained excellent flame retardancy (UL‐94 V‐0, LOI 50.1%) and rapid self‐extinguishing, and SA/PA Mn+ aerogels obtained good hydrophobic ability (CA = 134.2°). In addition, the mechanical properties of SA/PA Mn+ aerogels have also been improved, the compressive modulus increased from 0.66 to 6.37 MPa, and the specific modulus increased from 15.7 to 140.2 MPa cm −3 g−1. This research broadens the application of bio‐based flame‐retardant aerogels in the fields of packaging, aerospace, industrial construction and transportation.