Transportation Hub Research Articles

Assessment of Safety Probability of Fastening Operations in Loading-unloading Work Process

One of the important strategic objectives in the target programs for economic and social development adopted by the Government of Georgia is to improve the coordination of all types of transport – sea, rail, road, air, and pipeline. The methods of organizing and managing the transport system at different levels greatly impact solving the problems faced by water transport. Therefore, research in the field of improving the organization and management of the transport hub (port), as an integral part of this system, plays an important role in increasing the traffic volume and service quality of all types of transport on the transport corridors of Georgia. Foreign and domestic experience shows that a large percentage of waiting times for cargo operations by ships and berths is mainly due to the lack of coordinated actions between the adjacent modes of transport and ports and the imperfection of the organization and management of loading and unloading processes in ports. In this regard, it is necessary to focus on identifying and eliminating "vegetables". First of all, this link of the transport system connects water and land transport routes. Transport communications have long been called the arteries of life. Without them, the economy's rise and the country's prosperity, even if it has huge natural resources, is impossible. Whoever controls the transportation system holds the levers of economic management, which means that he can decide the fate of the entire state. The development of transport communications of the global transport system puts new demands on the quality of functioning of the existing intermodal corridor through Georgia. In particular, the transport corridor created by the EU countries under the name ITC TRACECA creates new challenges for the existing transport system of Georgia to maintain the transit cargo flows between Europe and Asia in competition with the seaports of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and partly Ukraine and Russia. In this regard, all the main directions of improving the organization and management of the technological processes of seaports become relevant: (i) increasing the capacity of berths and transport complexes in the Black Sea ports of Georgia to the maximum limit by reducing costs; (ii) creating new methods for identifying capacity reserves, which will ensure the competitiveness of Georgian seaports in competition with these ports; (iii) speeding up the process of transit cargo transportation through seaports, as well as reducing the processing time of cargo going to export and import in Georgian ports. Keywords: Transport hub, organization of technological processes, ship unloading work.

An inventory allocation model for cost reduction in the supply chain of a payment means company

The Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been gaining greater relevance in the sector, leading companies to improve the level of customer service and keep costs under control. However, it was identified that SCM is a less explored field in the acquirer market, so this work is an opportunity to contribute to the academic research. It was observed the opportunity to build an inventory model considering transportation as a variable cost, unlike most models found in literature. The objective of the study was to develop an inventory allocation model for the SIMcard chain in a Brazilian company in the acquiring sector, keeping the service level agreed with the customer. Inventory and transport costs were calculated for different supply cycles for all SIMcards operators and transportation hubs, to obtain the lowest total cost configuration in the supply chain. The results show that the costs cannot be considered individually and considering both costs, transport and inventory, there is an opportunity to increase efficiency in the studied operation of this work.

Future land use maps for the Netherlands based on the Dutch One Health Shared Socio-economic Pathways.

To enable detailed study of a wide variety of future health challenges, we have created future land use maps for the Netherlands for 2050, based on the Dutch One Health Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). This was done using the DynaCLUE modelling framework. Future land use is based on altitude, soil properties, groundwater, salinity, flood risk, agricultural land price, distance to transport hubs and climate. We also account for anticipated demand for different land use types, historic land use changes and potential spatial restrictions. These land use maps can be used to model many different health risks to people, animals and the environment, such as disease, water quality and pollution. In addition, the Netherlands can serve as an example for other rapidly urbanising deltas where many of the health risks will be similar.

THE STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AT THE BORDER PORTS BETWEEN MONGOLIA AND CHINA

Effective management of border port road transport is crucial for enhancing trade and economic potential at border ports and free zones. This involves long-term, medium-term, and short-term planning, as well as the implementation of integrated development policies to ensure sustainable and accessible improvements. By connecting border ports with railways and paved roads, enhancing transport and logistics competitiveness, optimizing cargo flow, and laying the groundwork for future transit capabilities, economic relations and cooperation between Mongolia and China can flourish, fostering the sustainable development of both nations. To boost trade turnover and establish free economic zones and road ports, it is imperative to enhance the management of border port road transport in alignment with Mongolia's regional development strategy. Currently, the concentration of the economy on only four ports leads to goods shortages, price hikes, and hindered business operations. Therefore, enhancing the type, quality, and availability of road transport services at border ports is essential to increase the throughput capacity of these crucial transportation hubs.

Multidimensional geographic factors behind conflicts: a case study in Sudan

ABSTRACT Sudan has been racked by complex and volatile conflicts for decades, with a new round of civil conflict erupting in April 2023, leading to significant loss of life and property. Despite the ongoing violence, the associations between conflicts and local contextual factors remain ambiguous. In this study, we developed an event-grid dataset, consisting of 50,033 observations with 20 variables derived from nighttime light (NTL) data, OpenStreetMap data, and other geographic data. Machine learning algorithms were employed to model the outbreak of conflict in 2023. Furthermore, the SHapley Additive exPlanations method was utilized to explain the relationships between diverse explanatory variables and conflicts. The results indicate that eXtreme Gradient Boosting model outperforms other models, such as Categorical Boosting and Light Gradient Boosting Machine. Multiple factors jointly contribute to conflicts. NTL-derived variables and transportation-related variables emerge as the most influential factors, followed by climate and agricultural factors. Regions characterized by economic inequality and proximity to transportation hubs are found to be more prone to conflicts. Additionally, variables impact the outbreak of conflict not only individually but also through mutual interactions. Notably, this study enhances a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of conflicts in Sudan, providing valuable insights to support humanitarian aid efforts.

PROBLEMS OF POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL HEALTHCARE (based on materials from the administrative department of Gorky Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks))

The article reveals health problems in the City of Gorky and Gorky Region in the period of 1945 – early 1950s. Topicality of the study is connected, first of all, with the insufficient development of this topic in historiography. On the other hand, the secrecy of a number of archival funds and the gradual work on declassifying socially significant documents require their timely involvement in scientific circulation. The source base is the materials of the State Socio-Political Archive of Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Central Archive of Nizhny Novgorod Region. The City of Gorky and the regional centres of Gorky Region, especially Dzerzhinsk, were important industrial centres in the post-war period. Gorky was also one of the major transport hubs. The article notes that these factors directly influenced the development of regional medicine. With the outbreak of the Cold War, medical documentation became closed. The author focuses on the analysis of medical documents of the administrative department of Gorky Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. Data on the state of health care in the region is just at the moment being introduced into scientific circulation. The research is based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, and determinism. Methods of analysis, synthesis, comparative historicism, chronology were used. The novelty of the research lies in obtaining new knowledge about the conditions of the state, functioning and reform of the health care system of Gorky Region, as well as about the organisation of fighting social diseases, such as venereal ones and tuberculosis, in the post-war period. The author highlights the main problems of regional medicine of the period under study and the proposals of Party bodies to resolve socially significant issues.

Genomic surveillance of Canadian airport wastewater samples allows early detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has shown wastewater (WW) surveillance to be an effective means of tracking the emergence of viral lineages which arrive by many routes of transmission including via transportation hubs. In the Canadian province of Ontario, numerous municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) participate in WW surveillance of infectious disease targets such as SARS-CoV-2 by qPCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto Pearson), has been participating in WW surveillance since January 2022. As a major international airport in Canada and the largest national hub, this airport is an ideal location for tracking globally emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). In this study, WW collected from Toronto Pearson’s two terminals and pooled aircraft sewage was processed for WGS using a tiled-amplicon approach targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. Data generated was analyzed to monitor trends of SARS-CoV-2 lineage frequencies. Initial detections of emerging lineages were compared between Toronto Pearson WW samples, municipal WW samples collected from the surrounding regions, and Ontario clinical data as published by Public Health Ontario. Results enabled the early detection of VOCs and individual mutations emerging in Ontario. On average, the emergence of novel lineages at the airport preceded clinical detections by 1–4 weeks, and up to 16 weeks in one case. This project illustrates the efficacy of WW surveillance at transitory transportation hubs and sets an example that could be applied to other viruses as part of a pandemic preparedness strategy and to provide monitoring on a mass scale.

Efficient computation of magnetic polarizability tensor spectral signatures for object characterisation in metal detection

PurposeMagnetic polarizability tensors (MPTs) provide an economical characterisation of conducting magnetic metallic objects and their spectral signature can aid in the solution of metal detection inverse problems, such as scrap metal sorting, searching for unexploded ordnance in areas of former conflict and security screening at event venues and transport hubs. In this work, the authors aim to discuss methods for efficiently building large dictionaries for classification approaches.Design/methodology/approachPrevious work has established explicit formulae for MPT coefficients, underpinned by a rigorous mathematical theory. To assist with the efficient computation of MPTs at differing parameters and objects of interest, this work applies new observations about the way the MPT coefficients can be computed. Furthermore, the authors discuss discretisation strategies for hp-finite elements on meshes of unstructured tetrahedra combined with prismatic boundary layer elements for resolving thin skin depths and using an adaptive proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) reduced-order modelling methodology to accelerate computations for varying parameters.FindingsThe success of the proposed methodologies is demonstrated using a series of examples. A significant reduction in computational effort is observed across all examples. The authors identify and recommend a simple discretisation strategy and improved accuracy is obtained using adaptive POD.Originality/valueThe authors present novel computations, timings and error certificates of MPT characterisations of realistic objects made of magnetic materials. A novel postprocessing implementation is introduced and an adaptive POD algorithm is demonstrated.

Transit-Oriented Development in Middle Eastern Cities: The Urban Renewal Framework for the Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar

Cities around the world are evolving dramatically due to urbanization. Over the last few decades, rapid urbanization coupled with rapid economic growth in Qatar has resulted in transport-related issues such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, poor walkability, and an increasingly inefficient transit network lacking pedestrian accessibility and connectivity. The related sprawl (due to a lack of compactness), a lack of intricacy, and connectivity have challenged the built environment’s sustainability. The Souq Waqif neighborhood, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, serves as the focal point of this study. Its central positioning and status as a prominent social nexus within Doha render it an ideal case study. Specifically, this research investigates the Souq Waqif metro station, evaluating it through the lens of five distinct design aspects: (1) walkability, (2) ground use balance, (3) mixed-use spaces and public spaces, (4) multi-modality and transportation hubs, and (5) public transportation network. To reach this aim, the study methodology uses a qualitative approach informed by the Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM). The IMM framework provides a means to transform underperforming neighborhoods like Souq Waqif, into more cohesive and sustainable communities by retrofitting, renovating, and reactivating the existing urban fabric. Site observations, interviews, and surveys were used to collect data to complement the analysis. Findings highlight the deficiencies in connectivity and multimodal transportation adjacent to the Souq Waqif metro station. In addition, the ability of metro stations to conserve crucial cultural legacy and social identity in rapidly urbanizing cities like Doha is explored. To this end, recommendations are given to increase the efficiency and sustainability of Souq Waqif and the like.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Complex Emission Dynamics in Port Areas Using High-Density Air Sensor Network.

Cargo terminals, as pivotal hubs of mechanical activities, maritime shipping, and land transportation, are significant sources of air pollutants, exhibiting considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity due to the complex and irregular nature of emissions. This study employed a high-density air sensor network with 17 sites across four functional zones in two Shanghai cargo terminals to monitor NO and NO2 concentrations with high spatiotemporal resolution post sensor data validation against regulatory monitoring stations. Notably, NO and NO2 concentrations within the terminal surged during the night, peaking at 06:00 h, likely due to local regulations on heavy-duty diesel trucks. Spatial analysis revealed the highest NO concentrations in the core operational areas and adjacent roads, with significantly lower levels in the outer ring, indicating strong emission sources and limited dispersion. Employing the lowest percentile method for baseline extraction from high-resolution data, this study identified local emissions as the primary source of NO, constituting over 80% of total emissions. Elevated background concentrations of NO2 suggested a gradual oxidation of NO into NO2, with local emissions contributing to 32-70% of the total NO2 concentration. These findings provide valuable insights into the NO and NO2 emission characteristics across different terminal areas, aiding decision-makers in developing targeted emission control policies.

Analyzing China's Global Influence Through the Belt and Road Initiative: A Case Study of the Pakistan-China Energy and Economic Corridor

This article attempts to explain how China has used the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) to increase its economic power and geopolitical influence by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the Pakistan-China Energy and Economic Corridor (PCEEC). During this process, China has gained actual control over these countries' strategic resources and transportation hubs by providing debt and building infrastructure. This control not only improves Chinas international trade volume and economic development, but also enables it to influence the policy formulation and sovereign decision-making of these countries. The expansion of its economic and political influence has given China a greater voice in regional and international affairs in order to more effectively promote international agendas and rule-making that are in line with its own interests. Therefore, China has successfully improved its global influence and leadership through a combination of economic investment and political strategies, but has also aroused international attention and discussion on sovereign independence and regional balance.

Dynamic model of arriving passengers based on dual value drive

In order to optimize the service process of integrated transportation hubs, the dynamic characteristics of the gathering behavior of arriving passengers were analyzed, and the transformation mechanism of the gathering behavior of arriving passengers in the time dimension of inverse gamma distribution, gamma distribution and chi-square distribution was studied. It was revealed that the gathering behavior was jointly affected by the flight operation time and the utility of the transfer mode, and was converted into the time value and utility value of the arriving passengers respectively. On this basis, a dual-value-driven dynamic model of arriving passengers was established based on the three distributions, and the output was the parameter-adjustable distribution of arriving passengers. The results show that the simulation output with adjustable parameters is consistent with the real distribution, which provides a method and basis for the accurate prediction of the distribution of arriving passengers at hub airports.

Normativity in the embedded language policy of the Beijing subway’s spatial expression

ABSTRACT Public space plays a pivotal role in translating language policy into real-world practice. This study is grounded in empirical data collected through ethnographic fieldwork and semi-structured interviews from the Beijing Subway Line 1, which is typical of the normativity of a public space. The findings indicate that the linguistic landscape (LL) serves as a tangible representation of the inherent normativity within the subway space. Language policy implemented in the subway LL is achieved through hierarchical, process and result intervention. Hierarchical intervention addresses the synchronic stratification of normativity represented by the subway LL and its evolving connotation over time. Regarding process intervention, the subway LL utilizes two approaches to express normativity: the unity of semiotic features and indirect speech acts. Result intervention means that passengers perceive the normative representations of LL as knowledge and transform de facto language policies into experience. These intervention methods illuminate the intricate mechanism of language policy embedding in the normative representation of the LL within subway space. The harmonization of language policy with the LL, subway space, and passenger behavior collectively shapes the subway into a vital transportation hub.

Research and development of automation subroutine for forecasting the number and load of cargo vehicles depending on the stochastic formation of dangerous goods collection centers

The issues of forecasting the load of vehicles, route networks, formation of collection centers for cargo flows, including dangerous goods, in territorial planning systems determine the need for transition from deterministic models to dynamic models with the possibility of taking into account the influence of the external environment. Existing information transportation systems in the sphere of work with dangerous goods are based on deterministic models and allow to study the problems of forecasting changes to a limited extent. Models of routing networks construction on cargo vehicles are limitedly applicable when there is a task of dangerous goods transportation taking into account the presence of a distributed system of accumulation centers both in the city and, for example, within a large transport hub, seaport with different terminals. The paper presents routing models adapted to the conditions of dangerous goods transportation. Determining transport efficiency and the main costs of transport enterprises is the scheme of traffic flows, fixed in the territorial scheme. The task of the study is to develop a separate automation toolkit for decision making on the number and type of specialized transport (depending on the load capacity) to work with dangerous goods and large-sized objects within the existing flow scheme. On the basis of the research of the group of companies the conclusion is presented that today the task of choosing the optimal amount of transport by carriers is solved, as a rule, not systematically, but by operative construction of a set of routes, and does not involve primary analysis of the territory and parameters of accumulation sites. The presented study considers a new approach to the analysis of the system of transportation of hazardous waste, associated large cargoes, in terms of assessing the necessary list of universal structured input data, which are primary principled and characterize the complexity of work in the selected facility, terminal. To solve the problem of forecasting the load of vehicles is offered developed a new automation subprogram based on the organization of client-server access to data, and implemented in the internal programming language “1C. Management of motor transport” (version ММT 8.2). The presented automation subprogram provides data connectivity on volumes of dangerous goods cargo flows, cargo flow collection centers, available data on vehicles and planned data on removal schedules. Work of the subprogram provides integration of work with other databases of transport companies and allows to carry out modeling of various variants of placement of centers of collection of dangerous goods, centers of cargo flows with high accuracy. The obtained results allow to determine the required number of vehicles, their load taking into account different types and technical capabilities, as well as to determine the required number of vehicle trips in the serviced area taking into account the dynamic influence of the external environment. The presented methodology of working with data, performed in a separate automation subprogram, presented routing models, adapted to the transportation of dangerous goods, can be applied to various transport systems, including sea cargo ports and terminals, which determines the universality of the presented approach.

EEMD-MST-Resnet: a hybrid deep learning approach for predicting passenger flow in urban transportation hubs

EEMD-MST-Resnet: a hybrid deep learning approach for predicting passenger flow in urban transportation hubs

Обгрунтування доцільності влаштування саморегульованих кільцевих розв’язок на вулично-дорожній мережі міста

Introduction. In the modern world, the transport infrastructure of cities faces significant challenges related to the growth of traffic intensity, congestion and the need to ensure road safety. Among the wide range of engineering solutions and technologies aimed at solving these problems, it is worth highlighting the issue of justifying the choice of planning solutions in places of the highest concentration of traffic flows - transport hubs. International experience shows that the construction of roundabouts is one of the ways to optimize traffic, reduce congestion and improve road safety. Therefore, it is important to consider this type of planning solutions for transport hubs in terms of the feasibility of their use on the city's street and road network.

Hub Traveler Guidance Signage Evaluation via Panoramic Visualization Using Entropy Weight Method and TOPSIS

Signage functions as guidance and distribution assistance, directly affecting the operational efficiency of traffic in and around the comprehensive transportation hubs. Among the elements of signage, the visual guidance effect is the key factor affecting the information conveyance, which should be evaluated during the design and optimization process. This study conducted field investigations and developed panoramic videos for multiple transportation hubs in China and designed a survey accordingly. Human subjects were recruited to watch panoramic videos via virtual reality (VR) and respond to the surveys. The results show that the degree of visual attention of travelers significantly affects the evaluation results of guidance signage, with the influence being inversely proportional. Key factors affecting visual attention include accurate legibility, obstruction and defacement rates, informativeness, and whether signage is set up in a hierarchical manner. In unfamiliar environments, travelers focus on the overall context and closely observe the interaction between directional signs and their surroundings. The prominence and visibility of signage are influenced by interactions within the spatial environment. Notably, simple and clear signs are more likely to attract travelers’ attention, and their directional information is more easily comprehended. Moreover, when the destination is clearly defined, visual attention significantly directs pedestrians’ wayfinding behavior.

Formation of a transport hub with an air terminal of international and public airlines under adverse conditions of Irkutsk

The study is aimed at exploring the possibility of building a new airport in Irkutsk as part of a major transport hub on the territory equidistant from the cities of Irkutsk, Angarsk and Shelekhov, close to the East Siberian Railway, R255 Siberia Federal Highway and the bypass road of Irkutsk. This problem requires evaluating the advantages of locating a new airport on the proposed site compared to the location of the existing airport within the city. The analytical and theoretical studies of the transport hub and types of air terminals proved the formation of the airport as part of a transport hub with a railway station and a bus station to be the most appropriate solution for the development of the city. A comparative analysis of time necessary to get to the new air terminal and to the old one showed that passengers would save time if the airport is placed the outside the city due to its easy access for residents of three cities. The conducted analysis of current trends in the development of the transport interchange hub formed the basis for recommendations on the choice of a hub type appropriate for the conditions of the city. The proposed hub will increase passenger traffic, areas for servicing passengers and aircraft, and the length of runways. Placing the airport as part of a transport hub on a free territory between three large cities and modernization will ensure a high level of quality of flights and passenger service, increase the quality of life of citizens, and significantly improve the ecology of the city.

Re-surging airport noise: understanding aircraft noise dynamics during and after the COVID-19 pandemic at Dublin airport

This paper explores the dynamics of aircraft noise patterns, examining the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on flight numbers and noise contours during the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 at a European airport. Focused on both peak and low flight months, the study explores how the aviation landscape experienced shifts during the pandemic and post-pandemic scenarios. As a transport hub for an island nation Dublin Airport is a key piece of national infrastructure but as the global travel restrictions took effect, the airport witnessed a substantial reduction in flight numbers, resulting in a notable decrease in airport noise and subsequent lower population exposure to environmental noise. This paper analyzes the trends in noise contours and flight frequencies during this period, shedding light on the immediate effects of the pandemic on aviation-related noise. Furthermore, as the restrictions gradually lifted, the study investigates the extent to which flight numbers and associated noise contours rebounded in the post-pandemic era. This comprehensive examination provides insights into the evolving environmental soundscape, capturing not only the changes during the pandemic but also the subsequent rise in flight numbers. The potential impact on societal expectations of aircraft noise is discussed.

Predicting snow structures relevant to reindeer husbandry

ABSTRACT Snow conditions in the High North are an important control on wintertime forage availability for reindeer, and under climate change, they are changing rapidly. In the European Arctic, this has the potential to disrupt traditional reindeer herding practices, reindeer health, and local culture (including that of Indigenous communities like the Sámi). At the same time, Norwegian coastal cities are competing to act as multi-model transportation hubs as sea-ice retreat creates expectations for increased marine accessibility. An “Arctic Railway” connecting Rovaniemi to Kirkenes has been proposed to support these port developments, but this route passes through rangelands managed by Sámi and local herding communities. This study develops an assessment of past and future snow characteristics relevant to reindeer health to provide a context for understanding the impacts of this infrastructure development. Climate model and detailed snowpack simulations were performed for 1950 to 2100 along the proposed route. Results show that deep snow becomes less frequent and spring thaw advances, favorable to reindeer. However, icy snow conditions become more frequent, potentially forcing herds from tundra and farmland to forested areas. This suggests policy alternatives that focus on the development and maintenance of migration corridors to allow appropriate movement of reindeer herds.