Means Of Transport Research Articles

Innovative solutions to make travel more comfortable

Traveling in various vehicles and means of transport (ambulance, airplane, …) can be characterized by sudden accelerations, decelerations and vibrations/perturbations. All these loads are transferred to the passenger, making the journey uncomfortable. The study for the improvement of comfort in such situations was the subject of a collaboration between the authors of the present document. The designed solutions are reported in a patent application published with the number WO2023111937A1.

Comparison of e-scooter tyre performance using rolling resistance trailer

AbstractE-scooters are a cost-effective means of urban transport, however, there have been questions about their safety, performance, and energy efficiency. This paper investigates the rolling resistance of scooter tyres so that the performance of scooters can be more accurately determined. A rolling resistance trailer was manufactured to directly measure tractive force and closely approximate the rolling resistance force for nine commonly used scooter tyres at low speed on a smooth concrete surface. The results of this study will enable a better understanding of the energy losses of these devices.

Characteristics and distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from motorcycles in Hanoi, Vietnam

Motorcycles contribute to the notable emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants in urban areas. These vehicles are the most widely used means of road transportation in Vietnam. This study is the first to use the EMISENS model in combination with the IVE modelling system to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from motorcycles at tier 3 in IPCC guideline. There are more than 8700 motorcycles circulating on the roads in Hanoi per hour. With the characteristics of motorcycles compiled, the average age of motorcycles is around 11 years, and each vehicle travels an average of 16.4 km per day with an average start-up frequency of 3.46. The emission factors of greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4 when running (erunning) were 72.55 and 0.24 grams per km, respectively. The emission factors for CO2, CH4 and N2O during vehicle start-up (estart-up) were 6.96, 0.53 and 0.0009 grams per start-up, respectively. Inventory emission data from 2021-2023 reveal that that motorcycles in Hanoi emitted nearly 4.6 mil tons of CO2e per year. Emission distribution is concentrated in inner-city districts and some residential areas at the intersections with provincial roads, national highways, and industrial parks.

Investigation on the joint travel behavior in bike sharing systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from New York City

As the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, many people saw bikes as one of the safest means of transportation in the hard-hit cities. All the bike sharing utilization patterns during the pandemic are worthy of careful attention. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of niche but notable cycling behaviors, such as multi-person round trip (MPRT), defined as two or more cyclists intentionally riding together then returning bikes to the original docking station. This study extends the relevant literature by firstly proposing a MPRT identification framework based on individual bike sharing trip records, with consideration of interpersonal relationships between co-travelers, as well as the specificity of round trips against one-way trips. Taking New York City as a case study, this study examines the changes over space and time of MPRT frequencies from 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic period) to 2020 (i.e. pandemic period), and the reasons for it. Notably, special consideration of the aforementioned analysis is paid to the influence of the real-time situation of COVID-19 in terms of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and tests. Results reveal that (1) the MPRT frequencies obey a long tail distribution, both prior to and during the COVID-19 outbreak; (2) the group size, temporal patterns and co-traveler community are profoundly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak; (3) four indicators related to COVID-19 show different influences on co-travelers over time; (4) bike sharing availability and personal economic situation are closely related with MPRT frequencies. These findings can help develop more targeted strategies for improving the operation of a bike sharing system to meet the possible diversified demands of cyclists during the future pandemics.

PREDICTION OF FUTURE FLIGHT DELAYS BASED ON CURRENT DATA ANALYSIS USING MACHINE LEARNING

Airplane transportation has many advantages compared to other means of transportation, where this means of transportation is able to cover long distances in a short time. Besides having advantages, of course, air transportation often experiences flight delays which can be caused by several things, including delayed flights due to late arrival (Arrival Delay), delays of the airline itself (Carrier Delay), previously late arrivals (Late Aircraft Delay), air traffic congestion (Nas Delay), security issues (Security Delay) and weather conditions (Weather Delay) The tests carried out were 101,315 US flight delay data from 2017 to 2022. By using the Machine Learning method, the results obtained were that the largest flight delays were caused by late arrivals, namely 386,124,672, where the largest flight delays were by airlines. The airline, namely Southwest Airlines, is 61,474,379 of the total airlines, which is 20, and the biggest departure delay is at Chicago O'Hare International airport, which is in the city of Chicago, IL province, which is 20,912,928 of the total airport, which is 596. This research aims to predict future flights by analyzing current flight data, so that future flights can be better by overcoming or avoiding previous flight delay problems.

Study of Residents’ Ongoing Behavioural Intentions for Regular Bus Travel

With the emergence of novel transportation trends, regular buses have experienced a significant decline in passenger numbers. Consequently, it becomes imperative to conduct studies on passengers’ intentions. This particular investigation employed a meticulously designed survey questionnaire to gather data, and developed a new model that integrates the theory of planned behaviour, technology acceptance model and expectation confirmation theory. The primary aim was to explore the key factors that influence residents’ ongoing behavioural intentions towards regular public bus travel. Furthermore, a gender-based multi-group analysis was conducted to investigate the impact mechanism of gender differences on ongoing behavioural intentions. The new model demonstrates various degrees of positive or negative influences among the variables, thereby confirming its universal applicability. Moreover, the multi-group analysis reveals that compared to gender, travel satisfaction has a stronger impact on women’s intentions, while travel attitude has a stronger impact on men’s intentions to travel by certain mean of transport. Simultaneously, perceived behavioural control does not significantly affect persistent intention for women but has a significant positive impact on persistent intention for men. Furthermore, perceived ease of use does not significantly impact perceived usefulness for women but has a significant positive effect on perceived usefulness for men. These research findings bear great significance in promoting environmentally-friendly travel practices.

Optimizing Electric Vehicle Battery Management Systems for Enhanced Performance and Efficiency in the Automotive Sector

Automotive means of transportation has become the major and cheapest means transportation in Nigeria. This fact has put more pressure on manufacturers to provide customers with high quality Automobiles with the aim of making profits. Nowadays, manufacturers are faced with a major problem in the management of information within a manufacturing plant and creation of effective relationship with customers. As an approach to solving these problems, a detailed analysis is carried out on the existing system to find out the strength and weaknesses of the existing system. And based on the requirements generated, the new system is designed. An Object Oriented design approach is used to describe the various units (modules) that make up the system in terms of classes and objects. The design and development of an Automotive Plant Management system for a manufacturing company is a project developed with PHP, MySQL, Ajax, HTML, JavaScript and Jquery Plugins, it provided better and more efficient management of information generated from Human Resource, Inventory, Company Finance and also Customer Relationship Management In recent years, the surge in the adoption of electric vehicles has played a vital role in reducin fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, limited cross-national research has been conducted on the determinants of electric vehicle adoption in developing and developed countries. This study examines the factors influencing the intention to adopt electric vehicles in India (378 participants) and Spain (265 participants). This study develops an integrated model that combines the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) and the value-belief-norm (VBN) model while accounting for the impact of national culture. The model is tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate the integrated UTAUT2-VBN model is a valuable tool for explaining the differences in adoption intention across cultures. Moreover, the national cultural system plays a significant moderating role in most relationships within the model. This study offers valuable insights into the factors influencing electric vehicle adoption in different cultural contexts, which can inform policies and strategies to promote sustainable transportation.

Social media for improving the students’ vocabulary mastery in ESP Maritime English

The ever-expanding globalization era brings with it a host of new developments in people's lives, including methods of learning, especially when it comes to increasing vocabulary in English, the universal language of communication. Economic issues are greatly impacted by globalization; as a result, trade between countries is growing quickly, and shipping is the most suitable means of transportation. Consequently, there is a growing need for proficient sailors who speak English, especially maritime English, in order to demonstrate clear communication and reduce accidents brought on by miscommunications between crew members and ships. For students in maritime schools, learning Maritime English (ME) terminology is a prerequisite to developing proper communication skills. Social media is one of the teaching strategies used with students at the maritime academy. Keywords: social media, vocabulary mastery, ESP, maritime English

A survey of train disasters and safety systems in Indian railways with a focus on signalling and telecommunications

Train is considered as one of the primary means of transport for the people across various regions in India. With a route length of around 68000 km, the Indian rail network is the fourth longest in the world and millions use its services daily. Despite having an extensive network and infrastructure, train accidents are not uncommon in India. The recent incident in Balasore district, Odisha, is the deadliest train disaster in over two decades. Nearly 295 people lost their lives and several hundred got injured in the triple train crash. This incident has brought attention to the safety measures and infrastructure of the country’s railway system. Although the Indian railway systems have seen significant development, the lack of a robust signalling system remains a major issue for such massive mishaps. This study discusses major train accidents with their causes and effects. Then, it discusses train disaster categories and the railway disaster management plan. It also provides a brief review of State-of-the-Art safety systems to prevent train accidents. Further, this study highlights the role of signalling and telecommunication systems in the safe and speedy movement of trains.

Optimization of Cold Chain Path forS company of C city based on Dijkstra's Algorithm

With regard to the existing transportation means and distribution routes of S company of C city, this paper analyzes them in terms of theoretical optimization and practical significance, aiming to reduce the cost of cold chain transportation. To this end, we determined the objective function of cold chain route optimization forS company of C city. Then, Dijkstra's algorithm is used to solve the cold chain routes. Combined with the example analysis results show that the optimization results based on Dijkstra's algorithm are reasonable and reliable. In this paper, based on the location information of S C city's stores and transit centers, as well as various data of distribution, respectively, the path optimization is carried out to ultimately achieve cost reduction and efficiency. Compared with the data of the original distribution method, both the use of transportation tools, distribution distance, and the problem of high empty rate have been improved.

Constant velocity physical warp drive solution

Abstract Warp drives are exotic solutions of general relativity that offer novel means of transportation. In this study, we present a solution for a constant-velocity subluminal warp drive that satisfies all of the energy conditions. The solution involves combining a stable matter shell with a shift vector distribution that closely matches well-known warp drive solutions such as the Alcubierre metric. We generate the spacetime metric numerically, evaluate the energy conditions, and confirm that the shift vector distribution cannot be reduced to a coordinate transformation. This study demonstrates that classic warp drive spacetimes can be made to satisfy the energy conditions by adding a regular matter shell with a positive ADM mass.

Application of form honeypot based on CSS style in ticket booking system

Since various means of transportation and entertainment activities are restricted by objective conditions, the number of tickets is always limited, so ticket scalpers continue to be a companion product to this day. In the current Internet environment, the web application of the ticketing system faces challenges from ticket-grabbing robots controlled by ticket dealers. The current security procedures have significantly increased the workload and time consumption of effective users. The question now is whether ticket-grabbing bots can be stopped without increasing the workload of legitimate users and being as unnoticed by users as possible. In response to this problem, this article proposes a ticket booking system model integrated with a form-based honeypot, which can achieve the function of deceiving robots without being noticed by ordinary users. This model provides a feasible method for implementing network applications that are both secure and efficient, ensuring that users have a more seamless and protected experience.

Detection and Classification of Rolling Bearing Defects Using Direct Signal Processing with Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Currently, great emphasis is being placed on the electrification of means of transportation, including aviation. The use of electric motors reduces operating and maintenance costs. Electric motors are subjected to various types of damage during operation, of which rolling bearing defects are statistically the most common. This article focuses on presenting a diagnostic tool for bearing conditions based on mechanic vibration signals using convolutional neural networks (CNN). This article presents an alternative to the well-known classical diagnostic tools based on advanced signal processing methods such as the short-time Fourier transform, the Hilbert–Huang transform, etc. The approach described in the article provides fault detection and classification in less than 0.03 s. The proposed structures achieved a classification accuracy of 99.8% on the test set. Special attention was paid to the process of optimizing the CNN structure to achieve the highest possible accuracy with the fewest number of network parameters.

Prospects and Challenges of E-Rickshaws in Urban Transportation Systems of Bangladesh: A Case Study of Rangpur City Corporation

The availability of public transportation is frequently insufficient and the quality of the services is quite low in many cities of developing country. This is mostly because of the growing discrepancy between the supply and demand for transportation infrastructure and the provision of services. As a result, E-rickshaws (battery-operated electric three-wheelers locally termed as Auto/Easy bike) have emerged as a form of para-transit/informal public transport in many developing country cities and providing flexible and demand-responsive services to users. E-rickshaws are becoming one of the main travel modes and playing a crucial role in urban mobility because bus-based or formal public transportation is lacking in many medium- and small-sized cities in Bangladesh. This study made an effort to answer how E-rickshaws might function in the future when public bus service will be launched in a mixed traffic situation of Bangladesh. Rangpur in Bangladesh was selected as the representative of developing country cities for conducting the case study. This study is generally based on primary survey because the E-rickshaw is a new concept in urban transport. Primary data were collected at different road intersections and some temporary E-rickshaw stands in Rangpur City (as no permanent E-rickshaw stand in the city). Basically, the data was collected by Questionnaires Survey with E-rickshaw Drivers and Users; Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with E-rickshaw union members and Key Informants Interview (KII) with local authorities who are concerned with E-rickshaws. The driver-owned, operational E-rickshaw has an income-investment ratio of 1.45 and generates an average daily income of BDT 850. According to the survey, 81% of the drivers of E-rickshaws agreed that their current financial situation or income is better than it was when they worked in another or previous occupation. Compared with other travel modes, commuters are very satisfied with the quality of E-rickshaw services. Based on study findings it may be concluded that the E-rickshaw is a potential future-proof means of transportation. Public transport planning should include E-rickshaw in providing services which may not be catered by the formal public transport. The conclusions drawn from this case study is that locations may be applied to other places in the country or cities where rickshaws are a significant source of informal public transportation.

Safety of Cyclists in Poland in the Context of European Road Traffic

The growing interest in cycling as a means of urban transport has led to an increased focus on cyclist safety as a key aspect of urban planning and transport policy. Simulation studies conducted by the International Transport Forum have demonstrated that reductions in CO2 and other pollutants can be achieved in the context of urban transport, thus realising the goals of decarbonising road transport. The spread of modal transport in cities is a potential reality within the next decade. Bicycles play a significant role in this context. This article presents an analysis of data on accidents involving cyclists. National and international data were analysed to identify the main risk factors. The aim of the paper is to analyse the risk to cyclists with an attempt to identify and map the five biggest risks to cyclists in urban traffic. The aim of the research is to raise awareness of cyclist safety issues and to identify directions for further action to reduce accidents and improve overall road safety. The results of the conducted analyses indicate that the risk for cyclists in road traffic (including urban traffic) has been on a noticeable downward trend over the past five to ten years. This trend allows for the mapping of the most significant types/risks in cycling in urban environments, thereby enabling the implementation of risk management strategies based on the method of risk mapping.

Study of the Demand for Ecological Means of Transport in Micromobility: A Case of Bikesharing in Szczecin, Poland

The need for urban societies to move continues to grow with the intensity of their various activities. One of the challenges in micromobility in cities based on bike, scooter, or public scooter systems is determining the potential yet realistic demand for such services. This article aims to present the level of demand for eco-friendly non-motorized transport systems and identify the motivations driving users of public transport to choose these eco-friendly Personal Mobility Devices (PMD). The authors propose a methodology based on the integration of four components: a case study, an analysis of participatory budget projects, a metadata analysis of bikesharing (BSS) in Szczecin, and a meta plan. They utilized a case study method and conducted a survey based on a custom questionnaire. An analysis of participatory budget projects and data from the operation of bikesharing in Szczecin was performed using statistical methods. Applying the heuristic tool meta plan, they outlined the directions for the development and support of bikesharing as an example of micromobility in Szczecin. The research identified connections between the socio-demographic structure of respondents and attributes of bike communication. This study highlighted periods of intensive system use and locations with the highest exploitation. It showed that the demand for BSS depends on weather conditions, traveler convenience, the density and coherence of bike infrastructure with important locations for residents, transfer connections, and safety. The presented research results can assist planners and authorities in Szczecin and other cities in expanding bikesharing.

Evaluating the Current State of Pedestrian Facilities in Peri-Urban and Urban Areas: A Case Study of Pietermaritzburg City

Background Pedestrian infrastructure is pivotal for advancing the movement of nonmotorized road users and plays a transformative role in transitioning toward sustainable transportation, especially in rural territories influenced by urban dynamics and interconnected by daily commuter flows. Both walking and cycling stand out as paramount sustainable transport means, offering substantial health and environmental benefits, including reduced noise and air pollution. Multiple factors, such as convenience, safety, accessibility, service cost, flexibility, and the quality of pedestrian pathways, shape individuals' propensity to walk. Notably, in peri-urban contexts, the cost of service becomes a significant determinant, as a notable proportion of the population earns minimal wages or faces unemployment. Objective This study sought to examine the current state of pedestrian walkways within Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas, through which the accessibility, availability, and quality of these facilities were assessed. The study has suggested possible solutions to address the challenges faced by pedestrians. Methods By conducting semi-structured interviews and leveraging ArcGIS mapping utilities, this research has delineated the existing scenario and offered an initial redesign tailored to pedestrian requirements. Results The data have starkly revealed pervasive inadequacies in the existing pedestrian infrastructure. The functionality and safety of current amenities have been manifestly undermined by these shortcomings. The continuing use of these dilapidated facilities may pose alarming threats not only to pedestrians, but also to other road users.

Design of flexible partitions for physical distancing in buses in Colombia during COVID-19

The scientific community recognizes that the transport of cargo and passengers is a key factor in the spread of infectious disease pandemics. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, public transport systems have been considered high-risk environments for the transmission of the virus; therefore, in many places around the world, restrictions have been imposed on passenger transport. Although different aspects of transport have been studied during the pandemic, there are still gaps in knowledge about the effect of different means of transport and specific interventions for vehicle design strategies to reduce transmission rates. In this context, this article presents the process of co-designing a flexible partition to divide seats on articulated, standard and complementary vehicles of a bus rapid transit system in a Colombian capital city as a vehicle design strategy to contain the spread of the virus and generate a physical barrier when the physical distance of one meter, as required by national regulations, was unable to be maintained. The design methodology followed an incremental and iterative process of 6 stages until reaching the final design. The process began with the identification of the need, the establishment of the design requirements and determinants, the generation of proposals framed within the requirements, the performance of functionality and cost feasibility tests and the building of the prototype with the chosen design. Additionally, a participatory evaluation was carried out based on the identification of relevant aspects, doubts, criticisms and new contributions to the prioritized prototype. Finally, the generated prototype met the design requirements in addition to a significant cost reduction of 70% compared with the initial proposal by the bus rapid transit. The low cost allows the implementation of the partition throughout the bus fleet, but controlled observational and clinical studies on the effectiveness of the partition in the prevention of COVID-19 are required.

Integration of Shared Micromobility into Public Transit: A Systematic Literature Review with Grey Literature

Shared micromobility services have become increasingly prevalent and indispensable as a means of transportation across diverse geographical regions. Integrating shared micromobility with public transit offers opportunities to complement fixed-route transit networks and address first- and last-mile issues. To explore this topic, a systematic literature review was conducted to consolidate knowledge, analyze research achievements and best practices, and provide future research recommendations. This study examined 108 journal papers from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection from 2016 to 2022, along with grey literature. Citation and co-citation analyses were performed to build and illustrate the literature’s bibliometric networks. This analysis categorized the literature into four major study themes: policy, sustainability, the interaction between shared micromobility and public transportation, and infrastructure. The implementation approaches of integrating shared micromobility and public transportation in different cities were classified into four categories: physical integration, payment and fee integration, informational integration, and institutional integration. The findings indicate that the relationship between shared micromobility and public transportation varies with spatial–temporal conditions and the population density of the city. Overall, integrating micromobility into public transit can offer faster and more cost-effective mobility options for most trips, contributing to urban resilience, a better air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and livable communities. Based on these insights, further research is recommended to explore dynamic and context-specific strategies for successful shared micromobility and public transit integration, considering diverse urban settings and demographic factors.

Safety performance of dedicated and preferential bus lanes using multivariate negative binomial models for Bogotá, Colombia

Public transport priority systems such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Buses with High Level of Service (BHLS) are top-rated solutions to mobility in low-income and middle-income cities. There is scientific agreement that the safety performance level of these systems depends on their functional, operational, and infrastructure characteristics. However, there needs to be more evidence on how the different characteristics of bus corridors might influence safety. This paper aims to shed some light on this area by structuring a multivariate negative binomial model comparing crash risk on arterial roads, BRT, and BHLS corridors in Bogotá, Colombia. The analyzed infrastructure includes 712.1 km of arterial roads with standard bus service, 194.1 km of BRT network, and 135.6 km of BHLS network. The study considered crashes from 2015 to 2018 –fatalities, injuries, and property damage only– and 30 operational and infrastructure variables grouped into six classes –exposure, road design, infrastructure, public means of transport, and land use. A multicriteria process was applied for model selection, including the structure and predictive power based on [i] Akaike information criteria, [ii] K-fold cross-validation, and [iii] model parsimony. Relevant findings suggest that in terms of observed and expected accident rates and their relationship with the magnitude of exposure –logarithm of average annual traffic volumes at the peak hour (LOG_AAPHT) and the percentage of motorcycles, cars, buses, and trucks– the greatest risk of fatalities, injuries, and property damage occurs in the BHLS network. BRT network provides lower crash rates in less severe collisions while increasing injuries and fatalities. When comparing the BHLS network and the standard design of arterial roads, BHLS infrastructure, despite increasing mobility benefits, provides the lowest safety performance among the three analyzed networks. Individual factors of the study could also contribute to designing safer roads related to signalized intersection density and curvature. These findings support the unique characteristics and traffic dynamics present in the context of Bogotá that could inform and guide decisions of corresponding authorities in other highly dense urban areas from developing countries.