Transport Operations Research Articles

MobileNetV2 with Spatial Attention module for traffic congestion recognition in surveillance images

Traffic congestion recognition is essential for road traffic condition monitoring and improving transportation operation efficiency. Recent works have proposed using computer vision to develop cost-effective traffic congestion detection systems. This paper proposed a custom framework for recognizing traffic congestion using a trained advanced CNNs model on highway surveillance images. The proposed CNNs model uses an attention mechanism that significantly helps the network performing better. Specifically, a spatial attention module is proposed to aggregate model features and increase representational power. Exploring the optimal model choice for edge device deployment: MobileNetV2 is considered the best model choice for this task due to its lowest FLOPs and params. Furthermore, the accuracy of MobileNetV2 with attention module on the test set exceeds that of several advanced CNNs models such as VGG16, GoogLeNet, ResNet50, Efficientnetb0, DenseNet121. For a selected dataset of real-world traffic congestion images, test accuracy of 98.58% strongly supports the model’s efficiency in recognizing traffic congestion rendering image samples. In addition, proposed model also achieves 98.82% on the UCSD dataset, which as same as sort-of-the-art method. In summary, we have developed a congestion detection framework equipped with spatial attention module. Extensive experimental validation has demonstrated that using MobileNetV2 as the backbone network achieves state-of-the-art performance. The framework also uses the Grad-CAM approach for visual interpretability and localization of traffic congestion in surveillance images. Judging from the results of Grad-CAM, attention-integrated models can localize traffic congestion in surveillance images better. Our model is developed under the Pytorch framework using python3.8.

A generalized integrated framework for urban public transport operations evaluation based on interval neutrosophic TODIM and EDAS technique

A generalized integrated framework for urban public transport operations evaluation based on interval neutrosophic TODIM and EDAS technique

ORGANIZATION OF DELIVERY OF THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTS BY OWN VEHICLES

Purpose. The purpose of the work is the formation and analysis of options for the organization of the delivery of the machine-building enterprise's products by its own vehicles. Methodology. The main stages of choosing a rational technology for the organization of product transportation by own transport based on the developed schedules have been formed. The research was performed on the basis of the analysis of graphs of the dependence of motor vehicle operation indicators on the technology of organizing the transportation of the company's products. Findings. The article develops and analyzes work schedules for the delivery of the company's products by tractor-trailer trucks with semi-trailers. According to the schedules, the duration of delivery of one product in a ready-to-install condition to the consignee, the maximum possible annual volumes of transportation, the maximum and actual average annual operating costs for the delivery of the company's products by its own vehicles are determined. Practical value. The results of the research can be used to make a decision on the expediency of refusing the services of logistics companies to organize the delivery of the company's products to customers.

Transport and mining machinery cabins’ ergonomic evaluation as a path to its redesign

Transport and mining machinery cabins are still not well adapted to their users, while checklists for their evaluation are not common in the literature. This article proposes a new checklist for ergonomic evaluation and tests its universality empirically with a sample of 96 transport and mining machine operators. The objective of the article is two-fold. First, the article checks whether there are anthropometric dimension differences between different machines’ operators. Second, statistical significance testing regarding items in the proposed checklist is performed to check its universality. Significant differences have not been found between anthropometric dimensions of transport and mining machine operators. Group comparisons prove that mining machines have better ergonomics characteristics of the chair, manual controls and vision field. The recommendation for crane designers is to examine mining machines solutions and analyze the possibility of adapting these solutions, due to anthropometric fit. Wide usage of the checklist is recommended.

Secure Travel Planning Using a Heuristic Algorithm

Security perception in the urban area has a significant effect on travel behaviour, preferences, and tour planning. The perceptions of security risks can vary depending on factors, such as age, gender, and previous experiences. This study aims to consider security risks when developing travel plans and schedules for various activities. An improved heuristic algorithm, based on the Travelling Salesman Problem with security parameter and flexibility aspects, is proposed. Public transport is considered in three situations: fixed, flexible, and flexible-security situations. The outcomes demonstrate that the flexible situation significantly decreases travel times by 21% compared to the basic (fixed) situation. At the same time, with a slightly increased travel time the security risk can be avoided in the flexible-security situation. Travelers can enjoy a higher quality of travelling and enhanced personal experience by minimizing the journey duration and the impact of security risks on the tour schedule. The proposed method provides significant benefits for transport operators by increasing the efficiency of the transportation system and higher customer satisfaction.

Dynamic analysis of a hydraulic motor lifting auxiliary beam of monorail crane

Abstract Monorail crane that is an important class of auxiliary transportation equipment in coal mine. It works on a single hanging track fixed above the coal mine roadway to transport materials, machines, people, etc. Lifting auxiliary beam is the main part of the lifting beam which is used to complete the lifting and transport operations. In the application process, the lifting auxiliary beam is bore many types of loads such as discontinuous loading, frequent starting and braking etc. It complicates the dynamic performance that directly affects the safety and the lifting operation stability. By using finite element method, a dynamic model of the lifting auxiliary beam is established to study the variation laws of dynamic load, frequency, amplitude, etc. Furthermore, three loading conditions are defined in the model. They are static loading, slow loading and fast loading, considering the lifting operation time. The numerical simulation results show that the maximum displacement of the fast loading condition is 20% to 23% higher than that under the static loading condition. Moreover, under the fast loading condition, the largest displacement amplitude occurs in the middle part of the lifting auxiliary beam and it decreases gradually towards the ends.

Collective or Individual? Tourists’ travel mode choice during a pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) led to holiday journeys being associated with significant health risks. While there are numerous studies on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel mode choice in everyday mobility, there are a lack of studies on tourists’ choice of travel mode, even though tourism transport in Switzerland makes up 24% of all distance travelled. Based on an extended conceptual framework of the Health Belief Model (HBM), this study investigates the effect of COVID-19 on tourists’ intentions to choose a particular travel mode during the pandemic. Our findings show that the higher the perceived susceptibility of getting COVID-19 associated with the holiday journey, the lower the choices for collective travel modes. Furthermore, for those tourists who are more likely to take risks, their choices for collective travel modes are increased. The study recommends that public transport operators choose measures that increase the application of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against pandemics while travelling; this may encourage the safe use of collective transport modes during a pandemic.

Approximation of Optimal Control Problems for Semilinear Elliptic Convection–Diffusion Equations with Boundary Observation of the Conormal Derivative and with Controls in Coefficients of the Convective Transport Operator and in Nonlinear Term of the Equation

Approximation of Optimal Control Problems for Semilinear Elliptic Convection–Diffusion Equations with Boundary Observation of the Conormal Derivative and with Controls in Coefficients of the Convective Transport Operator and in Nonlinear Term of the Equation

Determining fusion properties of Kazakhstani oil using gas chromatography, DSC and PPT

This research focuses on investigating the melting behavior of crude oil extracted from five specific fields located in Kazakhstan. Understanding the crude oil's melting point and the temperature at which it transitions to a solid state is crucial for predicting wax precipitation, a significant concern during oil transportation and storage. The study employs various laboratory instruments to achieve this goal. These instruments include gas chromatograph for analyzing the oil's composition, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) for measuring the heat flow associated with phase changes during temperature variations and pour point tester for determining the lowest temperature at which the oil can still flow. By utilizing this comprehensive approach, the researchers aim to establish new correlations between the crude oil's properties and its melting point and solid-state transition temperature. These newly developed correlations are expected to demonstrate a closer alignment with the actual melting points of various hydrocarbon components within the crude oil compared to the standard correlations currently employed by most prediction models. This improved accuracy could lead to more reliable wax precipitation predictions, ultimately benefiting oil production, transportation, and storage operations in Kazakhstan. Obtained experimental results provide valuable insights into the melting properties of the analyzed crude oil samples.This observation indicates that this particular oil is less viscous, as it solidifies at a relatively positive temperature. Furthermore, by incorporating these findings along with the oil's molecular weight, researchers can potentially establish a correlation specific to Field A oil for predicting wax deposition.

Study on Factors of Urban Transportation Service Quality Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case Study of Gangtok City

Promoting the use of public transportation requires an in - depth knowledge of the variables that affect the choice of public transportation mode, including the process of implementing policy, as it has become a crucial component of government strategies to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector globally. A variety of factors impacting the usage of public transportation have been identified in previous studies, but few have been included in a single study. In order to boost the use of public transportation, it is essential to make it more attractive to travellers by conducting frequent Service Quality (SQ) assessments and adjustments. Understanding the passengers’ expectations towards public transportation are important, and assessing the SQ is an important tool for evaluating the total performance of the Gangtok’s public transportation system. The purpose of the existing study was to study the expectations and perceptions of city’s passengers regarding SQ in public transportation. In order to comprehend how the present commuters’ prefer a particular service quality attribute a series of interviews with passengers were undertaken. MCDM technique was adopted for this. The paper focuses on service quality factors for urban transportation system by adopting AHP technique. In this study perception of passengers using public transport in Gangtok is taken from the field. The case study is taken for Gangtok city in the state of Sikkim. The study involves study of passengers from various bus stop locations of the city. The results of the research showed substantial discrepancies among expectations and perceptions of city’s commuters, along with widespread dissatisfaction with the delivery of public transit services in hilly areas as a whole. The reliability and adaptiveness of these service have been critical in describing the overall quality of transportation services in hilly areas, and best practices were used to develop a set of recommendations for transportation operators and local officials.

THE RELIABILITY EVALUATION OF THE DECK MACHINERY AND GALLEY EQUIPMENT OF A BULK CARRIER BY UTILIZING THE FAILURE RECORDS

Among various modes of transportation, maritime transportation holds critical importance since it provides substantial carrying capacity with low unit costs. To perform seamless and efficient operations in maritime transportation plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets. The execution of uninterrupted operations can only be carried out with the existence of reliable systems. Creating reliable systems onboard is possible through the implementation of planned and proactive maintenance strategies and leveraging experiences gained from past failures. 10-year failure records of bulk carriers have been scrutinized within the scope of system reliability to determine critical equipment and units. The data has been categorized into subgroups under four fundamental headings, and subsequent reliability analyses have been conducted on each subgroup. Within the subgroups, the reliability of navigation equipment should be improved since it has the highest failure rate and its malfunction can cause very serious marine accidents. This equipment is followed by fire-fighting systems, cargo equipment, and GMDSS instruments which are essential for ship operations based on reliability results. Therefore, regular failure records, planned and proactive maintenance strategies, and also extra efforts should be performed on this equipment to ensure sustainable and seamless operations in the maritime sector.

Justification of key factors regarding the application of prospective ecological transport in the urban passenger transportation system

Research objective. Justification of the key factors that have an impact on the introduction of promising ecological transport in the system of urban passenger transport in order to improve the quality of transport services for passengers and improve ecology in densely populated cities. Materials and methods. To achieve the goal, the fuzzy Dematel method is used, which is based on graph theory and allows to classify all available factors that influence decision-making based on cause-and-effect relationships. Results. The eight key factors that form the transport project and the factors that have a significant impact on them are substantiated for the implementation of the transport project of the implementation of promising ecological passenger transport on urban routes into the transport system of urban passenger transportation. These include the level of development of modern transport technologies when transporting passengers on city routes and the availability of their support centers; the availability of financial programs for updating/restructuring the rolling stock fleet of the motor vehicle enterprise and the availability of the appropriate legal framework for preferential operation of electric passenger transport; rapid adaptation of the transport infrastructure of a modern city for the operation of ecological transport; compliance of ecological transport with the transport characteristics of the passenger transportation route; operational properties of a modern electric bus; the effect of relevant legislative initiatives regarding benefits for the purchase and costs of operating electric vehicles. Scientific novelty consists in identifying the interrelationships between the factors that form the transport project and the factors that have a significant influence on them, on the implementation of the transport project of the implementation of promising ecological passenger transport on urban routes into the transport system of urban passenger transport, which allows to estimate the possible economic costs of road transport enterprises carrying out passenger transportation. Practical significance lies in the determination of key factors that can be used for the implementation of a transport project for the use of promising ecological passenger transport in the system of urban passenger road transport

Optimization of merchandise delivery logistics: case studies at Bejaia port

The object of the study is the logistics of goods delivery by ports. This study presents a methodology designed to improve the efficiency of goods delivery logistics at the Bejaia port (Algeria). It prioritizes the optimization of empty container allocation to the ZEP zone, taking into account the geographical accessibility of the Tixter area, aiming to reduce the high costs linked with goods transportation. At the core of this strategy lies the use of simulation techniques to optimize truck fleets, ensuring maximum utilization rates and effective management of delivery operations by the Bejaia Mediterranean Terminal (BMT) for its clients. Addressing this challenge, the study offers an exhaustive analysis, integrating truck assignment models and accessibility assessments of logistic zones. The results highlight the paramount significance of optimal resource allocation and synchronized client coordination for achieving streamlined goods delivery. It becomes apparent that employing these methodologies can yield substantial productivity improvements, emphasizing their pivotal role in strengthening the port's logistical infrastructure. Via rigorous analysis and insights derived from data, this study elucidates avenues towards achieving operational excellence within the logistical infrastructure of the port. By harnessing innovative strategies to confront persistent challenges, such as optimizing truck fleets and strategically allocating resources, the research anticipates a profound transformation in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of goods delivery operations. Ultimately, the integration of these methodologies holds the potential to propel the port of Bejaia towards enduring success and a competitive edge in the ever-evolving landscape of global trade. Through extensive efforts, this strategy can be extended to other national and international ports operating under similar conditions, as it provides valuable information and methodologies to optimize logistics and transportation operations.

Taylor dispersion and phase mixing in the non‐cutoff Boltzmann equation on the whole space

AbstractIn this paper we describe the long‐time behavior of the non‐cutoff Boltzmann equation with soft potentials near a global Maxwellian background on the whole space in the weakly collisional limit (that is, infinite Knudsen number ). Specifically, we prove that for initial data sufficiently small (independent of the Knudsen number), the solution displays several dynamics caused by the phase mixing/dispersive effects of the transport operator and its interplay with the singular collision operator. For ‐wavenumbers with , one sees an enhanced dissipation effect wherein the characteristic decay time‐scale is accelerated to , where is the singularity of the kernel ( being the Landau collision operator, which is also included in our analysis); for , one sees Taylor dispersion, wherein the decay time‐scale is accelerated to . Additionally, we prove almost uniform phase mixing estimates. For macroscopic quantities such as the density , these bounds imply almost uniform‐in‐ decay of in due to phase mixing and dispersive decay.

Analysis of Financial Feasibility of Shuttle Transport Within The Province (AJDP) Denpasar Buleleng Route (Case Study: Minibus Colt L-300 Adhi Transport)

One of the AJDP service providers in Bali is Adhi Transport which has 3 fleets on the Denpasar-Buleleng route. The aim of the research is to determine vehicle operating costs, income and analyze the level of financial feasibility of transportation operations. The data used in this research includes secondary data (company financial data) obtained through interviews and questionnaire surveys with agencies. The main indicators to pay attention to are NPV, BCR, and IRR. The results obtained are vehicle operating costs of Rp. 334,108,000/year, income Rp. 6223,100,000/year. The NPV value is IDR. 634,943,527 > 0, BCR 1.17 > 1, and IRR 42.99% > 16%. The conclusions obtained from the results of the investment analysis are financially feasible.

Real-time bus arrival delays analysis using seemingly unrelated regression model

AbstractTo effectively manage and control public transport operations, understanding the various factors that impact bus arrival delays is crucial. However, limited research has focused on a comprehensive analysis of bus delay factors, often relying on single-step delay prediction models that are unable to account for the heterogeneous impacts of spatiotemporal factors along the bus route. To analyze the heterogeneous impact of bus arrival delay factors, the paper proposes a set of regression equations conditional on the bus location. A seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE) model is developed to estimate the regression coefficients, accounting for potential correlations between regression residuals caused by shared unobserved factors among equations. The model is validated using bus operations data from Stockholm, Sweden. The results highlight the importance of developing stop-specific bus arrival delay models to understand the heterogeneous impact of explanatory variables. The significant factors impacting bus arrival delays are primarily associated with bus operations, such as delays at consecutive upstream stops, dwell time, scheduled travel time, recurrent congestion, and current traffic conditions. Factors like the calendar and weather have significant but marginal impacts on arrival delays. The study suggests that different bus operating management strategies, such as schedule adjustments, route optimization, and real-time monitoring and control, should be tailored to the characteristics of stop sections since the impacts of these factors vary depending on the stop location.

Использование программы ANYLOGIC для моделирования процессов с использованием контейнеров-трансформеров

This scientific article discusses the possibilities of using Anylogic software to simulate transportation using transformable containers. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the unique characteristics of the transformable container, including its ability to transform, mobile warehouse technology, as well as modification of Anylogic software tools to develop models for improving loading and unloading, transport, transshipment and warehouse operations, based on new technical design solutions containers that increase the efficiency of transport and technological systems. The article analyzes specific functions and data libraries of the Anylogic program, which allow taking into account the unique characteristics of transformable containers when modeling transportation by improving production processes, including loading and unloading, transport, transshipment and warehouse operations. Original algorithms are proposed to optimize loading and unloading, as well as tools for planning routes taking into account the specific use of such containers. Ways to integrate these approaches into existing logistics systems are proposed and the potential benefits of their application to achieve higher efficiency and sustainability of urban transport and technological systems are described.

Concept of the knowledge-based city logistics: Problems and solutions.

Efficient city logistics is essential to build smart sustainable cities where inhabitants' well-being is a priority. Meanwhile, despite the great importance of city logistics processes, their improvement is problematic for many cities. Although solutions from the field of emerging technologies are more and more often used, the question is whether implementing technological tools and filling cities with sensors is a sufficient solution that can solve the problems of intensely growing urban freight transport. The aim of the paper is to examine the role of knowledge management in city logistics and identify barriers to the implementation of knowledge-based city logistics. A key element of the research procedure was an expert survey, to which 31 international experts specialising in city logistics issues were invited, characterised by extensive experience working on research projects in the area of interest. Four knowledge management processes have been transferred to the city logistics area. The results of the study show that the difficulties are observed mainly in the processes of data gathering and knowledge acquisition. The main reason for difficulties in that area is the reluctance of city users, retailers, transport and logistics operators to share information. Identifying these processes as the most problematic is a valuable hint for logistics managers, municipalities and academics. To improve knowledge-based city logistics, it is therefore necessary to focus on these processes and look for the best solutions and new forms of organisational and business support. The solution to the problems identified in the study is the proposal to create a city logistics collaborative knowledge base which is a combination of an IT tool - the CL knowledge management platform, and the Freight Quality Partnership.

Analyzing the welfare economic of freight transport companies with disaggregated data for Brazilian states

Efficient use of transport systems can increase well-being and ensure benefits for society. Reducing the costs involved in transport operations can occur through management, investments, or using more efficient infrastructures. Well-being gains are weighted based on economic theory, particularly with the classical welfare function that measures consumer surplus gains. Therefore, this article aims to analyse the economic well-being of freight transport companies with disaggregated data for Brazilian states. Data from a stated preference survey were used for the entire Brazilian territory. We estimate logit models to determine the value of travel time, and a logsum measure was used to calculate differences in well-being for freight transport companies. The results show the heterogeneity of Brazilian shippers when choosing the mode of mode of transport for freight transport companies. Research deepens the investigations underway in Brazil, disaggregating the analysis at the state level and simulating different scenarios to describe well-being and the value of travel time. The results show significant differences in the choice of road modes compared to their competing modes by region in Brazil. The findings indicate that states may have greater marginal benefits in well-being with changes in transport costs, transport time, delivery reliability, and flexibility.

Intelligent Systems Integrating BIM and VR for Urban Subway Microenvironmental Health Risks Management

With the rapid development and construction of urban subways, various risks associated with human health and wellbeing within subway microenvironments have seriously increased. However, only a few intelligent systems have been validated as suitable for facilitating the management of subway environments. Field tests can be time-consuming and inefficient, and questionnaires often lack true intuitiveness for participants. Therefore, to enhance subway environment management, this study proposed intelligent systems that integrate building information modeling (BIM) and virtual reality (VR) for managing health risks in urban subway microenvironments. The systems were developed using Revit 2021, Navisworks 2020, Unity 2019, MYSQL 8.0, and Visual Studio 2019. Additionally, they were applied in scenarios for environmental assessment and passenger coping capability enhancement, differentiated into an expert visual-based health risk assessment system and a gamified simulation system for passenger risk prevention. The feasibility of the approach was validated with the case of Xinzhuang subway station of Line 3 in Nanjing, China. The findings revealed that the assessment system enabled experts to have a better and straight understanding of subway microenvironmental health risks and the gamification simulation system significantly enhanced the passengers’ coping capacity. The integration of BIM and VR, with its design features such as visibility, optimization, and simulation, compensated for BIM’s lack of providing an immersive experience for systems. The intelligent systems introduced in this study present novel models for environmental assessment and passenger training, catering to both subway operators and researchers. The innovative systems serve as a cornerstone in guaranteeing the health and safety of public transportation operations.