Transportation Projects Research Articles

Northern Siberian Trade Route and Polar Urals Railway. Part 1

A reproduced article published in the journal «Zheleznodorozhnoe delo» in 1912 is devoted to a project to build a railway linking the fluvial network of Siberia (approximately from the nowadays Salekhard to the Ob) with the Arctic coast in Varandey district, where it was supposed to build a seaport.Although development of the transport infrastructure of the Polar Urals and the North of the European part of Russia eventually went the other way, the economic geography, the foreign trade balance changed, the article is of interest in its historical aspect by the balanced and detail-focused approach to the comprehensive assessment of complex transport projects that was developed more than 110 years ago and their feasibility study. The authors of the project under consideration took into account, when arguing, many factors – of a strategic nature (development of the Siberian region, reduction of the transport load on the backbone transport network of the European part of the country, minimisation of competition between domestic producers along the route of goods flows), foreign trade flows, seasonality of navigation along rivers and the Northern Sea Route, technical and economic aspects of construction, distribution of private and public investments, projected optimal tariffs and taxation, payback periods, taking into account payment of dividends, and many others.Of course, the content of factors taken into account and assessment methods have changed significantly since then. One of the paradoxes is that, despite new technologies, modern engineers already assess the risks and difficulties of building in the subpolar zone much higher, while at the beginning of the last century this area was considered almost an easy and cheaper option for building a railway.In general, we must give credit to the authors for complexity of their approaches, taking into account the time when they were made.The authentic style, punctuation, lexis of the time have been preserved as maximum as possible while reproducing the article.Part 2 is to be published in the next issue.

PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF AGILE METHODOLOGIES DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROUTE NETWORK PROJECT FOR TRANSPORT OPERATOR

The paper considers the features of Agile project management methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and Lean manufacturing. The experience of their use in transport systems and technologies is studied. During the research, it was determined that these methodologies are often used for the organisation of freight transportation and logistics, and there is almost no information on their implementation in urban passenger transportation. The use of alternative methods for managing road transport enterprises and projects is essential as it will contribute to the effective organisation of passenger transportation and estimation of the rational fleet size, which, in turn, will improve the quality of service for passengers, reduce adverse transport monopoly effects, promote business development and create new jobs. This will allow people to access healthcare and educational services, save time and resources, and reduce travel costs. The paper proposes to combine the principles of the Scrum methodology and the cascade approach by the example of managing the project devoted to improving the route network of a public transport operator. A list of actions and processes necessary to reflect the project sprints is provided. The research results show that implementing the agile management principles will improve the quality of modelling and project development and positively influence the enterprise management culture.

Заложник инфраструктурных противоречий на Кавказе: Нагорный Карабах после 2020 года

Introduction. The article defines the nodal intersections of international transport corridors in the South Caucasus. Nagorno-Karabakh, after the 2020 war, is isolated from the donor country, and the prospects for its existence are beginning to depend more and more on transport diplomacy in the region. Methods and materials. The study is based on the concept of F. Braudel on the territorial organization of space. To analyze the current regional situation around Nagorno-Karabakh after 2020, strategic documents, news reports, interviews, and statements by officials of the countries of the region and representatives of regional powers were used. Analysis. The transport isolation of Nagorno-Karabakh undertaken by Azerbaijan after 2020, while simultaneously developing transport infrastructure bypassing it and the central regions of Armenia, created conditions for a humanitarian crisis in the unrecognized state. During the negotiations with Armenia, the fate of the Karabakh population is becoming more closely associated with the development of transport infrastructure in the region, calling into question the participation of Armenia itself in the development of projects. This situation forces its Prime Minister to take unpopular measures, gradually yielding to Baku’s demands. Azerbaijan, having taken part in the implementation of European transport projects, is developing new ones with the participation of China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The unresolved conflict hinders the security of investments in the region. The speed of development of competing transport corridors does not create prerequisites for long-term projects to resolve the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Results. Thanks to Azerbaijan’s initiative, new transport geography is being formed in the South Caucasus, creating diversified corridors for Azerbaijan and Turkey, and at the same time increasing the Russian Federation and Iran’s dependence on the level of relations with these states. Taking into account Azerbaijan’s negotiations with Iran as well as Russia’s interest in the development of the North-South ITC, it can be assumed that tougher steps will be taken in the future with regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the Zangezur corridor.

The expected environmental impact of the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project in Riyadh on the level of air quality

The expected environmental impact of the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project in Riyadh on the level of air quality

A multi-objective optimization model of urban passenger transportation structure under low-carbon orientation considering participating subjects.

The optimization of urban passenger transport structure can effectively save energy and reduce the carbon emission of transport. However, the carbon emission and energy consumption generated by the construction of transport projects are worthy of attention. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization model of urban passenger transport structure oriented to low carbon is proposed considering passenger, operator, and construction. The optimal solution of the model is obtained based on the NSGA-II algorithm, and the validity of the model is verified with a case of Qingdao. The optimal ratio of Qingdao passenger traffic structure considering only the passenger perspective (PS), considering the passenger and operator (POS), and considering the three parties together (POCS) is obtained, respectively. The results show that the optimal structures obtained by the PS, POS, and POCS models increase the public transport passenger share by 12.74%, 20.74%, and 23.70%, compared with the actual values. From both the supply and demand sides, there has been an increase in the passenger share of public transport. The POS model is more suitable for solving structural optimization problems that do not involve construction carbon emissions in the short term. The POCS model is more suitable for long-term comprehensive structural optimization problems. The results of the study provide a reference basis for optimizing the urban passenger transport structure.

Actual Quality Changes in Natural Resource and Gas Grid Use in Prospective Hydrogen Technology Roll-Out in the World and Russia

About 95% of current hydrogen production uses technologies involving primary fossil resources. A minor part is synthesized by low-carbon and close-to-zero-carbon-footprint methods using RESs. The significant expansion of low-carbon hydrogen energy is considered to be a part of the “green transition” policies taking over in technologically leading countries. Projects of hydrogen synthesis from natural gas with carbon capture for subsequent export to European and Asian regions poor in natural resources are considered promising by fossil-rich countries. Quality changes in natural resource use and gas grids will include (1) previously developed scientific groundwork and production facilities for hydrogen energy to stimulate the use of existing natural gas grids for hydrogen energy transport projects; (2) existing infrastructure for gas filling stations in China and Russia to allow the expansion of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) using typical “mini-plant” projects of hydrogen synthesis using methane conversion technology; (3) feasibility testing for different hydrogen synthesis plants at medium and large scales using fossil resources (primarily natural gas), water and atomic energy. The results of this study will help focus on the primary tasks for quality changes in natural resource and gas grid use. Investments made and planned in hydrogen energy are assessed.

Improving transportation project evaluation by recognizing the role of spatial scale and context in measuring non-user economic benefits

The usefulness of transportation project evaluation depends on the completeness of its benefit measures. Since transportation networks are intrinsically spatial, transportation improvement projects have spatial access and location characteristics that can lead to a variety of non-user economic benefits. Recent research has enabled us to better understand how spatial context and spatial heterogeneity play further roles in generating efficiency gains for non-users, in the form of productivity, income, and cost savings for both private and public sectors of the economy. This paper draws upon that body of research to expand our understanding of the means by which transportation projects can generate economic efficiency gains, and approaches needed to measure them. It covers topics beyond those captured by current definitions of “wider economic benefits,” including additional sources of scale economies associated with freight distribution and connectivity, and further public and private sector economic gains enabled by environmental and social inclusion improvement. It points to ways that non-user economic benefits can be more comprehensively defined and better measured by recognizing their spatial scale, context, and threshold effects. It also identifies ways that current benefit measurement methods introduce unintended bias into transportation investment decision-making through omission and mismeasurement. The result is a case for a refresh of thinking about how we classify and recognize non-user economic benefits in transportation evaluation, and how we apply transportation planning and economic models to support their measurement.

A variable neighborhood search heuristic for real-time barge scheduling in a river-to-sea channel with tidal restrictions

The scheduling of barge transportation in narrow channels is critical to transportation efficiency, especially when the tide exists and affects the channel navigation of barges. Barge movements in channels are frequently correlated with other activities (e.g., berth allocation) and must thus be considered concurrently. To enhance transportation efficiency, effective scheduling algorithms are required. In this study, we examine the barge scheduling problem arising from a river-to-sea channel with tidal restrictions in the real world, where barges’ loading and unloading operations are placed at both ends of the navigation channel and must be planned and coordinated with their channel movements. To reduce the overall completion time for all barges, we develop a mixed integer linear programming model with several valid inequalities. To satisfy the second-level computational efficiency requirement, a straightforward yet efficient variable neighborhood search algorithm is proposed. Real-world case studies based on a barge transportation project in Boffa, Guinea are conducted. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is applicable for efficient decision-making and effective in assisting barges to avoid missing feasible tide windows by slightly altering the first-come-first-serve schedule of the barges. With the proposed approach, the size and speed of the barge fleet can be optimized, and the tidal influence is also evaluated quantitatively.

Evaluation on the application mode of blockchain technology in water transportation engineering project management

Abstract Due to the continuous development and application of blockchain technology, more and more industries are exploring its application in project management. In the management of water transportation engineering projects, blockchain technology also has certain application potential. This article will start with the characteristics of blockchain technology, and the current situation and needs of water transportation project management, analyze the application mode of blockchain technology in water transportation project management, and explore its advantages, limitations, and practical applications. The experimental results of this article showed that when blockchain technology was applied to the management of water transportation engineering projects, its information sharing score was 93; its data storage and management score was 96.1; its smart contract score was 97.4; its fund management score was 97.1; its Internet of Things technology score was 96.5, which was far higher than the score of applying traditional technologies. It was shown that using blockchain technology for water transportation engineering project management can improve the efficiency and quality of project management, reduce costs, and extend to a wider range of water transportation lines and project fields in the future.

Assessment and Analysis of the Complexities in Sustainability of the Transport Projects Under CPEC: A Grounded Theory Approach

This study proposes a modern research framework for establishing a grounded theory perspective on regional development initiatives along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Grounded theory is a well-known research approach that uses comparative analysis to generate hypotheses from analyzed data. Thematic event analysis exposes the transitions between domains throughout CPEC project design and execution, including political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental elements. The Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project’s axial coding highlights contextual variables such as problematic agreements, circumvention of regulations, lack of preparation, public indignation, heritage demolition, tree cutting, and regional tensions. These elements, coupled with China-Pakistan relations, the CPEC framework, infrastructural conditions, and other considerations, impact top-down planning, bureaucratic difficulties, and mismanagement of government plans. Consequently, these techniques cause project delays, unsustainable subsidies, historical damage, and environmental implications, raising questions about accountability and political regime change. This chapter focuses on data collection by using the Grounded Theory Method. These ramifications go beyond the CPEC project, emphasizing the significance of consulting key parties and selecting projects based on scientific and technological criteria. Institutional strengthening, climate change policies, and a focus on sustainable development are all critical. Policy consequences include open and accountable resource allocation, enhanced planning and risk assessment, cost-cutting techniques, cultural heritage preservation, specialized courts, and investment in education and healthcare. It is also critical to strengthen democratic institutions and reduce the environmental dangers.

Spatial economic dynamics in transport project appraisal

Spatial economic dynamics in transport project appraisal

An Integrated Approach of Travel Demand Modeling and Decision-Making Tools for the Assessment of Transportation Projects

An Integrated Approach of Travel Demand Modeling and Decision-Making Tools for the Assessment of Transportation Projects

Policy-driven strategic transport planning for the Western Province, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s transport sector strives for efficient and effective mobility solutions in terms of the quality and quantity of services provided. However, the modal share of public transport continues to decrease with increasing personal incomes, resulting in the deterioration in service quality of all transport systems in the Western Province. This occurs despite significant government investments in expressways and plans for rapid transit projects. The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the consequent fuel crisis have forced the government to limit investment on transport projects that would be sustainable and bring maximum return on investment. Such selection requires careful consideration of appropriate transport policies and plans. Based on a critical review of existing transport policies and programs, this paper proposes selecting policy-based projects found to be best suited to the Western Province. Several proposals to improve the service quality in different transport modes through better regulation integration of IT and other modern technologies are discussed in terms of selecting policy parameters.

The interactions between accessibility and crash risk from a social equity perspective: A case study at the Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan region

Problem: Transport policies generally prioritize improving safety and accessibility levels, as they are regarded as the most important indicators of the quality of the transport system serving the public. However, inequalities associated with safety and accessibility issues are generally overlooked in these policies. Despite the importance and necessity of transport policies to address equity issues, there is still scarce knowledge on the interactions between equity, safety, and accessibility. This research aims to address this gap in the literature by creating a better understanding of the relationships between accessibility levels and traffic safety with a focus on social equity perspectives. Method: A crash risk evaluation method and a Gravity model are utilized to analyze cycling safety and accessibility to jobs by bicycle. Two linear regression models (LM) were conducted to investigate the statistical correlations between cycling crash risk and accessibility. Moreover, the Bivariate local Moran’s I method was employed to assess the spatial inequalities of distribution of crash risk and job accessibility over different income-level populations. Results: The analyses showed that low-income people are not only disadvantaged in terms of job accessibility by bicycle but are also exposed to higher cycling crash risks, compared to high-income groups. Furthermore, most disadvantaged zones that have the highest need for road safety and accessibility improvements are identified as areas where low-income populations are exposed to higher crash risk and/or have lower access to jobs by bicycle. Summary: This study contributes to the transport literature by investigating the interactions between safety and accessibility and the impacts on transport equity. The findings of the statistical and spatial analysis are beneficial for the decision-makers, considering the probable mutual implications of land-use and transport developments and projects aiming to improve safety, accessibility, or both for different population groups.

Exploring the Transport Infrastructure Sustainability Performance: An Investigation of the Transportation Projects in Saudi Arabia

In the Saudi Arabian construction projects, the transport infrastructure sustainability assessment has become a priority in recent years. The purpose of this research is to assess the sustainability performance of transport infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. It specifically seeks to assess the effects of these initiatives on the environment, society, and economy, while highlighting their advantages and disadvantages as well as potential areas for development. A key objective of this evaluation is to provide thoughtful analysis and suggestions for improving Saudi Arabia’s transportation infrastructure development. The study was conducted using a Likert-scale questionnaire survey among 197 professionals in Saudi Arabia. The Cronbach’s alpha test was conducted to assess the validity of the survey. Moreover, statistical analysis using SPSS software 25 was used along with the Spearman correlation test to evaluate the respondent behavior of the survey. The investigation serves as a foundation for devising strategies and policies to promote sustainable transportation practices in Saudi Arabia. The study’s insights can guide effective planning and regulations that prioritize sustainability, environmental preservation, and public support. By focusing on these outcomes, transportation networks can be improved, environmental impacts reduced, construction methods enhanced, and safety ensured for workers and the public. A durable, effective, and environmentally conscious transportation infrastructure for Saudi Arabia’s present and future generations could be achieved by embracing sustainable transportation infrastructure and giving priority to the determined results.

Risks and uncertainties in carbon capture, transport, and storage projects: A comprehensive review

The rapid escalation of climate change and global warming underscores the critical role of CO2 emissions, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has emerged as a promising way to address this challenge. It is estimated that CCS could account for 25–67% of emissions reductions in heavy industries. Nonetheless, the realization of large-scale CCS deployment demands a meticulous evaluation of associated risks (e.g., pure and speculative) and uncertainties (e.g., aleatoric, epistemic and Knightian) across the entire process. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the risks and uncertainties (R&U), both technical (e.g., oprational and site chractrization) and non-technical (e.g., financial, political and social) inherent in CCS initiatives. Drawing from a diverse array of recent literature sources—including more than 400 CCS-related articles, books, theses, and reports—the analysis spans the period from 2015 to 2023. The methodology adheres rigorously to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, ensuring methodical precision and coherence. Our analysis indicates that approximately 47% of studies found from 2015 focused on technical R&U in CCS, while the remaining 53% addressed non-technical R&U. This distribution demonstrates a relative equilibrium in the research landscape as depicted in the literature. This review by considering R&U within the CCS landscape can provide crucial insights for engineers and researchers in decarbonization. It serves as a vital guide for navigating intricate challenges in CCS projects. Moreover, administrators and developers can use this knowledge to enhance technological security and cost-efficiency. Ultimately, this paper identifies practical strategies and methodologies that enhance the feasibility of CCS, offering concrete recommendations and suggestions to elevate the success potential of CCS endeavors.

Pathways to integrating paratransit and formal public transport: Case studies from Tshwane, South Africa

At its core public transport integration is about the collaboration of actors. Collaboration is elusive and difficult to achieve, especially in developing countries where insufficient regulation and dispersed, quasi-formal public transport operations are common. Asymmetries in information and objectives between paratransit and formal sector actors create barriers and may prevent synergies from emerging. A simplified framework for assessing the collaboration of actors during the implementation of integrated public transport projects is proposed. The position of the framework is that it is critical to identify actors’ objectives and barriers to collaboration, and then to action decisions to remove these barriers and achieve objectives at every step of the STO (Strategic Tactical Operational) decision-making process to maintain structural and horizontal consistency. The framework is tested ex-post on two public transport integration projects in Tshwane, South Africa: the Gautrain regional rapid rail and A Re Yeng Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), both of which are supported by paratransit feeders. The case study shows how collaboration is achieved when all the key actors' objectives and barriers are understood, planned for and implemented across the STO levels and how failure to do so can lead to failed integration outcomes. The framework may be useful to authorities pursuing collaboration with paratransit for the purposes of implementing integrated public transport in the Global South.

Is high-speed rail a sustainable mobility option? A life-cycle assessment of the Basque Y project in Spain

The Basque Y High Speed Rail connection between Madrid and the Basque Autonomous Community is, quite exceptionally, a mixed freight and passengers HSR line, that has been presented as a fundamental step towards a more sustainable mobility. In this paper, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to assess the environmental performance of the line throughout its lifetime, based on the latest data available, including both construction and maintenance burdens. Results show that this new corridor is not justified in terms of reducing emissions and energy consumption, mainly due to its low transport density. It also has a negligible impact on Spanish current low rail freight traffic. We conclude, therefore, that Spain needs to reconsider its AVE network expansion if aiming at increasing rail's modal share and meeting the emissions targets set by the EU. From a policy perspective, many information inconsistencies have been found regarding the demand projections of freight transport, which cast serious doubt about the decision-making process behind Trans-European transport projects.

Lifecycle Applications of Building Information Modeling for Transportation Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in a nation’s economic stability, security, and long-term sustainability. For decades, United States infrastructure has been rated as inadequate and the resources required for its restoration continue to grow. Despite the transformative potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) coupled with digital technologies in revolutionizing the building industry, its widespread adoption within infrastructure projects remains limited. This study explores the application of BIM and emerging technologies in transportation projects’ lifecycle, identifies research gaps, and discusses the use of technology to address current infrastructure challenges. Employing a systematic review approach, this research synthesizes BIM application studies based on well-defined criteria. The synthesis of the literature underscores the comprehensive integration of BIM throughout the lifecycle of transportation assets, catalyzed by collaborative, information-driven processes. However, challenges pertaining to interoperability, role delineation, standards enforcement, and cost persist. This study advocates for a deeper exploration of the synergy between BIM, digital technologies, and infrastructure, envisioning an enriched transportation lifecycle in the future.

Roads and Rules: What Does Infrastructure Reveal about International Law?

AbstractInfrastructure has been the focus of geopolitically significant regional strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Highway. Mega-infrastructure projects are thought to offer crucial stimulus to support economic recovery and “infrastructure diplomacy” efforts. Transportation projects, like roads, are material objects that offer complex questions for international law, most obviously when projects or their impacts cross borders. They are long-term and long-distance, with varying impacts upon closer and further populations and environments across the construction and life of the asset. This article draws on insights from new materialism to analyse what infrastructure's entanglements might suggest about international law. The relationship between international law and transportation infrastructure is contingent. However, there is a pattern to this contingency that foregrounds funding “gaps”, investment protections, and risk assessments, which minimizes intersecting impacts and human/non-human relationships.