Transport System Research Articles

Thermal analysis for SWCNTs and MWCTs due to coaxially stretchable disks with applications of viscous dissipation and thermal radiation: Artificial neural network analysis

Owing to exclusive thermal prospective of nanoparticles, diverse applications of such materials have been reported in heat transfer systems. The carbon nanotube (CNTs) is the modified class of nanoparticles which is preserve more stable thermal properties. The decomposition of CNTs with base materials offer special applications in enhancing thermal efficiency of energy systems, nuclear processes, sensors, diagnostic imaging etc. Following to such motivations in mind, the objective of current work is to present artificial neural network analysis for heat transfer problem due to suspension of carbon nanotubes-based nanofluid. Both single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes are utilized to analyse the thermal impact of water base fluid. The source of flow is coaxially stretchable disks. The applications of porous medium phenomenon are reported to inspect the inertial effects. The problem is further updated by utilizing the radiative phenomenon, external heat generation and dissipation and slip constraints. The transport system is expressed via coupled nonlinear equations which are tackled via numerical computations.

Perceptions of people with reduced mobility regarding universal accessibility at bus stops: A pilot study in Santiago, Chile

Universal Accessibility is an important condition to promote a better quality of life and well-being, especially in public transport, which allows free mobility, connection with the environment, and occupational participation. The Public Transport System of the “Red Metropolitana de Movilidad” in Santiago de Chile seeks that buses should have measures that facilitate their use; however, bus stops present challenges that people with reduced mobility (PRM) experience each day. The objective is to study their experiences regarding the perceived accessibility at bus stops, and if this influences their mobility in the community, considering the COVID-19 context. The population addressed is PRM who use mobility aids or assistance and need more space to move. The methodology is a qualitative phenomenological study through semi-structured individual interviews. The results showed a negative perception of accessibility, reporting experiences associated with barriers, challenges, and opportunities that influence successful participation in mobility in the community. In conclusion, there is a lack of regulations regarding the characteristics of these spaces, being necessary to incorporate the perception of PRM into the design to guarantee the right to move in equal conditions.

Study on the estradiol degradation gene expression and resistance mechanism of Rhodococcus R-001 under low-temperature stress

Estradiol (E2), an endocrine disruptor, acts by mimicking or interfering with the normal physiological functions of natural hormones within organisms, leading to issues such as endocrine system disruption. Notably, seasonal fluctuations in environmental temperature may influence the degradation speed of estradiol (E2) in the natural environment , intensifying its potential health and ecological risks. Therefore, this study aims to explore how bacteria can degrade E2 under low-temperature conditions, unveiling their resistance mechanisms, with the goal of developing new strategies to mitigate the threat of E2 to health and ecological safety. In this paper, we found that Rhodococcus equi DSSKP-R-001 (R-001) can efficiently degrade E2 at 30°C and 10°C. Six genes in R-001 were shown to be involved in E2 degradation by heterologous expression at 30°C. Among them, 17β-HSD, KstD2, and KstD3, were also involved in E2 degradation at 10°C; KstD was not previously known to degrade E2. RNA-seq was used to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to explore the stress response of R-001 to low-temperature environments to elucidate the strain’s adaptation mechanism. At the low temperature, R-001 cells changed from a round spherical shape to a long rod or irregular shape with elevated unsaturated fatty acids and were consistent with the corresponding genetic changes. Many differentially expressed genes linked to the cold stress response were observed. R-001 was found to upregulate genes encoding cold shock proteins, fatty acid metabolism proteins, the ABC transport system, DNA damage repair, energy metabolism and transcriptional regulators. In this study, we demonstrated six E2 degradation genes in R-001 and found for the first time that E2 degradation genes have different expression characteristics at 30°C and 10°C. Linking R-001 to cold acclimation provides new insights and a mechanistic basis for the simultaneous degradation of E2 under cold stress in Rhodococcus adaptation.

The Atypical Transport System: Natural Gas Pipeline System

The natural gas pipeline system (NGPS) is complex with a diverse network topology. This study elucidates the network characteristics of the NGPS, revealing that it shares commonalities with small-world networks, but with differences caused by its structural and operational characteristics. The combination of the low aggregation effect caused by branching structure and the offsetting effect caused by economic and geographical constraints results in a network with small world characteristics. NGPS has longer mean path than common small world network, but the aggregation factor is close to that of a standard small world network. With respect to its small-world characteristics and correlation with self-organized criticality (SOC), an in-depth study of the SOC characteristics of the NGPS was conducted utilizing a combination of traditional logarithm analysis and R/S analysis. The findings establish that there are atypical SOC characteristics, characterized by a weakened power law within a specific functional range, thereby encouraging the advancement of SCADA and other safety technologies. Because of the line-pack, which induces time lags in the NGPS, NGPS can prevent the cascade failures. The reasons for the periodicity and centrality of NGPS data are analyzed by the affecting components, with the R/S analysis verifying a weak positive correlation of the function data across different time series. The interlinking of the SOC and R/S analysis illustrates the connection between critical status, accident type, and operation index. The results prove the reasonability and importance of insurance measures, such as regular internal detection, higher grade steel pipes change and staff training et al., in a novel view of SOC. The future works in building accidents database and human factors study are proposed.

Privacy-preserving authentication approach for vehicular networks

Vehicle AdHoc networks have an important role in intelligent transport systems that enhance safety in road usage by transmitting real traffic updates in terms of congestion and road accidents. The dynamic nature of the vehicular AdHoc networks make them susceptible to attacks because once malicious users gain access to the network they can transform traffic data. It is essential to protect the vehicular ad hoc network because any attack can cause unwanted harm, to solve this it is important to have an approach that detects malicious vehicles and not give them access to the network. The proposed approach is a privacy preserving authentication approach that authenticates vehicles before they have access to the vehicular network thereby identifying malicious vehicles. The model was executed in docker container that simulates the network in a Linux environment running Ubuntu 20.04. The model enhances privacy by assigning Pseudo IDs to authenticated vehicles and the results demonstrate effectiveness of the solution in that unlike other models it boasts faster authentication and lower computational overhead which is necessary in a vehicular network scenario.

Modern successful global solutions in environmentally friendly urban delivery and their application in Ukraine

Nowadays the issue of reducing environmental pollution is on the agenda of all countries. Among the areas that have huge negative consequences for nature, logistics and supply chains take their place. Today, there are many concepts and scientific currents that recognize the need to account for the environmental component in urban logistics. Environmental aspects are used when evaluating the efficiency of investment projects, developing new models of vehicles, calculating taxes and insurance payments, and when searching for the best delivery schemes. The goal of the work. Taking into account the world experience in research on the chosen topic, the purpose of this study is to consolidate the world's successful experience in environmentally friendly urban delivery and assess their applicability in Ukraine. Technologies and methods that allow reducing the negative impact of motor vehicles on the environment include: The technology of off-peak delivery, which allows you to improve the speed mode of the car. With off-peak delivery, the probability of traffic jams is minimized, which makes the speed of movement the maximum permissible in the city (and, accordingly, the most environmentally friendly). Although night delivery is currently not possible in Ukraine due to the curfew, late and early delivery is still available, allowing you to successfully bypass traffic jams. Use of consolidation centers. The economic idea of consolidation of freight transportation is to use the effect of scale - the greater the carrying capacity of the vehicle, the lower the specific costs for transportation of a unit of production. Currently, the construction of the consolidation center is being evaluated from the point of view of the impact of the supply chain on the environment. At the same time, the existence of a consolidation center near or within the city allows to organize delivery by vehicles with zero or low level of environmental pollution. Use of Parcel Delivery Lockers. Delivery lockers are usually installed in places where the maximum flow of residents is concentrated, which makes it possible to create additional comfort for users due to the possibility of choosing the point closest to their own home or place of work. This method eliminates up to two thirds of harmful emissions into the air. The number of post machines and the area covered by them increases year by year, which allows us to talk about the success of this technology. According to the results of 2022, such major players of express delivery as "Nova Poshta" (now “Nova”), "Ukrposhta" and "Meest" will continue to work with post delivery lockers in Ukraine. Use of more environmentally friendly types of transport. The use of hybrid, electric or non-motorized vehicles is increasingly used in last-mile logistics. Electric vehicles, mopeds, two- or three-wheeled bicycles with a large trunk or cargo body can be considered environmentally friendly types of urban logistics. Such vehicles have practically zero emissions of harmful substances, they are much more maneuverable and do not require a lot of space for unloading, loading and parking. Implementation of zones with low (zero) air pollution. Zones with zero or low emissions have long been used in developed countries. There are no generally accepted technologies for calculating the territory that requires restrictions on the movement of transport, as well as for calculating the cost of such movement. Usually it depends on the will of the local authorities, the wishes of the residents and the well-being of the region. Prohibition on the use of motor vehicles. Some local authorities introduce a complete ban on the use of motor vehicles within certain parts of the city. Usually these are historical centers with dense buildings and a large number of tourists. Sometimes such drastic measures are combined with night delivery technology. If this is not possible, the only alternative is delivery by small, usually two- or three-wheeled, zero-emission vehicles. Improvement of traffic management. Competently designed organization of road traffic can reduce the pressure on the environment. The use of an intelligent transport system in smart cities allows you to perform important tasks like detection of transport accidents; automated control of the ramp, traffic lights and parking, etc. Improvement of road conditions. This refers to the quality of the road surface, markings, cleanliness of the road surface, etc. Improvement of road conditions indirectly affects the improvement of environment of the region. Summing up the results of the research, successful global practices in environmental friendly urban logistics are highlighted, which are applied and have prospects for application in Ukraine. It was concluded that there is a huge potential of using world experience in urban logistics of Ukraine. This will bring Ukrainian logistics and urban supply chains to a new level, increasing the level of health and general satisfaction of the citizens.

Исследование модернизации морского пассажирского порта на основе цифрового двойника и оценка инфраструктуры с помощью динамических данных от беспилотных авиационных систем

The current state of the maritime passenger transportation industry is considered, as well as the factors influencing the chosen industry are investigated (competition between ports in the sea region, new environmental requirements and a shortage of space for new ports and terminals in megacities). Models of the evolution of seaports and terminals in the regions of the seas are analyzed and the need to solve the problem of forecasting development, reasonable modernization is revealed infrastructure. The importance of integrating passenger ports into urban transport systems and ensuring effective interconnection of maritime transport with regional transport systems is noted. Special attention is paid to the growth and development potential of sea ferries and cruises in the Baltic Sea region, the historical importance of St. Petersburg for cruise tourism and the need for the gradual restoration of the port and the development of new route networks are noted. The necessity of developing new methods for modernizing the infrastructure of passenger seaports based on the creation of digital models and the use of dynamic data is substantiated. As a solution, it is proposed to create a new digital model of a marine passenger port using information obtained from unmanned aircraft systems. This model will accurately take into account the infrastructural features of passenger ports and terminals, as well as the established priority of berths for the service of cruise and ferry ships. For multi-scenario modeling, a new digital model of the marine passenger port of St. Petersburg “Marine Façade” is proposed. To analyze the simulation results, the developed software modules in the Python programming language are proposed to describe the behavior strategies of the decision maker (port manager). To describe the decision-making process in the conditions of uncertainty that arises when making a decision on the modernization of the port infrastructure, the choice of the Wald criterion was justified as a criterion. A series of experiments was performed, based on the data, digital 2D and 3D models of a marine passenger port were formed for subsequent use in the AnyLogic environment, and a digital twin was built. A distinctive feature of the model is the up-to-date information on the state of the transport infrastructure and integration with data on ship calls. The presented model, methods of working with the results of multi-dimensional modeling, the use of unmanned aircraft systems, and the development of a model based on decision-making under uncertainty can be applied to other passenger seaports and terminals, which emphasizes the universality of the proposed approach.

Corrosion characterization of engine connecting rods using fringe projection profilometry and unsupervised machine learning

The consequences associated with corrosion, a global industrial peril, cost an estimated $ 2.5 trillion annually to inspect, rectify, and prevent. In addition to significant economic losses, corrosion-induced failure of critical components in transport systems, like automobiles, may also lead to loss of human life. Hence, it is essential to eradicate corrosion in its early stages. The most vital automobile component is its engine, whose failure can cause fatal accidents. Regular quality inspection and maintenance by skilled personnel is essential to prevent this. Automating this task will address this domain’s personnel shortage while mitigating the risk of human error. To enable the performance of this task without the need for human intervention, we determine the morphological parameters affected by corrosion in automotive engine components, namely connecting rods, using fringe projection profilometry, a high-speed 3D profiling technique capable of achieving sub-millimeter accuracy. We then perform classification using k-means clustering into low, medium, and high corrosion bands, based on the parameters obtained from 3D imaging. The model was able to achieve a high accuracy of 88.57%. The accuracy was determined by considering the visual classification performed by a Material Science Expert as the ground truth.

Assessment of Sustainable Mobility Patterns of University Students: Case of Cameroon

The transition to sustainable mobility is a recognized socio-economic and environmental challenge, particularly among young adults. In addressing the gap in the literature on young adults’ travel behaviors, especially in Cameroon, this paper investigates the transport mode choices, influencing factors, and barriers to sustainable mobility of students at the National Advanced School of Public Works, Yaoundé (NASPW). Data were collected through online questionnaires with 360 valid responses. Findings revealed that most students used multiple modes of transport for commuting, with moto-taxis being the most common. Accessibility, vehicle speed, and flexibility appeared as the most important reasons for the preferred transport modes, while driver’s license possession, safety perceptions, speed, and proximity were significant predictors for mode choice. Demographic factors were found to influence transport preferences, with distinct clusters prioritizing different aspects. Barriers to public transport were primarily long waiting times and congestion, while active mobility was hindered by distance, infrastructure, and weather. The usage of public transportation was encouraged by its affordability and reduced travel time, whilst active options were preferred due to cost savings and health benefits. To promote sustainable mobility for campus travel, it is crucial to encourage active modes, develop mass transport systems, and raise awareness through symposia and conferences among students and staff.

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route: Kazakhstani Perspective on Challenges, Opportunities, and Prospects

The sustainable development of transport and logistics systems and projects is one factor for the successful development of states and an indicator of integration processes in certain regions, including Central Asia. This study is devoted to the analysis of some aspects of the diversification of the external transport and logistics infrastructure; namely, an assessment of the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) from the perspective of the Republic of Kazakhstan. While the route is useful for trade in multiple sectors, this paper will focus on the shipment of petroleum products via the TITR. Despite the absence of restrictions on the transit of goods to Europe through Russia, there are serious challenges to increasing the delivery time. The development of transport and logistics infrastructure is also relevant for Kazakhstan in the context of its new foreign policy role in the international arena to strengthen interregional cooperation. This requires serious attention and research into potentially promising routes. One of these routes is the TITR. Its development can significantly strengthen the economic position of Kazakhstan and strengthen its diplomatic potential. Along with this, there are several challenges and difficulties that need to be analyzed and overcome.

An attempt to determine the impact of the implementation of autonomous vehicles on a larger scale on the planning of city transport systems

An attempt to determine the impact of the implementation of autonomous vehicles on a larger scale on the planning of city transport systems

THE ROLE OF STARTUPS IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CITIES – DUBAI AS A MODEL

Objective: The objective of this study is to learn about the role of start-ups in promoting the development of the smart city of Dubai, since these companies are always seeking innovative solutions to the challenges facing cities and rely on the latest methods and software used, thus helping cities to achieve the indicators that guarantee them important rank among other smart cities. Theoretical Framework: In this study, the basic concepts of the variables of the study were addressed by identifying the concept of start-ups, their characteristics and their importance in general, as well as by highlighting the subject of smart cities by listing some definitions and mentioning their advantages and dimensions. To then link the two variables by clarifying the relationship between startups and smart cities. Method: The methodology adopted for this research includes a sample of the most important start-up companies in Dubai selected from STARTUPRANKING, and the services provided by each company and its area of operation have been identified. To then determine the impact of the services provided on any indicators on which cities rely to become smarter (smart governance, smart transport, smart energy, smart technology, smart infrastructure, smart health, smart buildings and intelligent populations). Through which the role of these companies in the development of smart cities is determined. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that Start-ups promote the development of cities by contributing to the challenges facing cities, communities and individuals by: - Ensuring a clean environment and smart transport systems that help to facilitate the movement of citizens and tourists through the use of telephones and at the lowest cost; - Strengthening cyber security to protect digital systems from threats; - Developing programs and techniques used in the educational sector, and focusing on developing the capabilities of individuals to ensure optimal use of technology; - Finding energy and environmental solutions to ensure optimum use of available resources. Originality/Value: This study sheds light on the importance of modern technology-based start-ups in promoting the development of smart cities. Dubai has been chosen as a model for a leading and developing Arab city that ranks first globally compared to other smart cities, and can be used as a successful experiment. In addition, the importance of both start-ups and smart cities, which are the pillars for the economic development of countries, they rely on advanced technology and the swift provision of services, ultimately facilitating life and enhancing the standard of living for their citizens.

Physiological, molecular, and environmental insights into plant nitrogen uptake, and metabolism under abiotic stresses.

Nitrogen (N) as an inorganic macronutrient is inevitable for plant growth, development, and biomass production. Many external factors and stresses, such as acidity, alkalinity, salinity, temperature, oxygen, and rainfall, affect N uptake and metabolism in plants. The uptake of ammonium (NH4 +) and nitrate (NO3 -) in plants mainly depends on soil properties. Under the sufficient availability of NO3 - (>1mM), low-affinity transport system is activated by gene network NRT1, and under low NO3 - availability (<1mM), high-affinity transport system starts functioning encoded by NRT2 family of genes. Further, under limited N supply due to edaphic and climatic factors, higher expression of the AtNRT2.4 and AtNRT2.5T genes of the NRT2 family occur and are considered as N remobilizing genes. The NH4 + ion is the final form of N assimilated by cells mediated through the key enzymes glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase. The WRKY1 is a major transcription factor of the N regulation network in plants. However, the transcriptome and metabolite profiles show variations in N assimilation metabolites, including glycine, glutamine, and aspartate, under abiotic stresses. The overexpression of NO3 - transporters (OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT1.1b) can significantly improve the biomass and yield of various crops. Altering the expression levels of genes could be a valuable tool to improve N metabolism under the challenging conditions of soil and environment, such as unfavorable temperature, drought, salinity, heavy metals, and nutrient stress.

Urban mobility in the future: text analysis of mobility plans

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) or similar documents from 17 European capitals (published between 2010 and 2021) and the European SUMP guidelines have been analysed to understand how cities shape mobility and their transport systems. Text analysis is applied to identify development tendencies in a time- and cost-effective manner, without relying on traditional deep semantic analysis techniques. In addition to traditional statistical indicators, we introduce Category Term Frequency (CTF) as a new measure in text analysis. CTF reveals the number and proportion of words belonging to the same content group, namely specific mobility-related categories. The results indicate that categories describing general aspects such as the future, general transport, environment, and society are more prominently represented compared to more forward-looking categories like automation, electromobility, and sharing. The aggregated CTF of categories describing these emerging aspects is highest in the mobility plans of Copenhagen, Helsinki, Luxembourg, and Vienna, which are considered forerunners in their implementation. In general, the analysis concludes that despite recent technological developments and new business models, the examined mobility plans barely mention terms that would imply radical changes by the 2030s. Strategic documents and, thus, urban mobility developments suggest only a slow transition towards the expected levels of sustainable and smart urban mobility. These findings may contribute to understanding and (re)considering urban and transport development strategies in Europe. Furthermore, this text analysis framework provides planners and other experts with a novel tool to identify the focal areas of mobility-related (or other) documents.

Logistics potential to ensure the resilience of the Ukrainian economic system facing global challenges

The aim of this paper is to assess the logistics potential to ensure the resilience of the economic system of Ukraine in the face of global challenges. The methods used in the study include: structural-dynamic, determinological, correlation analysis, index method, graphical and cartographic methods. The calculations were based on open data from analytical studies on the development of transport and logistics, as well as data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that high logistics potential, which is determined by the effectiveness of customs and border control, the quality of trade and transport infrastructure, the ease of organization of delivery, and the quality of logistics services, is the driver of the resilience of socio-economic systems of countries. The reduction of the logistical potential of the economic system of Ukraine in the conditions of a full-scale war is shown. This decrease resulted from blocked operation of a number of logistics routes and branches of the transport and logistics sphere and destroyed transport infrastructure objects as a result of hostilities and missile attacks.A change in the vector of export-import flows and their reorientation by means of transport was noted. Drivers of strengthening the logistics potential of the Ukrainian economic system are the transformation of the transport and logistics system, deepening cooperation with neighboring countries, systematic state support for the development of freight transportation by rail, compliance with European standards, and creation of Ukrzaliznytsia’s own freight carrier company that will work outside Ukraine. AcknowledgmentThis study was carried out within the framework of the international project “Increasing the capacity of freight transportation infrastructure on EU-Ukraine borders” (№ 22220189) implemented under the Visegrad Grant+ Programme.

A Lagrangian approach for variable speed limit implementation in C-ITS framework

With the development of Cooperative-Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) technologies, new strategies based on embedded technologies have emerged to manage road networks. This paper focuses on adapting to this connectivity context a Variable Speed Limit (VSL) system to detect shockwaves and anticipate their propagation based on the kinematic wave theory to dampen them. We provide an alternative framework to adapt the VSL strategy, well-suited for Eulerian approaches, into a Lagrangian context. While the Eulerian approach is based on Loop Detector (LD) and macroscopic traffic indicators (e.g. flow, density), our Lagrangian approach relies on Road Side Units (RSUs) that record the GPS traces shared by Connected Vehicles (CVs). Based on the combination of CV trajectories, Fundamental and Space-Time Diagrams theory, shockwave estimation and prediction processes directly operate on congestion waves, which release the estimation issue for traffic density. The simulation-based analysis reveals that the performance of the Lagrangian approach is comparable to the Eulerian configurations.

An Active and Versatile Electron Transport System for Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases from the Alkane Degrading Organism Acinetobacter sp. OC4.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) are valuable biocatalysts for the oxyfunctionalization of non-activated carbon-hydrogen bonds. Most CYPs rely on electron transport proteins as redox partners. In this study, the ferredoxin reductase (FdR) and ferredoxin (FD) for a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Acinetobactersp.OC4 are investigated. Upon heterologous production of both proteins independently in Escherichiacoli, spectral analysis showed their reduction capability towards reporter electron acceptors, e.g., cytochrome c. The individual proteins' specific activity towards cytochrome c reduction was 25 Umg‑1. Furthermore, the possibility to enhance electron transfer by artificial fusion of the units was elucidated. FdR and FD were linked by helical linkers [EAAAK]n, flexible glycine linkers [GGGGS]n or rigid proline linkers [EPPPP]n of n=1-4 sequence repetitions. The system with a glycine linker (n=4) reached an appreciable specific activity of 19Umg‑1 towards cytochrome c. Moreover, their ability to drive different members of the CYP153A subfamily is demonstrated. By creating artificial self-sufficient P450s with FdR, FD, and a panel of four CYP153A representatives, effective hydroxylation of n-hexane in a whole-cell system was achieved. The results indicate this protein combination to constitute a functional and versatile surrogate electron transport system for this subfamily.

Adaptive optics telemetry standard

Context. The amount of adaptive optics (AO) telemetry generated by visible/near-infrared ground-based observatories is ever greater, leading to a growing need for a standardised data exchange format to support performance analysis, AO research, and development activities that involve large-scale telemetry mining, processing, and curation. Aims. This paper introduces the Adaptive Optics Telemetry (AOT) data exchange format as a standard for sharing AO telemetry from visible/infrared ground-based observatories. AOT is based on the flexible image transport system (FITS) and aims to provide unambiguous and consistent data access across various systems and configurations, including natural and single- or multiple-laser guide-star AO systems. Methods. We designed AOT with a focus on two key use cases: atmospheric turbulence parameter estimation and point-spread function reconstruction. We prototyped and tested the design using existing AO telemetry datasets from multiple systems: single conjugate with natural and laser guide stars, tomographic systems with multi-channel wavefront sensors, and single- and multi-wavefront correctors in systems featuring either a Shack-Hartmann or Pyramid as the main wavefront sensor. Results. The AOT file structure has been thoroughly defined, with specified data fields, descriptions, data types, units, and expected dimensions. To support this format, we have developed a Python package that enables the data conversion, reading, writing, and exploration of AOT files; it has been made publicly available and is compatible with a general-purpose Python package manager. We have demonstrated the flexibility of the AOT format by packaging data from five different instruments, installed on different telescopes.

Electromagnetic Impact of Overhead High-Voltage Lines during Power Transmission on Buried Signaling Cables of the Traffic Control Systems in Modernized Railway Lines

The railway transport system is a key factor supporting industrialization in all aspects of human activity. However, in order not to lose its importance, it must meet the challenge of modern civilization. The safety, reliability, and efficiency of railway transport, to a large degree, depend on using highly integrated electronics, which are very sensitive to various disturbances generated in the electric traction system and train or coming from the environment. One of the sources of electromagnetic disturbances are high-voltage (HV) power lines running close to the railway infrastructure. The purpose was to assess the electromagnetic impact of overhead HV transmission lines on buried signaling cables of the railway traffic control system crossbreeding with them. The levels of voltage induced in the cable under steady state and the earth fault in the HV line at various soil resistivity were estimated. A software tool based on a hybrid numerical method that combines circuit theory and electromagnetic field theory was used for computations. It was found that very high voltages may be induced in the signaling cables during earth faults in the HV lines, which may lead to serious interference or damage to the equipment. The results provide useful knowledge for implementing modern railway traffic control systems and protection measures.

Assessing the integration between motorised and non-motorised transport systems: experiences of the Ekurhuleni Municipality, South Africa

ABSTRACT South Africa is considered an economically progressive country, meaning it is slowly exiting the third world and transitioning towards the developing world. With this comes many challenges, some rooted in transportation. Around 80% of South Africans solely rely on public transportation (PT) and are dependent on private minibus taxis. There is little knowledge and evidence on the fluidity and integration of motorised transport systems with non-motorised transport (NMT) in South Africa. Consequently, this work assessed the implementation of NMT and PT in Ekurhuleni. The study adopted a case study research design by analysing the Harambee BRT through a qualitative approach using desktop studies and semi-structured interviews with key informants involved in the project. The work identified five aspects of accessibility (application of the inclusive cities paradigm), safety (sufficient lighting, signage and frequent patrolling by law enforcement), infrastructure (Information and Communications Technology (ICT), walkways, pedestrian bridges, dedicated bus lanes, paving, and tact tiles, universal design principles and an Ekucard system), sustainability (promoting healthier lifestyles and the cost effectiveness of the transport system) and public involvement as the core elements which created a model that needs to be implemented in future projects in order to effectively integrate NMT and PT.