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16 pages, 2749 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Estimating the Volatility of Flights and Risk of Saturation of Airspaces in the European Core Area: A Methodological Proposal

by Ibon Galarraga, Luis María Abadie, Thomas Standfuss, Itziar Ruiz de Gauna and Nestor Goicoechea

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12576; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312576 - 22 Nov 2023

Viewed by 864

Abstract

Despite having some fluctuations and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the demand for flights had a general growing trend for the past years. As the airspace is limited, efforts to better manage the total number of flights are noteworthy. In addition, volatility [...] Read more.

Despite having some fluctuations and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the demand for flights had a general growing trend for the past years. As the airspace is limited, efforts to better manage the total number of flights are noteworthy. In addition, volatility (i.e., unpredicted changes) in the number of flights has been observed to be increasing. Efforts to improve flight forecasting are thus necessary to improve air traffic efficiency and reduce costs. In this study, volatility in the number of flights is estimated based on past trends, and the outcomes are used to project future levels. This enables risk situations such as having to manage unexpectedly high numbers of flights to be predicted. The methodological approach analyses the Functional Airspace Block of Central Europe (FABEC). Based on the number of flights for 2015–2019, the following are calculated: historic mean, variance, volatility, 95th percentile, flights per hour and flights per day of the week in different time zones in six countries. Due to the nature of air traffic and the overdispersion observed, this study uses counting data models such as negative binomial regressions. This makes it possible to calculate risk measures including expected shortfall (ES) and value at risk (VaR), showing for each hour that the number of flights can exceed planned levels by a certain number. The study finds that in Germany and Belgium at 13:00 h there is a 5% worst-case possibility of having averages of 683 and 246 flights, respectively. The method proposed is useful for planning under uncertainties. It is conducive to efficient airspace management, so risk indicators help Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to plan for low-probability situations in which there may be large numbers of flights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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12 pages, 5767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of a Steering Angle Estimation Model for Evaluation of Simulated Ship Handling Training for Remote Operators of Autonomous Ships

by T. M. Hwang and I. H. Youn

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11774; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111774 - 27 Oct 2023

Viewed by 867

Abstract

Through technological development, ships are being automated, reducing the number of human operators. Accordingly, the responsibility of humans becomes more significant, making a single operator’s proficiency count. Simulated ship-handling training evaluates trainees’ proficiency using specific criteria to verify proficiency. However, the present criteria [...] Read more.

Through technological development, ships are being automated, reducing the number of human operators. Accordingly, the responsibility of humans becomes more significant, making a single operator’s proficiency count. Simulated ship-handling training evaluates trainees’ proficiency using specific criteria to verify proficiency. However, the present criteria are confined to training scenarios, and it is hard to determine whether trainees finally achieved expert-like ability. This research conducted probabilistic estimation on experts’ average steering angles. The paper contains the corresponding explanations for each step of the research methods, from the data preprocessing step to the probabilistic steering angle estimation. The research findings include the experts’ trendline of average steering angles and the sample trainee’s evaluation results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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17 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling of Traffic Information and Services for the Traffic Control Center in Autonomous Vehicle-Mixed Traffic Situations

by Dong-Hyuk Yang, Sung-Soo Choi and Yong-Shin Kang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10719; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910719 - 26 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1699

Abstract

Achieving fully autonomous driving requires seamless collaboration between advanced autonomous driving and road infrastructure technologies. As the proportion of autonomous vehicles (AVs) increases, challenges may arise from their insufficient knowledge of the behavior of traffic objects and inability to effectively drive short distances. [...] Read more.

Achieving fully autonomous driving requires seamless collaboration between advanced autonomous driving and road infrastructure technologies. As the proportion of autonomous vehicles (AVs) increases, challenges may arise from their insufficient knowledge of the behavior of traffic objects and inability to effectively drive short distances. Therefore, traffic control centers that can proactively control these issues in real time are essential. In this study, first, the terminology is defined and the types of AV-mixed Traffic Information that a traffic control center needs to efficiently collect, store, and analyze to accommodate the coexistence of AVs and conventional vehicles are identified. Second, a generic notation for an AV-mixed Traffic Information model is defined and the results of modeling each AV-mixed Traffic Information type are presented. Third, an AV-mixed Traffic Information services model that included the names, operations, input/output messages, and relationships of all services is suggested. Finally, the importance of the service functionalities is evaluated through a survey. This study will serve as an initial guideline for the design, construction, and operation of traffic control centers and will help proactively address issues that may arise from the interaction between AVs and conventional vehicles on the road. Moreover, it contributes to identifying the types of traffic information and services that traffic control centers must provide in the era of AV-mixed traffic and suggests future directions for analysis and utilization of traffic information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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20 pages, 3526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecast Analysis of Pollutant Emissions of Cruise Ship Routes in Western Mediterranean

by Jerónimo Esteve-Pérez, Manuel del Río-González and José Enrique Gutiérrez-Romero

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8149; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148149 - 13 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1355

Abstract

The cruise shipping industry has a steadfast commitment to the environmentally sustainable operation of ships through many initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a forecast analysis of the emission inventory of NO_x, SO₂, and CO₂ [...] Read more.

The cruise shipping industry has a steadfast commitment to the environmentally sustainable operation of ships through many initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a forecast analysis of the emission inventory of NO_x, SO₂, and CO₂ during the sailing phase associated with cruise routes in the Western Mediterranean. Five scenarios were raised to obtain projections about future emissions considering the evolution of cruise traffic; the implementation of the Sulfur Emission Control Area (SECA) in the Mediterranean by 1 May 2025, and variations in the specific fuel consumption of the engines of the cruise ships. To this extent, a time series of cruise calls during 2019 in Mediterranean ports is used to identify the main routes and their associated emission inventory. Network analysis is applied to identify the routes associated with the cruise calls, and the emission inventory is estimated using a bottom-up approach. A total of 292 cruise routes were identified. The estimations reveal that the emissions of the cruise activities assessed are approximately equivalent to 0.58% of NO_x, 0.28% of SO₂, and 1% of CO₂ of the entirety of the emissions associated with maritime transport at the European level in 2019. The projection of the scenario with the highest cruise activity and the SECA being enforced leads to a reduction of 77% of the emissions of SO₂ considering the activity of 2019. The research conducted enables us to assess the environmental impact of the intense cruise ship activity registered in the Mediterranean and the positive footprint of the implementation of new regulations on emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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17 pages, 1804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shared E-Scooters and the Promotion of Equity across Urban Public Spaces—A Case Study in Braga, Portugal

by Gabriel Dias, Paulo Ribeiro and Elisabete Arsenio

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3653; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063653 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2352

Abstract

Shared e-scooters were introduced in urban public spaces as a way to promote a modal shift from cars in short-distance trips, as well as to improve sustainability, resilience, and equity in urban transport. However, the expansion of shared e-scooter services in 2019 proved [...] Read more.

Shared e-scooters were introduced in urban public spaces as a way to promote a modal shift from cars in short-distance trips, as well as to improve sustainability, resilience, and equity in urban transport. However, the expansion of shared e-scooter services in 2019 proved that this mode of transport, without integrated planning strategies, can bring some problems to cities, which are related to the illegal parking of e-scooters, an increase in head injuries, and the lack of population diversity among users. Regarding the latest, this research work aims at conducting a case study in the city of Braga, Portugal to reveal who the actual and potential users of shared e-scooters are and how their socioeconomic profile (e.g., gender, age, income range, literacy, occupation) and usage patterns related to the ones found in other cities. For this, a revealed preference survey was deployed on the case study site, and the respondents’ profiles were statistically correlated with the socioeconomic characteristics of the city’s general population in order to assess if this mode of transport provides an equitable service. Results show that shared e-scooters are not equally used by people of different genders, ages, and income ranges. Information on e-scooter usage inequalities across the population is useful for the city to proceed with more socially equitable mobility policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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18 pages, 2427 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Smart City for Sustainable Development: Applied Processes from SUMP to MaaS at European Level

by Francesco Russo and Corrado Rindone

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031773 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2753

Abstract

Urban areas constitute one of the main issues of sustainability as defined by the United Nations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recent smart city concept represents a way for achieving the urban sustainability goals. The European Commission (EC) bases the smart [...] Read more.

Urban areas constitute one of the main issues of sustainability as defined by the United Nations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recent smart city concept represents a way for achieving the urban sustainability goals. The European Commission (EC) bases the smart city concept on three pillars: energy, transport and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The main objective of the paper is to investigate the European smart city process, by focusing on urban mobility and their interconnections with the other two pillars. The methodological approach of territorial planning is used by identifying the plan dimensions and then analyzing the processes at master and sectorial level. The applied processes are verified with a review of the European documents that constitute the rules for defining and implementing the smart city concept. European guidelines indicate the SUMP as the integrated master plan that contributes to reach the convergence among energy, transport and ICT processes. By focusing on people mobility sector, European cities are implementing the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) plan at the sectorial level. This implies the necessity to enhance the knowledge of mobility phenomenon, in relation to emerging ICT and their impact on energy consumptions. The contribution of the work is given by the identification of a planning and implementation path focused on smart city, in urban areas, which connects the general goals of Agenda 2030 with the daily implications for citizens and therefore with the specific results. The paper results are useful: from one side, for researchers that work on advancements of theories, and from another side, for planners and decision makers to explore the European attempts towards urban sustainability and the real implementations on urban mobility systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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14 pages, 5122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Porosity on Drag Coefficient of Perforated Road Signs

by Hongki Sung, Kyusoo Chong and Wonseok Chung

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010502 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

To ensure the structural stability of road signs against strong gusts of wind, perforated road signs with sign boards perforated at regular intervals have been adopted for use in urban road infrastructure. However, ASCE 7-22 standards do not consider the drag coefficient of [...] Read more.

To ensure the structural stability of road signs against strong gusts of wind, perforated road signs with sign boards perforated at regular intervals have been adopted for use in urban road infrastructure. However, ASCE 7-22 standards do not consider the drag coefficient of signs with low porosity, i.e., less than 30%. Therefore, here, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to analyze the drag coefficient of perforated road signs with a porosity of less than 30%. The aspect and clearance ratios, which are the width/height ratio of a perforated road sign and the height of the perforated road sign/its distance from the ground, respectively, were set as parameters. Subsequently, the drag coefficient of perforated road signs with a porosity of 30% was calculated, and the effect of porosity and wind speed on the drag coefficient of perforated road signs was analyzed. Results show that the drag coefficient of perforated road signs decreased as the porosity increased, with a drag coefficient reduction effect of up to 0.85 times. Furthermore, perforated road signs with a high clearance ratio exhibited significant decreased drag coefficient. For perforated road signs, the drag coefficient does not show a clear correlation with wind speed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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20 pages, 7529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration and Field Evaluation of an IoV System for Enhancing Road Safety

by Aristotelis Spiliotis, Fotios Giannopoulos, Christos Spandonidis, Maria Gkemou and Natalia Kalfa

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12262; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312262 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1517

Abstract

Road safety is a major global concern, as millions of lives are lost every year because of road accidents. Towards an effort to increase road safety, several Internet-of-Vehicle systems have been developed over the last years in order to better monitor vehicle and [...] Read more.

Road safety is a major global concern, as millions of lives are lost every year because of road accidents. Towards an effort to increase road safety, several Internet-of-Vehicle systems have been developed over the last years in order to better monitor vehicle and driver behavior and issue warnings that effectively prevent life-threatening accidents. These systems face a number of challenges including connectivity issues and high installation and/or maintenance costs. The current work introduces the ODOS2020 system, an integrated Internet-of-Vehicles system aiming to increase road safety. The system comprises several On-the-Road Units for vehicle-related data collection from affordable, energy-efficient magnetometers and calculation of critical parameters, such as each passing vehicle’s speed and direction. A Road-Side Unit accumulates data from the On-the-Road Units, sends data to a cloud infrastructure for further analysis and sends dedicated warnings to the drivers based on their road behavior and/or specific traffic conditions via a dedicated Human–Machine Interface. The overall system architecture and the key features of its modules are being presented, as well as the evaluation results of specially designed tests performed in an actual motorway under real use case scenarios. The evaluation results showed both a very good technical performance of the system and a high level of user acceptance. This in turn means that the system can be employed for effective traffic control and road accident avoidance via monitoring of critical vehicle parameters and early warning of the drivers based on their and other drivers’ behavior, road conditions and real-time, unpredictable events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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24 pages, 9307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Semi-Automatic Image Processing System of Aeromagnetic Data for Structural and Mining Investigations (Case of Bou Azzer Inlier, Central Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

by Ayoub Soulaimani, Saïd Chakiri, Saâd Soulaimani, Ahmed Manar, Zohra Bejjaji, Abdelhalim Miftah, Mohammed Amine Zerdeb, Yaacoub Zidane, Mustapha Boualoul and Anselme Muzirafuti

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 11270; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122111270 - 7 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2503

Abstract

Numerical analysis of geophysical data to uncover Precambrian belts and probably to enclose mineral deposits is becoming once more communal in mining activity. The method is founded on typifying zones branded to comprehend deposits and looking for analogous areas. The proposed work outlines [...] Read more.

Numerical analysis of geophysical data to uncover Precambrian belts and probably to enclose mineral deposits is becoming once more communal in mining activity. The method is founded on typifying zones branded to comprehend deposits and looking for analogous areas. The proposed work outlines a semi-automatic image processing system for the structural and mining investigation of the Bou Azzer inlier, which varies from preceding approaches as it is centered only on aeromagnetic data. The aeromagnetic signature of what seem to be geologically expressive features are pursued within the aeromagnetic items. Cobalt and associated mineralizations in the Bou Azzer inlier are recognized to arise nearby main crustal discontinuities revealing as significant shear zones, which turn act as drains for mineralizing fluids. Mineralization occurs in sectors of structural complexity beside the shear zones. Developing towards the semi-automatic uncovering of such regions, the furthermost prospective extents are those everywhere inferred structural complexity occurs next to the regions of magnetic discontinuity. The proposed method is mainly based on the approach developed by the center for exploration targeting. The study was led by means of aeromagnetic data from the Bou Azzer inlier, which is considered one of the most productive and prospective regions for minerals and base metal mineralization in Morocco. The combined results obtained from geological and geophysical data prove that prospective areas have a dominant trend of NNE-SSW, NW-SE, NNW-SSE, E-W, and NE-SW directions. The CET Grid and Porphyry Analyses show that the probable porphyry mineral deposit locations mainly concentrated in the center of inlier, the Foum Zguid dyke, and northern and eastern part, which correspond to the Bou Azzer ophiolitic complex and platform deposits of the Lower Neoproterozoic Tachdamt-Bleïda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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13 pages, 1663 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Intelligent Real-Time Modelling of Rider Personal Attributes for Safe Last-Mile Delivery to Provide Mobility as a Service

by Faheem Ahmed Malik, Laurent Dala, Muhammad Khalid and Krishna Busawon

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10643; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010643 - 21 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1492

Abstract

This paper develops an intelligent real-time learning framework for the last-mile delivery of mobility as a service in city planning, based upon safe infrastructure use. Through a hybrid approach integrating statistics and supervised machine learning techniques, knowledge-driven solutions based on the specific user [...] Read more.

This paper develops an intelligent real-time learning framework for the last-mile delivery of mobility as a service in city planning, based upon safe infrastructure use. Through a hybrid approach integrating statistics and supervised machine learning techniques, knowledge-driven solutions based on the specific user rather than generalized safe mobility practices are suggested. One of the most important aspects influencing transport mode and route selection, and safe infrastructure usage, i.e., the age of the user, is simulated. This is because this variable has been described in the literature as a significant variable. Nonetheless, few works deal with such modelling or the learning system. The learning system was applied in the Northumbria region of England’s northeast as a case study. It comprised four building toolkits: (a) Input toolkit, (b) Safety Predictive toolkit, (c) Variable causation toolkit, and (d) Route choice toolkit. An accurate dynamic road safety model and understanding of the critical parameters influencing bicycle rider safety is created. The developed deep learning model’s average distinguishing power to reliably predict the riskiest age group was 95%, with a standard deviation of 0.02, suggesting a good prediction accuracy across all age groups. According to the study’s findings, different infrastructural networks represent varying risks to bicycle riders of different ages. The rider’s age impacts how other road users engage with them. The regional diversity in trip intent and traffic flow conditions were significant elements influencing the safe use of infrastructure for a specific age group. The study’s findings have the potential to considerably influence infrastructure route selection, modelling, and planning. The constructed model, which integrates the rider’s fragility, sensitivity to externalities, and the varied safety impact dependent on its features, may even be used for the infrastructure still in the planning/design phase. It is envisaged that this research would aid in adopting sustainable (green) transportation options and the last-mile delivery of mobility as a service. Future work should aim to uncover the sensitivities of a rider from different countries and make a baseline comparison scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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22 pages, 3874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Objective Optimization Design of Vehicle Side Crashworthiness Based on Machine Learning Point-Adding Method

by Dawei Gao, Bufan Yao, Gaoshuang Chang and Qiang Li

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10320; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010320 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2070

Abstract

Multi-objective optimization problems are often accompanied by complex black-box functions which not only increases the difficulty of solving, but also increases the solving time. In order to reduce the computational cost of solving such multi-objective problems, this paper proposes an ARBF-MLPA (Adaptive Radial [...] Read more.

Multi-objective optimization problems are often accompanied by complex black-box functions which not only increases the difficulty of solving, but also increases the solving time. In order to reduce the computational cost of solving such multi-objective problems, this paper proposes an ARBF-MLPA (Adaptive Radial Basis Function neural network combined with Machine Learning Point Adding) method, which uses an ABRF (Adaptive Radial Basis Function) neural network and OLHS (Optimized Latin Hypercube Sampling) to establish the first generation metamodel and uses the NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) optimization algorithm to obtain the optimal front edge of Pareto. The ARBF-MLPA method is continuously used to select and add points to update the meta-model, then dynamically improve the accuracy of the meta-model until the optimal front edge converges. Then the ARBF-MLPA method and RBF-UDPA (Radial Basis Function neural network combined with Uniform Point Adding) method are compared using the test functions of three different frontier features. The performance evaluation indexes of Inverted Generation Distance (IGD), Hypervolume (HV) and Spacing Metric are superior to RBF-UDPA. Finally, ARBF-MLPA method combined with the NSGA-II optimization algorithm is applied in the multi-objective optimization design of vehicle-side crashworthiness. The model converges after 6 iterations. Comparing the results obtained by the ARBF-MLPA method with the finite element simulation results, the error is within 5%, which meets the error requirements. The optimized model reduces chest intrusion by 4.32%, peak collision force by 2.11% and reduces mass by 14.05%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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19 pages, 5174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fuel Consumption Reduction and Efficiency Improvement in Urban Street Sweeper Using Power Split with Lockup Clutch Transmission

by Danilo D’Andrea, Giacomo Risitano and Fabio Alberti

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 10160; https://doi.org/10.3390/app121910160 - 10 Oct 2022

Viewed by 2124

Abstract

The aim of this work is to design a power split transmission for an urban street sweeper in order to reduce fuel consumption. The design process starts with the comparison between a hydrostatic and a hydromechanical power split transmission. Both transmissions have been [...] Read more.

The aim of this work is to design a power split transmission for an urban street sweeper in order to reduce fuel consumption. The design process starts with the comparison between a hydrostatic and a hydromechanical power split transmission. Both transmissions have been tested through an acceleration test considering 30, 50, 70 and 100 percent of the rated engine power. The results of both models developed in the Simcenter Amesim^TM environment show that the power split transmission presents a higher efficiency, which justifies the adoption of this type of transmission with respect to the hydrostatic system. Then, a pure mechanical gear is added to the base concept of the power split transmission. The mechanical gear is managed by a lockup clutch, which can be engaged during the working phase of the street sweeper, similar to an adaptive cruise control. In this case, both transmissions are tested through a regulated cycle, UNI-EN 151429-2, highlighting the advantage of using a pure mechanical branch. At the end, both transmissions are tested with a driving cycle acquired through an experimental setup consisting of a control unit, a GPS and a tablet for the monitoring of the speed profile. The results show that the adoption of a lockup clutch allows an increase in the system efficiency during the working phase, hence reducing the average fuel consumption during the mission test. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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25 pages, 8340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Mobility Patterns in Rural Areas of Low Demographic Density through Stated Preference Surveys

by Montaña Jiménez-Espada, Juan Miguel Vega Naranjo and Francisco Manuel Martínez García

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 10034; https://doi.org/10.3390/app121910034 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2074

Abstract

Within the multiple urban–rural interactions that make up the territorial dynamics, this article addresses and identifies how mobility relations are produced between neighbouring municipalities that share services. The aim of this research is to carry out a diagnosis of the current mobility situation [...] Read more.

Within the multiple urban–rural interactions that make up the territorial dynamics, this article addresses and identifies how mobility relations are produced between neighbouring municipalities that share services. The aim of this research is to carry out a diagnosis of the current mobility situation in an area of low population density in order to identify the needs and possible shortcomings in this area. The initial identification of weaknesses is essential in order to propose solutions for rural mobility. The methodology adopted is based on two distinct lines of work: (1) analysis of information in open data from public repositories using geographic information system tools (GIS), and (2) surveys of citizens living in the study area. The results allude to the fact that the most transcendental problem in the study area is the lack of a quality collective public transport service that meets minimum utility requirements for users, a fact that generates a transfer towards the use of private vehicles. No serious parking, noise, pollution or road safety problems are observed; however, similar dynamics to other rural areas with low demographic density are confirmed, such as the age of the mobile fleet and an aging population with accessibility problems. The presence of new modes of transport (electric bicycles, personal mobility vehicles, and even electric vehicles) is practically insignificant. Both teleworking and the new consumer habits associated with online shopping have not yet had a strong impact. Political decision making by public administrations is identified as a direct application of this research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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22 pages, 7072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Collision Avoidance Method for Ships Based on COLRGEs and Improved Velocity Obstacle Algorithm

by Xingya Zhao, Yixiong He, Liwen Huang, Junmin Mou, Ke Zhang and Xiao Liu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 8926; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12188926 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2618

Abstract

Collision prevention is critical for navigational safety at sea, which has developed rapidly in the past decade and attracted a lot of attention. In this article, an improved velocity obstacle (IVO) algorithm for intelligent collision avoidance of ocean-going ships is proposed in various [...] Read more.

Collision prevention is critical for navigational safety at sea, which has developed rapidly in the past decade and attracted a lot of attention. In this article, an improved velocity obstacle (IVO) algorithm for intelligent collision avoidance of ocean-going ships is proposed in various operating conditions, taking into count both a ship’s manoeuvrability and Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). An integrated model combines a three-degree-of-freedom manoeuvring model with ship propeller characteristics to provide a precise prediction of ships in various manoeuvring circumstances. In the given case, what is different to present studies, this improved algorithm allows for decision-making in two ways: altering course and changing speed. The proposed technique is demonstrated in a variety of scenarios through simulation. The findings reveal that collision-avoidance decision-making can intelligently avoid collisions with the target ships (TSs) in multi-ship situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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17 pages, 3817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Free Space Optics Communication for Ultra-High-Speed Train Running in Evacuated Tube

by Hasan Abbas Al-Mohammed and Elias Yaacoub

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8545; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178545 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

This paper develops a novel communication method for an ultra-high-speed train that runs in an evacuated tube. The proposed method significantly reduces the number of needed base stations to provide adequate coverage and data rates. Moreover, the time connectivity for each base station [...] Read more.

This paper develops a novel communication method for an ultra-high-speed train that runs in an evacuated tube. The proposed method significantly reduces the number of needed base stations to provide adequate coverage and data rates. Moreover, the time connectivity for each base station was enhanced considerably. The proposed method can provide improvements in terms of transmitted power and received power, either fixed or variable; this method offers a fixed or variant data rate. Moreover, the paper studies the effects of the divergence angle on transmitted and received power. Additionally, the proposed communication procedure might produce a system with a fixed data rate, such as 1.25 Gbps. It can also create a design with adaptive divergence angles (that can be altered dynamically) depending on the train distance to the base station. The results show that this method is promising for working for an ultra-high-speed train that runs in an evacuated tube. It can reduce the base stations number from 500 to less than 10 base stations with respect to the data rate and power consumption. Furthermore, a new handover method is proposed and addressed in this work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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15 pages, 1229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automobile Technological Transition Scenarios Based on Environmental Drivers

by Julieth Stefany García, José D. Morcillo, Johan Manuel Redondo and Mauricio Becerra-Fernandez

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4593; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094593 - 1 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2150

Abstract

Different industrial sectors are assuming measures to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions, facing the imminent materialization of climate change effects. In the transport sector, one of the measures involves the change in energy source of vehicles, leading to a transition from vehicles powered [...] Read more.

Different industrial sectors are assuming measures to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions, facing the imminent materialization of climate change effects. In the transport sector, one of the measures involves the change in energy source of vehicles, leading to a transition from vehicles powered by fossil fuels (conventional) to electric. Nevertheless, electric vehicles have different drivers that promote their purchases. This work only considers the informed buyers’ interest in making their decisions using environmental criteria. However, these technologies have a series of impacts, including the generation of hazardous waste such as used batteries, which leads consumers to question the environmental impacts generated by conventional and electric vehicles; consequently, it is uncertain which prospective scenarios will dominate in various nations and what will promote them. Therefore, the proposed model is studied as a dynamical system, with bifurcations of codimension 2, which means that it is possible to represent all possible prospective scenarios of this configuration through a bifurcation diagram. In this way, the analysis allows us to find that four families of technological transitions (trajectories that qualitatively can be identified as being of the same behavior class) emerge from the relationships established in the system, showing similarities to the different transition situations recognized on the planet. This model is an attractive tool to classify automobiles’ technological transitions, despite having no other criteria. In fact, although decarbonization is an urgent quest in the transport sector, there are still too many challenges to guarantee environmentally friendly technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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16 pages, 2371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mode Choice Effects on Bike Sharing Systems

by Matthias Kowald, Margarita Gutjar, Kai Röth, Christian Schiller and Till Dannewald

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4391; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094391 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2619

Abstract

Bike-sharing systems (BSS) are offered in many cities and urban municipalities and urban areas without such systems are thinking about their introduction. In addition, many studies on BSS are available; however, neither mode nor route choice parameters are available for station-based BSS, which [...] Read more.

Bike-sharing systems (BSS) are offered in many cities and urban municipalities and urban areas without such systems are thinking about their introduction. In addition, many studies on BSS are available; however, neither mode nor route choice parameters are available for station-based BSS, which are required for the implementation of BSS in local and regional transport demand models. As a result, this makes it impossible to simulate demand model-based effects of these systems on other transport modes and e.g., calculate scenario-guided modal shifts. The paper presents results obtained from a survey study, which aims to estimate BSS-related choice parameters. The study combined computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) for a collection of revealed preferences (RP) on the use of BSS with a follow-up paper-and-pencil survey on stated preferences (SP) of 220 BSS users and non-users from the Rhine-Neckar area in mid-west Germany. Considering the three transport modes BSS, public transport (PT), and private motorized transport (PMT), results from this choice experiment and, according to behavioural parameters, allow integration of BSS in transport demand models and a simulation of modal shifts. Survey design, mode-choice experiment, and choice models are presented in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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25 pages, 27474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Helping Human Hand: Relevant Scenarios for the Remote Operation of Highly Automated Vehicles in Public Transport

by Carmen Kettwich, Andreas Schrank, Hüseyin Avsar and Michael Oehl

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4350; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094350 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3315

Abstract

Remote operation bears the potential to roll out highly automated vehicles (AVs, SAE Level 4) more safely and quickly. Moreover, legal regulations on highly automated driving, e.g., the current law on highly automated driving (SAE Level 4) in Germany, permit a remote supervisor [...] Read more.

Remote operation bears the potential to roll out highly automated vehicles (AVs, SAE Level 4) more safely and quickly. Moreover, legal regulations on highly automated driving, e.g., the current law on highly automated driving (SAE Level 4) in Germany, permit a remote supervisor to monitor and intervene in driving operations remotely in lieu of a safety operator on board AVs. In order to derive requirements for safe and effective remote driving and remote assistance of AVs and to create suitable human-centered design solutions for human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that serve this purpose, a set of 74 core scenarios that are likely to occur in public transport AVs under remote operation was compiled. The scenarios were collected in several projects on the remote operation of AVs across a variety of contexts including interviews with and observations of control center staff, video analyses from naturalistic road events, and interviews with safety operators of AVs. A hierarchical system that is based on interactions of central actors was used to structure the scenarios. The set explicates relevant cases in remote operation, which may help improve workplaces for remote operation both by combatting human factors issues such as distraction and fatigue, and by boosting usability, user experience, trust, and acceptance. As the catalogue of scenarios is not exhaustive, scenarios may be added as knowledge of the remote operation of AVs progresses. Further research is needed to validate and adapt the scenarios to specific conceptualizations of remote operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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26 pages, 451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Location Planning of Charging Stations for Electric Buses in Public Transport Considering Vehicle Scheduling: A Variable Neighborhood Search Based Approach

by Nils Olsen and Natalia Kliewer

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 3855; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12083855 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2943

Abstract

Many public transport companies have recently launched projects testing the operation of electric buses. Progressively, traditional combustion engine buses are being replaced by electric buses. In such cases, some stops on bus lines are equipped with charging technology. Combustion engine buses can operate [...] Read more.

Many public transport companies have recently launched projects testing the operation of electric buses. Progressively, traditional combustion engine buses are being replaced by electric buses. In such cases, some stops on bus lines are equipped with charging technology. Combustion engine buses can operate for an entire day without having to refuel. By contrast, electric buses have considerably shorter ranges and need to recharge their batteries throughout a day. For cost-efficient use of electric buses, charging stations must be located within the road network so that required deadhead trips are as short as possible, but attention must also be paid to construction costs. In contrast to vehicle scheduling, which is a more short-term planning task of public transport companies, location planning of charging stations is a long-term planning problem and requires a simultaneous solving of both optimization problems. Specifically, location planning and vehicle scheduling have to be considered simultaneously in order to open up optimization potentials by comparison to sequential planning, since locations of charging stations directly influence the resulting vehicle rotations. To this purpose, we present a novel solution method for the simultaneous optimization of location planning of charging stations and vehicle scheduling for electric buses in public transport, using variable neighborhood search. By a computational study using real-world public transport data, we show that a simultaneous consideration of both problems is necessary because sequential planning generally leads to either infeasible vehicle rotations or to significant increases in costs. This is especially relevant for public transport companies that start operating electric bus fleets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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29 pages, 1512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ROAD Statistics-Based Noise Detection for DME Mitigation in LDACS

by Miziya Keshkar, Raja Muthalagu and Abdul Rajak

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 3774; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12083774 - 8 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1612

Abstract

Interference mitigation in L-band Digital Aeronautic Communication Systems (LDACS) from legacy users is extremely important as any error in data retrieval of aeronautic communication can adversely affect flight safety. This paper proposes an LDACS receiver prototype which uses rank-ordered absolute differences (ROAD) statistics [...] Read more.

Interference mitigation in L-band Digital Aeronautic Communication Systems (LDACS) from legacy users is extremely important as any error in data retrieval of aeronautic communication can adversely affect flight safety. This paper proposes an LDACS receiver prototype which uses rank-ordered absolute differences (ROAD) statistics to detect the distance measuring equipment (DME) interference. The detected DME interference is reduced in the next stage by pulse blanking. The performance of the proposed ROAD pulse blanking method (ROAD PB) is compared with the existing interference mitigation methods which use the amplitude of the received signal for the detection of DME interference. In depth analysis of the obtained results affirms that the proposed ROAD value-based interference detection excels amplitude-based detection. For an SNR value of 0 dB, the proposed method of detection could achieve a 3% increase in terms of accuracy with a reduction of 4% in false alarms. With the advantage of ROAD statistics detection, the proposed ROAD PB could achieve an SNR saving of 2.7, 1.1, 0.7, 0.25 and 0.2 dBs at BER

10^{- 1}

in comparison with pulse blanking, Genie-aided estimation enhanced pulse peak attenuator (GAEPPA), GAE enhanced pulse peak limiter (GAEPPL), optimum Bayesien estimator enhanced pulse peak attenuator (OBEPPA) and OBE enhanced pulse peak limiter (OBEPPL). The comparative results show that the proposed ROAD pulse blanking outperformed the other techniques for the optimum threshold value of the operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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19 pages, 2258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolating the Role of the Transport System in Individual Accessibility Differences: A Space-Time Transport Performance Measure

by Alberto Dianin, Michael Gidam and Georg Hauger

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3309; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073309 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

Accessibility differences across individuals are a core topic in the transport equity debate. Space-Time Accessibility measures (STAs) have often been used to show such differences, given their sensitiveness to individual spatial and temporal constraints. However, given their complexity, STAs cannot properly [...] Read more.

Accessibility differences across individuals are a core topic in the transport equity debate. Space-Time Accessibility measures (STAs) have often been used to show such differences, given their sensitiveness to individual spatial and temporal constraints. However, given their complexity, STAs cannot properly isolate the specific role of the transport system in individual accessibility differences, since it is mixed with several other spatial, individual and temporal factors. To isolate the role of the transport system, this study introduces a Space-Time Transport Performance measure (STTP) that (a) grounds on the individual daily schedule of fixed activities, (b) calculates the generalised transport costs each individual has to bear to perform such schedule, and (c) weights it against the Euclidean distance between the activities of such a schedule. STTP is tested together with STA for a small sample of individuals living and performing their daily activities within the 22nd district of Vienna. This test provides two main findings: first, individual differences registered by STTP tend to be smaller than those highlighted by STA, according to the former’s more narrowed and transport-specific approach. Second, individuals with the highest STA do not necessarily register the highest STTP (and vice versa). Indeed, some may experience limited transport performances when running their mandatory daily schedule, while registering a high degree of access to discretionary activities according to their constraints and opportunities at disposal (and vice versa). Considering these results, STTP may be seen as a complementary indicator to be used together with STA to analyse both general and transport-specific individual accessibility differences. Its role is particularly important for transport policy makers, who should understand which accessibility differences are directly linked to the performances of the transport system and could be remediated through transport policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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40 pages, 39127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalizing Maritime Containers Shipping Companies: Impacts on Their Processes

by Pedro-Luis Sanchez-Gonzalez, David Díaz-Gutiérrez and Luis R. Núñez-Rivas

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2532; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052532 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3398

Abstract

Key analysts are emphasizing the importance of the digitalization especially of the supply chain. This work aims to improve maritime shipping companies by introducing digitalization in their operations. This objective is achieved analyzing the impact of maritime container shipping companies’ digitalization. This analysis [...] Read more.

Key analysts are emphasizing the importance of the digitalization especially of the supply chain. This work aims to improve maritime shipping companies by introducing digitalization in their operations. This objective is achieved analyzing the impact of maritime container shipping companies’ digitalization. This analysis requires as input the Business Process Model (BPMo) and an inventory of digital applications to verify how the BPMo changes when deploying the applications, define the prerequisites necessary for this deployment, and identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) to track it. The impact of the deployment of the applications has been quantified by using four performance dimensions: Costs, Time, Quality, and Flexibility. The results show that the impacts are different per application, with changes in the processes, the addition of new ones, and the decommissioning of others. The impact of digitalization is high when trying to deploy all the applications at the same time. Companies can leverage this work, which requires reviewing the documented impacts in their processes and the applications’ prerequisites as well as updating their existing balanced scorecard, incorporating the application’s KPIs. A list of 10 applications has been identified as “quick wins”; then, applications can be the starting point for digitalizing a company. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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17 pages, 2017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Sentiments of Economic Agents on Pedestrians and Vehicle Crossings along the US–Mexico Border

by René Cabral, Francisco García-Flores and Eduardo Saucedo

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2512; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052512 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1490

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of people’s sentiments toward border crossings on personal vehicle and pedestrian crossings along the US–Mexico border. This study focused on regional factors and employed data derived from Google Trends as a proxy for people’s sentiments. Monthly [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of people’s sentiments toward border crossings on personal vehicle and pedestrian crossings along the US–Mexico border. This study focused on regional factors and employed data derived from Google Trends as a proxy for people’s sentiments. Monthly data from the first quarter of 2004 to February 2020 were used. Different regression models were used to address stationarity. After controlling for economic conditions and external events, the primary findings are as follows: first, pedestrian and personal vehicle crossings are sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations. Second, the economic cycle has a slightly higher impact on pedestrians than personal vehicle crossings. Third, an increase in the hostile environment toward immigration in the U.S. may negatively impact pedestrian crossings, especially in Texas. Moreover, a rolling regression was used to examine the impact of people’s sentiments on crossings over time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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23 pages, 4161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analytical Model for Enhancing the Adoptability of Continuous Descent Approach at Airports

by Emad A. Alharbi, Layek L. Abdel-Malek, R. John Milne and Arwa M. Wali

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031506 - 30 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5932

Abstract

Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) is the flight technique for aircraft to continuously descend from cruise altitude with an idle thrust setting and without level-offs, contrary to the staircase-like Step-down Descent Approach (SDA). Important for air transportation sustainability, using CDA reduces noise, fuel consumption, [...] Read more.

Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) is the flight technique for aircraft to continuously descend from cruise altitude with an idle thrust setting and without level-offs, contrary to the staircase-like Step-down Descent Approach (SDA). Important for air transportation sustainability, using CDA reduces noise, fuel consumption, and pollution. Nevertheless, CDA has been limited to low traffic levels at airports, often at night, because it requires more separation distance between aircraft arrivals and, thus, could decrease throughput. Insufficient attention has been given to helping air traffic controllers decide when CDA may be used. In this paper, we calculate the probability that an aircraft arriving during a particular brief period of time (e.g., 15 min) will need to revert to SDA when the controller tentatively plans to permit CDA for all aircrafts arriving during that time period. If this probability is low enough, the controller may plan to permit CDA during that time period. We utilize an analytical approach and queueing theory framework that considers factors such traffic and weather conditions to estimate the probability. We also provide the number of aircrafts that can be accommodated within the airport’s stacking space using CDA. This number provides insight into whether a particular aircraft may use CDA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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22 pages, 8271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19′s Pandemic Effects on Bike Sharing Systems: A New Reality for Urban Mobility?

by Efstathios Bouhouras, Socrates Basbas, Stamatia Ftergioti, Evangelos Paschalidis and Harris Siakantaris

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031230 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3457

Abstract

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization made the assessment that a new disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) could be characterized as a pandemic. From that point, a chain reaction of events and difficult decisions requiring action was launched. [...] Read more.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization made the assessment that a new disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) could be characterized as a pandemic. From that point, a chain reaction of events and difficult decisions requiring action was launched. National governments all over the world announced partial or total quarantine lockdowns in an effort to control the virus’ spreading in order to save as many lives as possible. The effects of the pandemic were multifaceted and transport was not excluded. The current paper examines data regarding the level of usage (provided by the administrator) of bike-sharing systems in three case studies/medium-sized Greek cities (Igoumenitsa, Chania, and Rhodes) and through a statistical analysis identifies if there is a correlation between the implemented measures and the modal choice of the residents. The main results and conclusions of this analysis reveal that the level of usage of these specific bike-sharing systems was significantly increased during the lockdown period compared to the situation before the lockdown and the pandemic in general. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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18 pages, 1021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Factor Rear-End Collision Avoidance in Connected Autonomous Vehicles

by Sheeba Razzaq, Amil Roohani Dar, Munam Ali Shah, Hasan Ali Khattak, Ejaz Ahmed, Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny, Seongkwan Mark Lee, Khaled Alkhaledi and Hafiz Tayyab Rauf

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031049 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3000

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the leading cause of fatalities and injuries is rear-ending collision in vehicles. The critical challenge of the technologically rich transportation system is to reduce the chances of accidents between vehicles. For this purpose, it is especially important [...] Read more.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the leading cause of fatalities and injuries is rear-ending collision in vehicles. The critical challenge of the technologically rich transportation system is to reduce the chances of accidents between vehicles. For this purpose, it is especially important to analyze the factors that are the cause of accidents. Based on these factors’ results, this paper presents a driver assistance system for collision avoidance. There are many factors involved in collisions in the existing literature from which we identified some factors which can affect the accident occurrence probability. However, with advancements in the technologies of autonomous vehicles, these factors can be controlled using an onboard driver assistance system. We used MATLAB’s Fuzzy Inference System Tool to analyze the categories of accident contributing factors. Fuzzy results are validated using the VOMAS agent in the NetLogo simulation model. The proposed system can inform the vehicle’s automated system when chances of an accident are higher so that the vehicle may take control from the driver. The proposed research is extremely helpful in handling various kinds of factors involved in accidents. The results of the experiments demonstrated that multi-factor-enabled vehicles could better avoid collision as compared to other vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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19 pages, 2761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in the Kelâat M’Gouna Region Using Airborne Gamma-Ray Spectrometry and Remote Sensing Data: Mining Implications (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

by Younes Mamouch, Ahmed Attou, Abdelhalim Miftah, Mohammed Ouchchen, Bouchra Dadi, Lahsen Achkouch, Yassine Et-tayea, Abdelhamid Allaoui, Mustapha Boualoul, Giovanni Randazzo, Stefania Lanza and Anselme Muzirafuti

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12030957 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4474

Abstract

The mapping of hydrothermal alteration zones associated with mineralization is of paramount importance in searching for metal deposits. For this purpose, targeting alteration zones by analyzing airborne geophysical and satellite imagery provides accurate and reliable results. In the Kelâat M’Gouna inlier, located in [...] Read more.

The mapping of hydrothermal alteration zones associated with mineralization is of paramount importance in searching for metal deposits. For this purpose, targeting alteration zones by analyzing airborne geophysical and satellite imagery provides accurate and reliable results. In the Kelâat M’Gouna inlier, located in the Saghro Massif of the Moroccan Anti Atlas, natural gamma-ray spectrometry and ASTER satellite data were used to map hydrothermal alteration zones. Natural gamma-ray spectrometry data were processed to produce maps of Potassium (K in %), Uranium (eU in ppm), Thorium (eTh in ppm) and ratios of K/eTh and K/eU. In addition, four-band ratios were computed, on ASTER data, to map the distribution of clay minerals, phyllitic minerals, propylitic minerals, and iron oxides. The combined results obtained from geophysical and satellite data were further exploited by fuzzy logic modelling using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to generate a mineral prospectivity map. Seven hydrothermal alteration zones likely to be favorable for mineralization have been identified. They show a spatial correlation with (i) known surface prospects and mineral occurrences, (ii) the granite-encasing contact zone, and (iii) the fault zones (Sidi Flah and Tagmout faults). This research therefore provides important information on the prospecting of mineral potential in the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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22 pages, 4002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

IMU: A Content Replacement Policy for CCN, Based on Immature Content Selection

by Salman Rashid, Shukor Abd Razak and Fuad A. Ghaleb

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010344 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1752

Abstract

In-network caching is the essential part of Content-Centric Networking (CCN). The main aim of a CCN caching module is data distribution within the network. Each CCN node can cache content according to its placement policy. Therefore, it is fully equipped to meet the [...] Read more.

In-network caching is the essential part of Content-Centric Networking (CCN). The main aim of a CCN caching module is data distribution within the network. Each CCN node can cache content according to its placement policy. Therefore, it is fully equipped to meet the requirements of future networks demands. The placement strategy decides to cache the content at the optimized location and minimize content redundancy within the network. When cache capacity is full, the content eviction policy decides which content should stay in the cache and which content should be evicted. Hence, network performance and cache hit ratio almost equally depend on the content placement and replacement policies. Content eviction policies have diverse requirements due to limited cache capacity, higher request rates, and the rapid change of cache states. Many replacement policies follow the concept of low or high popularity and data freshness for content eviction. However, when content loses its popularity after becoming very popular in a certain period, it remains in the cache space. Moreover, content is evicted from the cache space before it becomes popular. To handle the above-mentioned issue, we introduced the concept of maturity/immaturity of the content. The proposed policy, named Immature Used (IMU), finds the content maturity index by using the content arrival time and its frequency within a specific time frame. Also, it determines the maturity level through a maturity classifier. In the case of a full cache, the least immature content is evicted from the cache space. We performed extensive simulations in the simulator (Icarus) to evaluate the performance (cache hit ratio, path stretch, latency, and link load) of the proposed policy with different well-known cache replacement policies in CCN. The obtained results, with varying popularity and cache sizes, indicate that our proposed policy can achieve up to 14.31% more cache hits, 5.91% reduced latency, 3.82% improved path stretch, and 9.53% decreased link load, compared to the recently proposed technique. Moreover, the proposed policy performed significantly better compared to other baseline approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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18 pages, 2477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes toward Applying Facial Recognition Technology for Red-Light Running by E-Bikers: A Case Study in Fuzhou, China

by Yanqun Yang, Danni Yin, Said M. Easa and Jiang Liu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010211 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3392

Abstract

The application of facial recognition technology (FRT) can effectively reduce the red-light running behavior of e-bikers. However, the privacy issues involved in FRT have also attracted widespread attention from society. This research aims to explore the public and traffic police’s attitudes toward FRT [...] Read more.

The application of facial recognition technology (FRT) can effectively reduce the red-light running behavior of e-bikers. However, the privacy issues involved in FRT have also attracted widespread attention from society. This research aims to explore the public and traffic police’s attitudes toward FRT to optimize the use and implementation of FRT. A structured questionnaire survey of 270 people and 94 traffic police in Fuzhou, China, was used. In the research, we use several methods to analyze the investigation data, including Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and multiple correspondence analysis. The survey results indicate that the application of FRT has a significant effect on reducing red-light running behavior. The public’s educational level and driving license status are the most influential factors related to their attitudes to FRT (p < 0.001). Public members with these attributes show more supportive attitudes to FRT and more concerns about privacy invasion. There are significant differences between the public and traffic police in attitudes toward FRT (p < 0.001). Compared with the public, traffic police officers showed more supportive attitudes to FRT. This research contributes to promoting the application of FRT legitimately and alleviating people’s concerns about the technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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21 pages, 8875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying the Importance of Criteria for Passenger Choice of Sustainable Travel by Train Using ARTIW and IHAMCI Methods

by Lijana Maskeliūnaitė and Henrikas Sivilevičius

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11503; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311503 - 4 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2199

Abstract

Nowadays, travelers can use different modes of transport, and they usually choose the most suitable and reliable mode available. The choice of one mode of transport as an alternative to another is subjective. It is usually built upon passenger attitude toward the advantages [...] Read more.

Nowadays, travelers can use different modes of transport, and they usually choose the most suitable and reliable mode available. The choice of one mode of transport as an alternative to another is subjective. It is usually built upon passenger attitude toward the advantages and disadvantages of using a particular mode. This article proposes analytical methods for and research results on passenger choices for sustainable train journeys as an alternative to traveling by bus. The rank averages of all criteria and their normalized subjective weights were calculated with reference to new linear (ARTIW-L) and nonlinear (ARTIW-N) methods of average rank transformation into weight. A correlation between sub-criteria rank averages and normalized weights is presented, based on the minimum number of passengers required to be interviewed to provide reliable results. The average ranks assigned by passengers to the evaluation sub-criteria and their global weights were used for determining and describing the most and least important key criteria by applying the inverse hierarchy for assessment of main criteria importance (IHAMCI) method. The analysis shows that the most important key criterion belonged to the sub-criteria characterizing economy, while the less important key criteria included ride comfort. The least important key criteria described safety and environmental protection, whose normalized subjective overall weights were the lowest. Rail transport authorities and companies involved in transporting passengers can make this mode of transport more attractive to people by giving priority to improving the services they provide to passengers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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16 pages, 1493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Semi-Markov Model of the System of Repairs and Preventive Replacements by Age of City Buses

by Klaudiusz Migawa, Sylwester Borowski, Andrzej Neubauer and Agnieszka Sołtysiak

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10411; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110411 - 5 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

The paper presents a mathematical model of the system of repairs and preventive replacements by age of city buses. The mathematical model was developed using the theory of semi-Markov processes. In the model developed, four types of city bus renewal processes are considered [...] Read more.

The paper presents a mathematical model of the system of repairs and preventive replacements by age of city buses. The mathematical model was developed using the theory of semi-Markov processes. In the model developed, four types of city bus renewal processes are considered and three types of corrective repairs and preventive replacement. Corrective repairs are considered in two types: minimal repairs (repairs carried out by the Technical Service units) and perfect repairs (repairs carried out at the stations of the Service Station). The models of restoration systems that use semi-Markov processes in which minimal repairs, perfect repairs, and preventive replacements by age, have been examined in the literature to a limited extent. The system under consideration is analysed from the point of view of two criteria: profit per time unit and availability of city buses to carry out the assigned transport tasks. Conditions of criterion functions’ extremum (maximum) existence were formulated for the adopted assumptions. The considerations presented in the paper are illustrated by exemplary results of calculations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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16 pages, 999 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Long-Range Dependence and Multifractality of Ship Flow Sequences in Container Ports: A Comparison of Shanghai, Singapore, and Rotterdam

by Chan-Juan Liu, Jinran Wu, Harshanie Lakshika Jayetileke and Zhi-Hua Hu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10378; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110378 - 5 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

The prediction of ship traffic flow is an important fundamental preparation for layout and design of ports as well as management of ship navigation. However, until now, the temporal characteristics and accurate prediction of ship flow sequence in port are rarely studied. Therefore, [...] Read more.

The prediction of ship traffic flow is an important fundamental preparation for layout and design of ports as well as management of ship navigation. However, until now, the temporal characteristics and accurate prediction of ship flow sequence in port are rarely studied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the presence of long-range dependence in container ship flow sequences using the Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA). We considered three representative container ports in the world—including Shanghai, Singapore, and Rotterdam container ports—as the study sample, from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. Empirical results suggested that the ship flow sequences are deviated from normal distribution, and the sequences with different time scales exhibited varying degrees of long-range dependence. Furthermore, the ship flow sequences possessed a multifractal nature, where the larger the time scale of ship flow time series, the stronger the multifractal characteristics are. The weekly ship flow sequence in the port of Singapore owned the highest degree of multifractality. Furthermore, the multifractality presented in the ship flow sequences of container ports are due to the correlation properties as well as the probability density function of the ship flow sequences. The study outlines the importance of adopting these features for an accurate modeling and prediction for maritime ship flow series. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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26 pages, 9365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecasting Taxi Demands Using Generative Adversarial Networks with Multi-Source Data

by Hasan A. H. Naji, Qingji Xue, Huijun Zhu and Tianfeng Li

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9675; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209675 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3446

Abstract

As a popular transportation mode in urban regions, taxis play an essential role in providing comfortable and convenient services for travelers. For the sake of tackling the imbalance between supply and demand, taxi demand forecasting can help drivers plan their routes and reduce [...] Read more.

As a popular transportation mode in urban regions, taxis play an essential role in providing comfortable and convenient services for travelers. For the sake of tackling the imbalance between supply and demand, taxi demand forecasting can help drivers plan their routes and reduce waiting time and oil pollution. This paper proposes a deep learning-based model for taxi demand forecasting with multi-source data using Generative Adversarial Networks. Firstly, main features were extracted from multi-source data, including GPS taxi data, road network data, weather data, and points of interest. Secondly, Generative Adversarial Network, comprised of the recurrent network model and the conventional network model, is adopted for fine-grained taxi demand forecasting. A comprehensive experiment is conducted based on a real-world dataset of the city of Wuhan, China. The experimental results showed that our model outperforms state-of-the-art prediction methods and validates the usefulness of our model. This paper provides insights into the temporal, spatial, and external factors in taxi demand-supply equilibrium based on the results. The findings can help policymakers alter the taxi supply and the taxi lease rents for periods and increase taxi profit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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15 pages, 1676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Improved Multiple Features and Machine Learning-Based Approach for Detecting Clickbait News on Social Networks

by Mohammed Al-Sarem, Faisal Saeed, Zeyad Ghaleb Al-Mekhlafi, Badiea Abdulkarem Mohammed, Mohammed Hadwan, Tawfik Al-Hadhrami, Mohammad T. Alshammari, Abdulrahman Alreshidi and Talal Sarheed Alshammari

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9487; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209487 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3965

Abstract

The widespread usage of social media has led to the increasing popularity of online advertisements, which have been accompanied by a disturbing spread of clickbait headlines. Clickbait dissatisfies users because the article content does not match their expectation. Detecting clickbait posts in online [...] Read more.

The widespread usage of social media has led to the increasing popularity of online advertisements, which have been accompanied by a disturbing spread of clickbait headlines. Clickbait dissatisfies users because the article content does not match their expectation. Detecting clickbait posts in online social networks is an important task to fight this issue. Clickbait posts use phrases that are mainly posted to attract a user’s attention in order to click onto a specific fake link/website. That means clickbait headlines utilize misleading titles, which could carry hidden important information from the target website. It is very difficult to recognize these clickbait headlines manually. Therefore, there is a need for an intelligent method to detect clickbait and fake advertisements on social networks. Several machine learning methods have been applied for this detection purpose. However, the obtained performance (accuracy) only reached 87% and still needs to be improved. In addition, most of the existing studies were conducted on English headlines and contents. Few studies focused specifically on detecting clickbait headlines in Arabic. Therefore, this study constructed the first Arabic clickbait headline news dataset and presents an improved multiple feature-based approach for detecting clickbait news on social networks in Arabic language. The proposed approach includes three main phases: data collection, data preparation, and machine learning model training and testing phases. The collected dataset included 54,893 Arabic news items from Twitter (after pre-processing). Among these news items, 23,981 were clickbait news (43.69%) and 30,912 were legitimate news (56.31%). This dataset was pre-processed and then the most important features were selected using the ANOVA F-test. Several machine learning (ML) methods were then applied with hyper-parameter tuning methods to ensure finding the optimal settings. Finally, the ML models were evaluated, and the overall performance is reported in this paper. The experimental results show that the Support Vector Machine (SVM) with the top 10% of ANOVA F-test features (user-based features (UFs) and content-based features (CFs)) obtained the best performance and achieved 92.16% of detection accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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24 pages, 4013 KiB

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A Framework for Urban Last-Mile Delivery Traffic Forecasting: An In-Depth Review of Social Media Analytics and Deep Learning Techniques

by Valeria Laynes-Fiascunari, Edgar Gutierrez-Franco, Luis Rabelo, Alfonso T. Sarmiento and Gene Lee

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5888; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105888 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3078

Abstract

The proliferation of e-commerce in recent years has been driven in part by the increasing ease of making purchases online and having them delivered directly to the consumer. However, these last-mile delivery logistics have become complex due to external factors (traffic, weather, etc.) [...] Read more.

The proliferation of e-commerce in recent years has been driven in part by the increasing ease of making purchases online and having them delivered directly to the consumer. However, these last-mile delivery logistics have become complex due to external factors (traffic, weather, etc.) affecting the delivery routes’ optimization. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) also have a challenge that contributes to the need of delivery companies for traffic sensors in urban areas. The main purpose of this paper is to propose a framework that closes the gap on accurate traffic prediction tailored for last-mile delivery logistics, leveraging social media analysis along with traditional methods. This work can be divided into two stages: (1) traffic prediction, which utilizes advanced deep learning techniques such as Graph Convolutional and Long-Short Term Memory Neural Networks, as well as data from sources such as social media check-ins and Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs); and (2) experimentation in both short- and long-term settings, examining the interactions of traffic, social media, weather, and other factors within the model. The proposed framework allows for the integration of additional analytical techniques to further enhance vehicle routing, including the use of simulation tools such as agent-based simulation, discrete-event simulation, and system dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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14 pages, 878 KiB

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An Investigation of the Policies and Crucial Sectors of Smart Cities Based on IoT Application

by Armin Razmjoo, Amirhossein Gandomi, Maral Mahlooji, Davide Astiaso Garcia, Seyedali Mirjalili, Alireza Rezvani, Sahar Ahmadzadeh and Saim Memon

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2672; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052672 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4359

Abstract

As smart cities (SCs) emerge, the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to simplify more sophisticated and ubiquitous applications employed within these cities. In this regard, we investigate seven predominant sectors including the environment, public transport, utilities, street lighting, waste management, public safety, [...] Read more.

As smart cities (SCs) emerge, the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to simplify more sophisticated and ubiquitous applications employed within these cities. In this regard, we investigate seven predominant sectors including the environment, public transport, utilities, street lighting, waste management, public safety, and smart parking that have a great effect on SC development. Our findings show that for the environment sector, cleaner air and water systems connected to IoT-driven sensors are used to detect the amount of CO₂, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen to monitor air quality and to detect water leakage and pH levels. For public transport, IoT systems help traffic management and prevent train delays, for the utilities sector IoT systems are used for reducing overall bills and related costs as well as electricity consumption management. For the street-lighting sector, IoT systems are used for better control of streetlamps and saving energy associated with urban street lighting. For waste management, IoT systems for waste collection and gathering of data regarding the level of waste in the container are effective. In addition, for public safety these systems are important in order to prevent vehicle theft and smartphone loss and to enhance public safety. Finally, IoT systems are effective in reducing congestion in cities and helping drivers to find vacant parking spots using intelligent smart parking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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48 pages, 6048 KiB

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Review of the Methods to Optimize Power Flow in Electric Vehicle Powertrains for Efficiency and Driving Performance

by Izhari Izmi Mazali, Zul Hilmi Che Daud, Mohd Kameil Abdul Hamid, Victor Tan, Pakharuddin Mohd Samin, Abdullah Jubair, Khairul Amilin Ibrahim, Mohd Salman Che Kob, Wang Xinrui and Mat Hussin Ab Talib

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031735 - 8 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6915

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EV) are quickly gaining a foothold in global markets due to their zero tailpipe emissions and increasing practicality in terms of battery technologies. However, even though EV powertrains emit zero emissions during driving, their efficiency has not been fully optimized, particularly [...] Read more.

Electric vehicles (EV) are quickly gaining a foothold in global markets due to their zero tailpipe emissions and increasing practicality in terms of battery technologies. However, even though EV powertrains emit zero emissions during driving, their efficiency has not been fully optimized, particularly due the commonly used single-speed transmission. Hence, this paper provides an extensive review on the latest works carried out to optimize the power flow in EV powertrains using multispeed discrete transmission, continuously variable transmission and multi-motor configurations. The relevant literatures were shortlisted using a keyword search related to EV powertrain in the ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. The review focused on the related literatures published from 2018 onwards. The publications were reviewed in terms of the methodologies applied to optimize the powertrain for efficiency and driving performance. Next, the significant findings from these literatures were discussed and compared. Finally, based on the review, several future key research areas in EV powertrain efficiency and performance are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation)

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