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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 7653

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Katarzyna Turoń

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Guest Editor

Department of Road Transport, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
Interests: shared mobility; car sharing; bike sharing; scooter sharing; new mobility; electromobility; electric mobility; electric shared mobility; mobility management; transportation engineering; transport modelling; transport optimization; sustainable transport systems
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Dr. Feng Chen

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Guest Editor

Sino-US Global Logistics Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: transport modelling; transport optimization; models and algorithms on scheduling problems; energy scheduling optimization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable transport is now a trend that affects modern cities worldwide. While striving to achieve sustainability, they take on various challenges that not only improve the quality of transport but, above all, will not affect the quality of life of inhabitants of these cities. Scientists assist by offering various types of support in the form of ways to manage, model and optimize transport systems in such a way that the intended goals can be achieved. This Special Issue is dedicated to the subject of "Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization". The Special Issue concerns interdisciplinary issues related to broadly understood civil engineering and transport. Any research regarding current considerations in terms of sustainable transport systems, including analyses, mathematical and business models, algorithms, reviews, case studies or extensive literature analyses are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Katarzyna Turoń
Prof. Dr. Feng Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Sustainable transport
civil engineering
transport engineering
mobility management
transport resilience
transport optimization
transport modelling

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenges and Opportunities for the Development of Inland Waterway Transport in Brazil

by Ademar Vilarinho, Lara Bartocci Liboni, Luciana Oranges Cezarino, Javier Durán Micco, Koen Mommens and Cathy Macharis

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052136 - 5 Mar 2024

Viewed by 868

Abstract

Despite the presence of numerous navigable rivers in Brazil, they remain underutilized for Inland Waterway Transport (IWT). Given the recent changes in transport systems which aim to reduce reliance on highways due to their high cost and lack of sustainability, it becomes crucial to explore new transport models in Brazil, shifting part of the transport from roads to railways and mainly to waterways. To fill this gap in Brazil’s transport system, it was decided to check why waterways are little used and what challenges cause them to be underutilized and, additionally, what opportunities could leverage their use in the country. In this sense, in this study, we identify the biggest challenges and opportunities faced by IWT in Brazil. To achieve this objective, interviews were conducted using content analysis with managers who work in public and private IWT organizations active in Brazil. Results show that IWT has seen a recovery in interest in recent years due to the need for cheaper and greener logistics. It was also found that the main challenges that IWT faces are a lack of public policies followed by precarious infrastructure of waterways, ports and locks, as well as modest integration with other transport modes. Conversely, the most significant opportunity lies in the potential reduction in transport costs, coupled with the enhanced sustainability of transport activities via the utilization of IWT, thereby fostering greener transport practices. These results can contribute to a better understanding of practical and theoretical approaches related to IWT in Brazil, and they can serve as a reflection for new research focusing on the development of IWT especially in other emerging countries facing similar issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization)

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22 pages, 9872 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Green Innovation in Smart Cities: Leveraging Traffic Flow Prediction with Machine Learning Algorithms for Sustainable Transportation Systems

by Xingyu Tao, Lan Cheng, Ruihan Zhang, W. K. Chan, Huang Chao and Jing Qin

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010251 - 27 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1794

Abstract

The emergence of smart cities has presented the prospect of transforming urban transportation systems into more sustainable and environmentally friendly entities. A pivotal facet of achieving this transformation lies in the efficient management of traffic flow. This paper explores the utilization of machine learning techniques for predicting traffic flow and its application in supporting sustainable transportation management strategies in smart cities based on data from the TRAFFIC CENSUS of the Hong Kong Transport Department. By analyzing anticipated traffic conditions, the government can implement proactive measures to alleviate congestion, reduce fuel consumption, minimize emissions, and ultimately improve quality of life for urban residents. This study proposes a way to develop traffic flow prediction methods with different methodologies in machine learning with a comparison with other results. This research aims to highlight the importance of leveraging machine learning technology in traffic flow prediction and its potential impact on sustainable transportation systems for the green innovation paradigm. The findings of this research have practical implications for transportation planners, policymakers, and urban designers. The predictive models demonstrated can support decision-making processes, enabling proactive measures to optimize traffic flow, reduce emissions, and improve the overall sustainability of transportation systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization)

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20 pages, 4412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of New Mathematical Methods and Software Applications for More Efficient and Sustainable Road Freight Transportation

by György Kovács

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16339; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316339 - 27 Nov 2023

Viewed by 656

Abstract

Recently, the main aim of the road freight transportation sector has been the establishment of a cost-effective and sustainable operation because it is one of the most environmentally damaging and most expensive elements of the supply chains’ activities. The efficiency improvement and optimization of these transport activities can result in significant cost savings, which lead to increased competitiveness of the transport companies. Two new methods were elaborated for the optimization of road freight transport activities; therefore, this research is very innovative and up to date. The elaborated methods are as follows: (1) A new calculation method for the precise prime cost pre-calculation of transport tasks in order to determine an accurate transport fee, thus ensuring the company’s profit; furthermore, the losses can be eliminated in order to provide competitiveness to the transport company. (2) A new optimization method for the refueling procedure of international transport trips in order to minimize the total fuel cost of the transport trips taking into consideration the different unit fuel prices at the different stations. Therefore, the elaborated optimization method on the one hand helps in selecting the optimal petrol station and, on the other hand, defines the optimal amount of fuel to be refueled. Based on the newly developed methods, two decision-supporting software applications were developed to establish more profitable and sustainable transportation. The added value of the developed calculation methods and software applications is that, recently, both the prime cost calculation and the fuel supply optimization have not been supported by software. This is the reason the two developed methods and two software applications are innovative and unique. The newly developed software applications were successfully implemented at transport companies. The correctness of both elaborated mathematical methods was validated using the developed software in real case studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization)

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27 pages, 2581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perception of Shared Electric Scooters: A Case Study from Poland

by Katarzyna Turoń, Andrzej Kubik, Piotr Folęga and Feng Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612596 - 19 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1594

Abstract

Scooter-sharing services, that is, short-term rental of electric scooters, have been gaining popularity among last-mile transport solutions in recent years, winning both their supporters and opponents. Recognizing the different approaches of societies to scooters in the world, the objective of this work was to determine the perception of scooter-sharing services in Poland, that is, the fifth largest European market in terms of micromobility. The study was based on survey data conducted using the CAWI method among the points of active users of scooter-sharing systems. The article presents the results regarding the perception of electric scooters in terms of safety, use, operation, education, and elements of communication behavior. The results indicate that the respondents perceive the Polish market of sharing electric scooters well. They believe that riding a scooter is safe (despite pointing out numerous technical faults that may indicate insufficient technical knowledge about what they can mean for users), and they are against mobility hubs and disrupting free systems. Interestingly, respondents emphasize the need to modernize the regulations, the need for penalties for damage to vehicles, and the need to reduce fees. The results provide valuable clues on how to manage the new electric mobility. They also indicate a different approach of Polish users to the issue of perceiving scooters in relation to other European societies (such as France or Denmark), which is a valuable clue for modeling transport behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization)

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33 pages, 44973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling of Queue Detector Location at Signalized Roundabouts via VISSIM Micro-Simulation Software in Amman City, Jordan

by Amani Abdallah Assolie, Nur Sabahiah Abdul Sukor, Ibrahim Khliefat and Teh Sabariah Binti Abd Manan

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8451; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118451 - 23 May 2023

Viewed by 2059

Abstract

The growing number of vehicles in Jordan has contributed to traffic congestion, particularly at roundabouts. Roundabouts deflect high volumes of traffic flow. To improve the performance of roundabouts, it is necessary to consider the impact of all components on traffic conditions, especially delay, queue length, and level of service (LOS), to reduce congestion and enhance efficiency and sustainability, etc. This study aims to (a) identify the optimal queue detector locations on all approaches at two selected roundabouts in Amman, Jordan, using micro-simulation (VISSIM) supported by programming (Python) software, and (b) validate the simulated models with the best LOS. Traffic and geometric data of roundabouts (Prince Faisal Bin al-Hussein, fifth; and Prince Rashid Bin Hassan, sixth roundabouts) were used for simulation purposes. The queue detector (across 15 distinct scenarios at various distances) and standard (base scenario, 50 m from the stop line) locations were assessed for optimal placement. The model validation was made based on all scenarios including signalized and non-signalized roundabouts. The best-case scenario for queue detector location was determined based on the highway capacity manual (HCM) criteria for measurement of effectiveness (MOE) at roundabouts. The optimal location was measured based on the duration of traffic delay (seconds), average queue length (m), and LOS. The optimal queue detector’s location was observed to be 97 m from the roundabout stop line. It can reduce the traffic delay (or speed up the traffic flow) by 85.25%. The average queue length can be reduced up to 76.76%. The LOS F status on the selected roundabouts can be improved to LOS D. Overall, the application of adaptive signal and queue detectors in appropriate locations at all roundabout approaches is crucial to improve imbalanced traffic flow while reducing delays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation System Management and Optimization)

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