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Infrastructures
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Smart Mobility
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Smart Mobility

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart Infrastructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2023) | Viewed by 30703

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Said M. Easa

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Interests: intelligent transportation systems; highway geometric design and safety; human factors in transportation; traffic operations and management; engineering education.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jianchuan Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Transportation, Southeast University, 2 Southeast University Rd., Nanjing 211189, Jiangsu, China
Interests: road safety and geometric design; integrated roadway surveying and design; intelligent transportation systems
Dr. Yunlong Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Zachry Deprtment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3136 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Interests: intelligent transportation systems; connected and autonomous vehicle applications; AI applications; traffic signal and control; transportation data and modeling; traffic safety
Dr. Xiaobo Qu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Interests: traffic operations; connected and automated vehicles; electric transportation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on “Smart Mobility”, which represents the world of tomorrow. The concept has received increasing attention as an ideal tool for addressing issues in current transportation systems, such as congestion, traffic collisions, and pollution. Smart mobility aims at reducing congestion and fostering greener, faster, and cheaper transportation options. Transportation systems will become more intelligent and more flexible using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that are carried out with fully integrated and intelligent infrastructures. Specifically, the goals of smart mobility are to improve the quality of life of citizens, to reduce the environmental impacts, and to increase the connectivity and operational efficiency of multimodal transportation. By 2025, the annual addressable market of smart mobility themes is estimated to be around US$400 billion, or about eight times the size of today.

Among the components that can substantially help to achieve smart mobility, the infrastructure plays a fundamental role. Integrated and intelligent infrastructures can perform numerous functions, including data collection, data transmission and communication, and data interactions and exchanges with other intelligent components of the transportation systems (e.g., autonomous vehicles). To realize these functions, a variety of digital devices (e.g., sensors) are supposed to be installed in different parts of the existing infrastructure and integrated with advanced ICT. Only when all sensors are interconnected and work properly can intelligent recognition, location, tracking, monitoring, and management, which are all crucial to smart mobility, be achieved.

However, with the explosive growth of smart mobility service and applications, many scientific and engineering challenges to intelligent infrastructures are inevitably emerging and need ingenious research efforts from both academia and industry. For instance, many questions remain, such as: How can we optimize the deployment of smart sensors for better mobility? Is it possible for the infrastructures to provide more functions in the coming transportation resolution? How can we estimate and tackle the issues of cybersecurity, privacy, and social trust? How do we prepare the infrastructures for gradual change in the emerging and future modes of urban mobility? These challenges represent great opportunities to shape the intelligent transportation system of the future.

Researchers from academia and industry are invited to submit papers in the following areas:

  • Big data in smart mobility
  • Artificial Intelligence and machine learning applications
  • Intelligent infrastructure (e.g., traffic signals, parking, camera systems)
  • Infrastructure-related data processing and management
  • Infrastructure-cooperative algorithms
  • Innovative safety solutions (e.g., in-vehicle systems, LiDAR implementation)
  • Facilities for alternative travel modes
  • Smart vehicles (e.g., connected, autonomous, and disruptive)
  • Transportation electrification (e.g., electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, modeling)
  • Infrastructure adaptation to emergency vehicles
  • Smart use (e.g., ride-sharing and flexible mobility)
  • Mobility as a service (e.g., payment, online journey planning)
  • Smart infrastructure maintenance scheduling
  • Sustainable mobility
  • Public transportation
  • Smart powertrains
  • Eco-driving methods
  • Cyber security, privacy, and social issues
  • Other relevant areas to smart mobility

The Special Issue aims at publishing high-quality papers, particularly those that address engineering and scientific aspects related to the above topics.

Dr. Said M. Easa
Dr. Jianchuan Cheng
Dr. Yunlong Zhang
Dr. Xiaobo Qu
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. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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.

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1567 KiB  
Communication
A Space Fractional Uphill Dispersion in Traffic Flow Model with Solutions by the Trial Equation Method
by Rfaat Moner Soliby and Siti Suhana Jamaian
Infrastructures 2023, 8(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures8030045 - 02 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1294
Abstract
This paper has two main objectives. First, we modify the traffic flow model by introducing the uphill dispersion that derives from the fact that, in peak hours, drivers tend to travel from low to high density regions. This means that the proposed model [...] Read more.
This paper has two main objectives. First, we modify the traffic flow model by introducing the uphill dispersion that derives from the fact that, in peak hours, drivers tend to travel from low to high density regions. This means that the proposed model recovers wrong-way travel and is free from advected discontinuity. Second, in order to describe the anomalous transport behavior, we fractalize the proposed model to include dynamics with the fractional in space. As a result of adopting the fractional Fick’s law, several moving jam waves are presented which elucidate the non-homogeneity of driving styles. Then, the GFFD fractional derivative and the trail equation method are applied and for some special cases solutions are simulated which could help transportation engineers to understand traffic behavior and thus make appropriate decisions when constructing a traffic signals network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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23 pages, 4141 KiB  
Article
Rational Organization of Urban Parking Using Microsimulation
by Irina Makarova, Vadim Mavrin, Damir Sadreev, Polina Buyvol, Aleksey Boyko and Eduard Belyaev
Infrastructures 2022, 7(10), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7100140 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2414
Abstract
Urbanization, which causes the need for population mobility, leads to an increase in motorization and related problems: the organization of parking spaces in cities, both near work places and recreational spaces, and not far from residential locations. This has a number of consequences. [...] Read more.
Urbanization, which causes the need for population mobility, leads to an increase in motorization and related problems: the organization of parking spaces in cities, both near work places and recreational spaces, and not far from residential locations. This has a number of consequences. Therefore, the occupation of parking spaces near shopping centers and sports and recreation facilities, intended only for customers of these organizations, makes it difficult for direct customers to access services. This forces potential customers to look for a parking space in adjacent areas, often far from the target location. At the same time, the search for a parking space is stretched over time, negatively affecting the environment in the form of emissions and noise. On the other hand, there is a risk of losing a client. In the course of the study, we have analyzed the state of the problem and the directions of research on parking management in cities, and then we have studied the possibilities of using simulation models to find rational options for the organization of access to parking spaces and further using such models in decision support systems (DSS) as an intellectual core. The literature review showed that this is the most adequate option for an intelligent city parking space management system. At the same time, the environmental factor must also be taken into account. Research methods are based on field studies of traffic flows and emissions near parking places, and mathematical and simulation modeling. The proposed system will allow the evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed changes in the organization of access to parking spaces, and, in the future, when implementing the obtained optimal solution, in practice, provide customers with a guaranteed parking space and reduce traffic and emissions. The introduction of such a system guarantees its quick payback, which is associated with the efficiency of use, as well as with the additional effects obtained from its implementation (improving the road situation, reducing vehicle emissions, solving social problems of the population, etc.), which is especially important for medium and small cities with limited budgets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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19 pages, 31256 KiB  
Article
Effect of Traffic Lights Countdown Timer and Motorcycle Lanes as an Approach to the Red Box for Motorcycles in Bali Island
by Agah Muhammad Mulyadi, Atmy Verani Rouly Sihombing, Hendra Hendrawan, Edward Marpaung, Johny Malisan, Dedy Arianto, Tetty Sulastry Mardiana, Feronika Sekar Puriningsih, Subaryata, Nurul Aldha Mauliddina Siregar, Mutharuddin and Windra Priatna Humang
Infrastructures 2022, 7(10), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7100127 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2956
Abstract
The development of red boxes for motorcycles in Indonesia was initially adopted from the advanced stop line (ASL) for bicycles. The bike box concept was adopted for motorcycles in Indonesia. To date, red boxes have been fully implemented in 21 cities in Indonesia. [...] Read more.
The development of red boxes for motorcycles in Indonesia was initially adopted from the advanced stop line (ASL) for bicycles. The bike box concept was adopted for motorcycles in Indonesia. To date, red boxes have been fully implemented in 21 cities in Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of traffic light countdown timers and motorcycle lanes as an approach to the red box for motorcycles at signalized intersections. There were four locations studied in Denpasar Bali, i.e., red boxes with countdown timer only (Condition 1), red boxes with motorcycle lane only (Condition 2), red boxes with countdown timer and motorcycle lane (Condition 3), and red boxes without countdown timer and without motorcycle lane (Condition 4). The analysis results based on motorcycle volume data indicate that a countdown timer has a significant effect in increasing motorcycle acceleration when the green light starts, reducing the possibility of motorized vehicles other than motorcycles stopping in the red box area and reducing stop line violations while waiting during a red light. Meanwhile, the presence of a motorcycle lane as an approach lane to enter the red box area has a significant influence on increasing the occupancy of the red box by motorcycles. In addition, the correlation test shows that the countdown timer has a strong correlation with the occupancy of the red box to capacity and to stop line violation. Meanwhile, the level of traffic flow is strongly correlated with the countdown timer and motorcycle lane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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12 pages, 3369 KiB  
Article
The Design and Evaluation of a Telematic Automated System of Weight Control for Heavy Vehicles
by Daria Dmitrievna Belikova and Ravil Nurullovich Safiullin
Infrastructures 2022, 7(7), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7070086 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2120
Abstract
In this article, the authors reviewed the existing system of weight control of heavy vehicles in the Russian Federation. In this research, the main shortcomings of the system, which prevent its effective functioning in relation to the use of road infrastructure, were determined. [...] Read more.
In this article, the authors reviewed the existing system of weight control of heavy vehicles in the Russian Federation. In this research, the main shortcomings of the system, which prevent its effective functioning in relation to the use of road infrastructure, were determined. To solve these problems, we developed a model of the functionality of a telematic automated system of weight control of heavy vehicles, as well as defining the optimization tasks of the transportation process. Mathematical modeling of the operational factors that influence the system of weight control of heavy vehicles on roads was carried out. As a result of the research, the most significant parameters that have the greatest impact on the efficiency of the road were determined. By means of these parameters, it is feasible to choose suitable hardware and equipment for a weight control system. The methodology of developing automatic points for the weight control of heavy loads during road transportation was formulated. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the introduction of a telematic automated system of weight control of heavy vehicles would increase the efficiency of road transport on the highway by positively affecting its basic transport and performance indicators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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16 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
Travelers’ Perceptions on Significance of Travel Time Saving Attributes in Travel Behavior: A Case Study in Oman
by Muhammad Ashraf Javid, Hanan Saif Al-Khatri, Sawsan Said Al-Abri, Nazam Ali, Krisada Chaiyasarn and Panuwat Joyklad
Infrastructures 2022, 7(6), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7060078 - 06 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2251
Abstract
As everyone spends much time traveling, engaged in leisure or work activities, travel time represents one of the largest costs to transportation. The main objective of the study is to investigate travelers’ perceptions related to value of travel time saving with the help [...] Read more.
As everyone spends much time traveling, engaged in leisure or work activities, travel time represents one of the largest costs to transportation. The main objective of the study is to investigate travelers’ perceptions related to value of travel time saving with the help of a questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted online with the help of Google forms. The required data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire that consisted of five parts. A total of 312 useable sample responses were collected. The collected data were analyzed using conventional and statistical methods. In conventional methods, frequency distribution was carried out, and bar and pie charts were prepared. In the statistical methods, the exploratory factor analysis method (EFA) was conducted to extract useful factors affecting the travelers’ perceptions about travel time saving attitude. The survey results showed that more than 73% of people use a car for transport, which implies that most of them do not like to wait for public transport modes. It means that their travel attitudes are more inclined towards private transport seeking travel time saving. Most people do not like to share space with others while traveling, amounting to 44% of respondents using private cars alone, and placing high importance on flexibility, reliability, and time and cost saving in traveling, which implies that they are more likely to travel alone to save travel time. In addition, most of the respondents use short routes; this propensity is positively related to time and cost saving factors. Similarly, the time and cost savings and car-oriented attitudes are positively associated with the choice of a short route to save travel time. They also believe that the service quality level of transportation facilities affects the travel time saving and its value. This study proposes to improve travel time and cost in Oman. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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25 pages, 5815 KiB  
Article
Optimal Speed Plan for the Overtaking of Autonomous Vehicles on Two-Lane Highways
by Said M. Easa and Maksym Diachuk
Infrastructures 2020, 5(5), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5050044 - 18 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3858
Abstract
In passing maneuvers on two-lane highways, assessing the needed distance and the potential power reserve to ensure the required speed mode of the passing vehicle is a critical task of speed planning. This task must meet several mutually exclusive conditions that lead to [...] Read more.
In passing maneuvers on two-lane highways, assessing the needed distance and the potential power reserve to ensure the required speed mode of the passing vehicle is a critical task of speed planning. This task must meet several mutually exclusive conditions that lead to successful maneuvers. This paper addresses three main aspects. First, the issues associated with a rational distribution of the speed of the passing vehicle for overtaking a long commercial vehicle on two-lane highways are discussed. The factors that affect the maneuver effectiveness are analyzed, considering the safety and cost. Second, a heuristic algorithm is proposed based on the rationale for choosing the necessary space and time for overtaking. The initial prediction’s sensitivity to fluctuations of the current measurements of the position and speed of the overtaking participants is examined. Third, an optimization technique for the passing vehicle speed distribution during the overtaking time using the finite element method is presented. Adaptive model predictive control is applied for tracking the references being generated. The presented model is illustrated using a simulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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Graphical abstract

27 pages, 16755 KiB  
Article
Path and Control Planning for Autonomous Vehicles in Restricted Space and Low Speed
by Maksym Diachuk, Said M. Easa and Joel Bannis
Infrastructures 2020, 5(5), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5050042 - 12 May 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6174
Abstract
This paper presents models of path and control planning for the parking, docking, and movement of autonomous vehicles at low speeds, considering space constraints. Given the low speed of motion, and in order to test and approve the proposed algorithms, vehicle kinematic models [...] Read more.
This paper presents models of path and control planning for the parking, docking, and movement of autonomous vehicles at low speeds, considering space constraints. Given the low speed of motion, and in order to test and approve the proposed algorithms, vehicle kinematic models are used. Recent works on the development of parking algorithms for autonomous vehicles are reviewed. Bicycle kinematic models for vehicle motion are considered for three basic types of vehicles: passenger car, long wheelbase truck, and articulated vehicles with and without steered semitrailer axes. Mathematical descriptions of systems of differential equations in matrix form and expressions for determining the linearization elements of nonlinear motion equations that increase the speed of finding the optimal solution are presented. Options are proposed for describing the interaction of vehicle overall dimensions with the space boundaries, within which a maneuver should be performed. An original algorithm that considers numerous constraints is developed for determining vehicle permissible positions within the closed boundaries of the parking area, which are directly used in the iterative process of searching for the optimal plan solution using nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). The process of using NMPC to find the best trajectories and control laws while moving in a semi-limited space of constant curvature (turnabouts, roundabouts) are described. Simulation tests were used to validate the proposed models for both constrained and unconstrained conditions and the output (state-space) and control parameters’ dependencies are shown. The proposed models represent an initial effort to model the movement of autonomous vehicles for parking and have the potential for other highway applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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16 pages, 4980 KiB  
Article
Competing Risks Models for the Assessment of Intelligent Transportation Systems Devices: A Case Study for Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Applications
by Sylvester Inkoom, John Sobanjo and Eric Chicken
Infrastructures 2020, 5(3), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5030030 - 15 Mar 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4068
Abstract
Intelligent transportation system (ITS) has become a crucial section of transportation and traffic management systems in the past decades. As a result, transportation agencies keep improving the quality of transportation infrastructure management information for accessibility and security of transportation networks. The goal of [...] Read more.
Intelligent transportation system (ITS) has become a crucial section of transportation and traffic management systems in the past decades. As a result, transportation agencies keep improving the quality of transportation infrastructure management information for accessibility and security of transportation networks. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the impact of two competing risks: “natural deterioration” of ITS devices and hurricane-induced failure of the same components. The major devices employed in the architecture of this paper include closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, automatic vehicle identification (AVI) systems, dynamic message signals (DMS), wireless communication systems and DMS towers. From the findings, it was evident that as ITS infrastructure devices age, the contribution of Hurricane Category 3 as a competing failure risk is higher and significant compared to the natural deterioration of devices. Hurricane Category 3 failure vs. natural deterioration indicated an average hazard ratio of 1.5 for CCTV, AVI and wireless communications systems and an average hazard ratio of 2.3 for DMS, DMS towers and portable DMS. The proportional hazard ratios of the Hurricane Category 1 compared to the devices was estimated as <0.001 and that of Hurricane Category 2 < 0.5, demonstrating the lesser impact of the Hurricane Categories 1 and 2. It is expedient to envisage and forecast the impact of hurricanes on the failure of wireless communication networks, vehicle detection systems and other message signals, in order to prevent vehicle to infrastructure connection disruption, especially for autonomous and connected vehicle systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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18 pages, 4869 KiB  
Article
Roadworks Warning—Closure of a Lane, the Impact of C-ITS Messages
by Serio Angelo Maria Agriesti, Luca Studer, Giovanna Marchionni, Paolo Gandini and Xiaobo Qu
Infrastructures 2020, 5(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5030027 - 06 Mar 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4433
Abstract
By now, it is widely acknowledged among stakeholders and academia that infrastructures will have to be composed both by a physical component and a digital one. The deployment of technologies exploiting dedicated short-range communications is viewed as the most cost-effective solution to face [...] Read more.
By now, it is widely acknowledged among stakeholders and academia that infrastructures will have to be composed both by a physical component and a digital one. The deployment of technologies exploiting dedicated short-range communications is viewed as the most cost-effective solution to face the foreseen growth of mobility. Still, little has been done to define the best implementation logic of DSRC. Aim of this paper is to frame the possible impacts arising by the implementation of a cooperative intelligent transport system (C-ITS)-use case: roadworks warning—closure of a lane, and, in order to achieve this result, microsimulations are exploited. The results are intended to support both road operators and car-makers in defining the best operational logics and the possible benefits achievable by presenting the cooperative message at a certain distance for certain market penetrations. Moreover, if the C-ITS message actually entails benefits or simply disrupts the upstream traffic should be assessed in advance, before implementing the system. The obtained results show that the risk of disruption and of reduction in traffic efficiency arises at lower market penetration levels. Nevertheless, a consistent trend in delay reduction is recorded upstream the roadworks, the highest reduction being equal to 8.66%. Moreover, the average speed at the roadworks entrance on the closing lane increases by a difference equal to around 10 km/h, while the average time in the queue at the highest market penetration reduces by 60 s on the open lane and 25 s on the closing one. These presented results reflect the way the traffic shifts from the slow to the fast lane thanks to the C-ITS system and effectively frames both the potentialities and the risks of the system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility)
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