Sustainable Transportation

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are truly pleased to invite you to participate in our Topic Collection on Sustainable Transportation. The aim of the collection is the formation of systematically approached research results related to transportation sustainability, encompassing all related segments, processes, procedures and technologies. Emerging challenges in the transportation of goods and passengers represent a direct consequence of globalisation. In response to the rising demands and challenges for every transportation segment, particular attention must be directed towards stable, sustainable and smooth transportation, layered with multidisciplinary means. The latter range from operational experiences and procedures across sustainable and scientifically based realisations and, finally, striving towards high-end experimental as well as theoretical solutions.

In Sustainable Transportation, we are welcoming original research articles and comprehensive reviews in research areas including (but not limited to): optimal scientific and engineering transportation solutions, reduction of the negative environmental impact of transportation systems, solutions regarding all aspects of transportation services, and beyond. Particularly, the areas of interest comprise conduction of maritime and inland, rail, road and air transportation segments and related services, intermodal and multimodal transportation, intelligent transportation systems, telecommunications in transport, sustainable mobility and smart cities, and logistics and supply chains.

The emphasis of the collection lies on the interaction of transportation and transport systems with their environment, resources and humans, always in relation to the sustainable feasibility of transportation. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mladen Jardas
Dr. Pietro Evangelista
Dr. Predrag Brlek
Dr. David Brčić
Prof. Dr. Zlatko Sovreski
Prof. Dr. Ljudevit Krpan
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Logistics logistics	3.8	5.1	2017	25.4 Days	CHF 1400
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400

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Published Papers (42 papers)

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26 pages, 4164 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Time-and-Space-Network-Based Green Fleet Planning Model and Its Application for a Hub-and-Spoke Network

by Yu Wang, Kaibo Yuan, Mengyuan Zhu and Shuijin Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5832; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075832 - 28 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1338

Abstract

Most previous studies on airline fleet planning have focused solely on economic considerations, neglecting the impact of carbon reduction. This paper presents a novel method for green fleet planning, using a bi-level programming model to balance conflicts among stakeholders while considering uncertain parameters [...] Read more.

Most previous studies on airline fleet planning have focused solely on economic considerations, neglecting the impact of carbon reduction. This paper presents a novel method for green fleet planning, using a bi-level programming model to balance conflicts among stakeholders while considering uncertain parameters such as demand and operating costs. The upper model aims to reduce carbon emissions by taking into account government constraints, such as carbon allowances and carbon prices, as well as airline satisfaction. The lower model seeks to maximize airline revenue using a space-and-time network model based on given airline flight schedules. To verify the game model, a case study utilizing randomly generated scenarios is employed within the context of China’s aviation-specific emissions trading scheme. Results show that: (1) compared to the scenario without a policy aiming at reducing carbon emissions, this method reduces carbon emissions by 23.03% at the expense of a 6.96% reduction in terms of the airline’s operating profit; (2) when passenger demand levels increase to 160%, the profitability of the proposed fleet increases by 50.83%, while there were only insignificant changes in carbon emissions; (3) the proposed methodology can assist the airlines systematically to reduce carbon emissions and provide valuable strategic guidance for policy makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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30 pages, 6843 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of the Emerging “Shared Mobility Hub” Concept in European Cities: Definition and a Proposed Typology

by Anastasia Roukouni, Inés Aquilué Junyent, Miquel Martí Casanovas and Gonçalo Homem de Almeida Correia

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065222 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2862

Abstract

Seamless, efficient transport intermodality is a key aspect of the transition of cities toward sustainable mobility. The new “shared mobility hub” concept is increasingly gaining attention as a potential way to make this urgently needed transition happen. The present paper aims to provide [...] Read more.

Seamless, efficient transport intermodality is a key aspect of the transition of cities toward sustainable mobility. The new “shared mobility hub” concept is increasingly gaining attention as a potential way to make this urgently needed transition happen. The present paper aims to provide an insightful view of the promising concept of shared mobility hub, initially by looking into the existing literature on its definitions and how they are classified to form different typologies. Following that, a new, flexible typology framework for shared mobility hubs is proposed. This is then applied to several existing hubs in five different cities in The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Helmond), Spain (Sant Cugat de Vallès, Metropolitan Area of Barcelona), and Portugal (Lisbon). As these countries have different shared mobility policies in place and their citizens have very different mobility habits, we were able to reflect on how the proposed typology functions in varied contexts. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion of a very timely topic in Europe and worldwide, which is the need for the deployment of a new generation of mobility hubs, with an emphasis on shared mobility. We trust that the suggested typology can be useful to policy-makers, local authorities, and transport and urban planners, as it can help with the conducting of a first effective screening with regard to which type of hub is needed for each specific case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 2177 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on Highway Landscape Environment Assessment and Grading Method

by Shengneng Hu, Wei Tong and Kexin Mao

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064904 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1296

Abstract

The assessment and grading of a highway landscape environment is the basic work of highway route layout and landscape planning, and it is also a key link to whether the highway can be integrated into the surrounding environment. This article analyzes the connotation [...] Read more.

The assessment and grading of a highway landscape environment is the basic work of highway route layout and landscape planning, and it is also a key link to whether the highway can be integrated into the surrounding environment. This article analyzes the connotation and value standard system of highway landscape assessment and proposes a highway landscape environment assessment method that combines a quantitative assessment and a humanistic assessment. Consequently, a highway landscape environment assessment indicator system with landscape features, environmental harmony, visual environment and environmental carrying capacity as assessment contents is constructed. Finally, using the set-pair analysis method, an evaluation model for grading the quality of the highway landscape environment is proposed. The model divides the highway landscape environment into four grades and proposes highway landscape planning and design strategies under the conditions of different grades. The theory is applied in the landscape planning of the Xi’an-Baoji highway in China. The results show that the overall assessment of the total indicator is “Grade 2”, the environmental carrying capacity of the subsystem is “weak”, and the landscape quality is “good”. This theoretical approach combines discursive cognition with quantitative analysis to achieve a systematic and refined assessment of the highway construction environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 14774 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on Location of Bus Stop in Subway Service Area Based on Residents’ Travel Accessibility

by Sini Wang, Zhongyi Zuo and Yan Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4517; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054517 - 02 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1790

Abstract

This research aims at establishing an integrated urban public transport system with a subway route supplemented by conventional bus lines, in order to enable residents’ “door-to-door” travel. This paper first analyzed the attraction area of the subway, and then used the GIS tools [...] Read more.

This research aims at establishing an integrated urban public transport system with a subway route supplemented by conventional bus lines, in order to enable residents’ “door-to-door” travel. This paper first analyzed the attraction area of the subway, and then used the GIS tools to calculate and analyze residents’ accessibility to adjacent bus stops. Moreover, it created a preliminary layout of bus stops for residential areas with extremely low accessibility using an improved potential model. From the perspective of minimizing residents’ travel costs and bus stop infrastructure deployment costs, a bus stop site selection optimization model was developed. According to the characteristics of the model, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was employed to solve the optimal bus stop locations. In addition, the entropy weight technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) evaluation model was used to evaluate and sort candidate schemes, accordingly, and thus the optimal site selection scheme was identified. Finally, a before-after comparative analysis on residents’ travel accessibility was conducted. Results show that the proposed method can effectively improve residents’ accessibility to bus stops, which facilitates residents to transfer from conventional bus to subway. Furthermore, it provides a basis for the follow-up optimization of the connection between subway and conventional bus lines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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13 pages, 3812 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Fuzzy Customer Response

by Gitae Kim

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4376; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054376 - 01 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

This paper proposes a dynamic vehicle routing problem (DVRP) model with fuzzy customer responses and suggests optimal routing strategies. Most DVRP studies have focused on how to create a new route upon the occurrence of dynamic situations such as unexpected demands. However, the [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a dynamic vehicle routing problem (DVRP) model with fuzzy customer responses and suggests optimal routing strategies. Most DVRP studies have focused on how to create a new route upon the occurrence of dynamic situations such as unexpected demands. However, the customer responses have received little attention. When a pop-up demand is added to one of the planned routes, the service for some optimally planned demands may be delayed. Customers may file complaints or cancel their orders as a result of the delays. As a result, the customer response has a significant impact on current profits as well as future demands. In this research, we consider the customer response in DVRP and address it with a fuzzy number. Changing distances or defining time windows can resolve the problem of customer response. The customer responses are represented by a fuzzy rule. The new routing strategy provides the viability to reduce customer complaints and avoid losing potential customers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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22 pages, 4416 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Is the Transition to Electric Passenger Cars Sustainable? A Life Cycle Perspective

by Mihai Machedon-Pisu and Paul Nicolae Borza

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2614; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032614 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3186

Abstract

Compared to conventional passenger cars, the hybrid and electric alternatives include electric motors and large batteries; the use of clean energy, reduced operation emissions, and decreasing purchase prices can represent solid reasons for their market adoption. The feasibility of the transition to electric [...] Read more.

Compared to conventional passenger cars, the hybrid and electric alternatives include electric motors and large batteries; the use of clean energy, reduced operation emissions, and decreasing purchase prices can represent solid reasons for their market adoption. The feasibility of the transition to electric cars is analyzed herein in terms of the costs, main pollutants, and energy consumption of compact to large-sized cars. In this regard, the proposed life cycle assessment methodology evaluates the pollution and energetic impacts of the current passenger car models with a weight varying from 1.6 to 1.8 tons, depending on the car type, for a complete life cycle. The life cycle emissions and energy consumption are also determined through simulation in order to validate the estimated values for the considered powertrains. This study has shown that a transition to current full-electric passenger cars, based on a European and United States energy mix, is not currently sustainable in terms of energy consumption. The complete life cycle values are similar for the tested conventional and full-electric passenger cars, ranging from 5 to 5.2 MJ/km. By comparison, the hybrid alternatives and full-electric cars based solely on renewable energy present lower energy consumption, ranging from 3.32 to 4.62 MJ/km. At the same time, the hybrid alternatives and conventional cars provide relevant benefits in life cycle costs: 20–25% lower than full-electric cars. In terms of life cycle emissions, the tested full-electric cars based on renewables show a noticeable reduction in greenhouse gases and in other relevant pollutants: 37% and 62%, respectively, lower than that of conventional cars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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14 pages, 1358 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Consequence Assessment Model for Gasoline Transport: Belgrade Case Study Based on Multi-Agent Simulation

by Strahinja Pantelić, Branko Milovanović, Marko Đogatović, Predrag Živanović, Stanko Bajčetić, Slaven Tica and Andrea Nađ

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2598; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032598 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 968

Abstract

The transport of dangerous goods by road represents a specific problem, considering that these vehicles can have great negative effects on people and the environment in the event of an accident. In the last few decades, various methods have been defined for risk [...] Read more.

The transport of dangerous goods by road represents a specific problem, considering that these vehicles can have great negative effects on people and the environment in the event of an accident. In the last few decades, various methods have been defined for risk management in this area. Most of these methods are based on reducing the probability and the consequences of an accident. In a large number of cases, the probability of the occurrence is in much greater focus than the consequences. To fill this gap, we created a new model for assessing the consequences on the population in the event of a fire during gasoline transportation. The model is based on the hypothesis that hazard intensity is directly proportional to the intensity of the heat generated by the fire and inversely proportional to the distance from the accident. The model was implemented through a Belgrade case study with multi-agent simulation. The results of the paper show that there is a 43% probability that there would be between 11 and 28 casualties in the observed location in the event of an accident. This confirms the initial hypothesis and shows that the model can be successfully used to assess the consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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19 pages, 6548 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Open-Source Modelling Methodology for Multimodal and Intermodal Accessibility Analysis of Workplace Locations

by Maximilian Pfertner, Benjamin Büttner and Gebhard Wulfhorst

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031947 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

Workplace location has a significant impact on daily mobility behavior, such as mode of transportation choice, as well as long-term decisions such as car ownership and residential location choice. Therefore, understanding accessibility to workplaces is crucial for promoting sustainable mobility. However, there is [...] Read more.

Workplace location has a significant impact on daily mobility behavior, such as mode of transportation choice, as well as long-term decisions such as car ownership and residential location choice. Therefore, understanding accessibility to workplaces is crucial for promoting sustainable mobility. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, open-source methodologies for multimodal and intermodal accessibility modeling for workplace locations. In this study, we present a modeling concept based on open-source tools such as OpenTripPlanner, PostGIS, and R, which allows for efficient and fast accessibility analysis of workplace locations at a regional level. Using the Munich Metropolitan Region as a case study, we demonstrate the feasibility of our model in conducting large-scale, multimodal, and intermodal accessibility analysis on consumer hardware. The maps produced by our model provide both absolute and relative indicators of accessibility, such as public transportation versus car accessibility, as well as a score. The results show that Munich and other centers have high competitiveness for non-car modes and intermodal combinations, but smaller cities also have potential for workplace locations that are not reliant on car access, with a large number of potential workers able to reach these locations within 30 min without driving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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19 pages, 2904 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Hazards of the Railway Infrastructure of Kazakhstan

by Balgyn Ashimova, Raikhan Beisenova, Ignacio Menéndez-Pidal, Serik Jumabayev, Aktoty Zhupysheva and Rumiya Tazitdinova

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021321 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1523

Abstract

The railway sector is the largest branch of the economy in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, environmental safety issues and the reduction and prevention of harmful impacts are not given sufficient attention. There is very little research on the impact of the railway sector of Kazakhstan [...] Read more.

The railway sector is the largest branch of the economy in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, environmental safety issues and the reduction and prevention of harmful impacts are not given sufficient attention. There is very little research on the impact of the railway sector of Kazakhstan on the natural environment, which hinders the further development of the railway sector and thus necessitates the addressal of environment issues. This study aimed to show possible environmentally hazardous sections of the country’s railway infrastructure. The criteria chosen for the analysis were soil cover, water resources, rainfall, protected natural areas, and population. A map of environmentally sensitive areas was created to determine which areas require priority protection from the environmental hazards posed by the country’s railway infrastructure. The map was developed in a GIS environment using the weighted overlay, expert assessment, and snowball methods. Additionally, a model for the Kazakhstan segment of the International Northern Railway Corridor was constructed in this article to identify integral indices that assess the susceptibility of the territory to environmental hazards. The data and results presented in the article can be used to solve current and future environmental issues concerning the country’s railway communications and can be implemented in many practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 1490 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Conceptual Model for Determining the Statistical Significance of Predictive Indicators for Bus Transit Demand Forecasting

by Bojan Jovanović, Kamer Shabanaj and Marko Ševrović

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010749 - 31 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1215

Abstract

This article addresses the possibility of improving the traditional bus passenger demand forecasting models by leveraging additional data from relevant big data systems and proposes a conceptual framework for developing big data-based forecasting models. Based on the data extracted from available big data [...] Read more.

This article addresses the possibility of improving the traditional bus passenger demand forecasting models by leveraging additional data from relevant big data systems and proposes a conceptual framework for developing big data-based forecasting models. Based on the data extracted from available big data systems, the authors have developed a conceptual procedural framework for determining the significance of statistical indicators that can potentially be used as predictor variables for forecasting future passenger demand. At the first stage of the proposed framework, the statistical significance of partial linear correlations between observed statistical indicators and bus ridership demand are determined. All statistical indicators identified as potentially significant are further tested for multicollinearity, homoscedasticity, autocorrelation and multivariate normality to determine the suitability of their inclusion in the final equation of the prediction model. The final formulation of the predictive model was developed using stepwise regression. The R programming language was used to implement the proposed procedural framework to develop a model suitable for predicting passenger demand on the Prizren-Zagreb international bus route. Two predictor variables identified as the most statistically significant are the population of Kosovo and the annual number of Kosovo citizens crossing the Croatian border by bus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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12 pages, 6435 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Road Components and Roadside Vegetation on Temperature Reduction in Seoul Considering Air, Wet-Bulb Globe, and Surface Temperatures

by Hyejin Cho

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16663; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416663 - 13 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1516

Abstract

Urbanization has resulted in high temperatures in cities, which are exacerbated by an increase in urban impervious surfaces (road space). This study investigated the effect of urban road characteristics on roadside temperature. Different temperature indices were measured at four sites in Seoul with [...] Read more.

Urbanization has resulted in high temperatures in cities, which are exacerbated by an increase in urban impervious surfaces (road space). This study investigated the effect of urban road characteristics on roadside temperature. Different temperature indices were measured at four sites in Seoul with different road designs by using weather measuring devices and infrared thermal cameras. The differences between air and roadside air temperatures decreased from site 1 (no vegetation) to site 4 (roadside trees and vegetated medians). The analysis results showed that roadside wet-bulb globe and surface thermal temperatures sensitively changed according to road characteristics, unlike air temperature. The lowest temperatures were consistently observed at site 4. This cooling tendency was the strongest in the afternoon, which indicates the effectiveness of vegetation for preventing the commonly observed temperature rise in the afternoon. That is, roadside trees and vegetation in the median strip can prevent temperature rise and contribute to urban temperature reduction. Therefore, more roadside trees and median planting, as well as taller trees and denser vegetation along roads, can be used to provide a greater reduction of roadside temperatures and to improve urban climates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 2660 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of the Lifespan of Imported Passenger Vehicles in Mongolia

by Tulga Mendjargal, Eiji Yamasue and Hiroki Tanikawa

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14582; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114582 - 06 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1974

Abstract

In the last few decades, there has been an increase in second-hand imported vehicles in developing countries, including Mongolia. However, the extension of vehicle lifespans abroad promotes circular economy activities. In this study, we investigated the lifespan of second-hand imported passenger vehicles and [...] Read more.

In the last few decades, there has been an increase in second-hand imported vehicles in developing countries, including Mongolia. However, the extension of vehicle lifespans abroad promotes circular economy activities. In this study, we investigated the lifespan of second-hand imported passenger vehicles and their implication for the future sustainability of the transportation sector in Mongolia. The methodology used in this study comprised three stages. First, we conducted surveys to investigate the trends in second-hand vehicles in Mongolia. Next, the results from the survey on passenger vehicles were classified into three major categories based on their mode of operation, namely fuel, liquefied gas petroleum (gas), and the hybrid engine vehicle (HV) (of which the Toyota Prius is the most used vehicle in Mongolia). Finally, we estimated the average lifespan of vehicles using the Weibull distribution to measure before and after the import. The results show that the total average lifespans of all vehicles range between 17.3 and 20.2 years, respectively. The results highlight the different shape parameters of each vehicle category (fuel, gas, and HV), providing a better understanding of each vehicle’s lifespan and providing insights on the future management of second-hand imported vehicles, lifecycles, and recycling potentials for the successful development of sustainable transport policies in Mongolia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 2721 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Path Optimization of Low-Carbon Container Multimodal Transport under Uncertain Conditions

by Meiyan Li and Xiaoni Sun

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114098 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1920

Abstract

The development of multimodal transport has had a significant impact on China’s transportation industry. Due to the variability of the market environment, in this study, based on the context of the official launch of the national carbon emission trading market, the uncertainty of [...] Read more.

The development of multimodal transport has had a significant impact on China’s transportation industry. Due to the variability of the market environment, in this study, based on the context of the official launch of the national carbon emission trading market, the uncertainty of the demand and the randomness of carbon trading prices were considered. Taking minimum total transportation cost as the objective function, a robust stochastic optimization model of container multimodal transport was constructed, and a hybrid fireworks algorithm with gravitational search operator (FAGSO) was designed to solve and verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. Using a 35-node multimodal transportation network as an example, the multimodal transportation costs and schemes under three different modes were compared and analyzed, and the influence of parameter uncertainty was determined. The results show that the randomness of carbon trading prices will lead to an increase or decrease in the total transport cost, while robust optimization with uncertain demand will be affected by the regret value constraint, resulting in an increase in the total transport cost. Multimodal carriers can reduce transportation costs, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the transportation efficiency of multimodal transportation by comprehensively weighing the randomness of carbon trading prices, the nondeterminism of demand, and the relationship between the selection of maximum regret values and transportation costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 7752 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Field Measurement and Mechanism Analysis of Rail Corrugation on Steel Spring Floating Slab Track Section

by Kuikui Ma

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11790; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811790 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

In this study, a combination method of field measurements and numerical simulations is used to investigate the mechanism of rail corrugation in the curve’s inner rail in urban rail transit. Firstly, field measurements on rail corrugation and rail vibration characteristics were conducted on [...] Read more.

In this study, a combination method of field measurements and numerical simulations is used to investigate the mechanism of rail corrugation in the curve’s inner rail in urban rail transit. Firstly, field measurements on rail corrugation and rail vibration characteristics were conducted on the steel spring floating slab track (SSFST) section of a metro line; secondly, a three-dimensional finite element model of the wheelset-SSFST was established, and complex eigenvalue analysis and transient analysis were conducted. It was found that the main frequency of measured rail vertical vibration and the simulated wheel–rail—which simulated normal contact force on the inner rail—correspond to the first wheel–rail unstable vibration mode, as well as to the field-measured rail corrugation passing frequency. Therefore, the strong agreement between the results of the field measurements and the numerical simulation further verifies that the frictional, self-excited vibration of the wheelset-SSFST system on a sharply curved track can cause rail corrugation. When the vertical and lateral fasteners’ stiffness increases, the possibility of rail corrugation decreases. The decrease in vertical stiffness of the steel spring leads to an increase in the possibility of rail corrugation, but the lateral stiffness changes in the steel spring have almost no effect on the possibility of rail corrugation. The increase in the wheel–rail contact friction coefficient leads to a sharp increase in the trend of rail corrugation occurrence and causes a decrease in the rail corrugation wave-length. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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15 pages, 2313 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Particle Swarm Optimization Approach to Solve the Vehicle Routing Problem with Cross-Docking and Carbon Emissions Reduction in Logistics Management

by Shih-Che Lo

Logistics 2022, 6(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics6030062 - 01 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2625

Abstract

Background: The logistics network design with cross-docking operations enables shipping service providers to integrate the physical flow of products between vendors and dealers in logistics management. The collective goal is to synchronize the goods in both pickup and delivery operations concurrently to [...] Read more.

Background: The logistics network design with cross-docking operations enables shipping service providers to integrate the physical flow of products between vendors and dealers in logistics management. The collective goal is to synchronize the goods in both pickup and delivery operations concurrently to reduce the handling cost, inventory cost, and operation cost generated. Therefore, the optimal vehicle routing plan is crucial to generate a truck routing schedule with minimal total cost, fulfilling the purchasing requirements and the distribution demand. Global warming and climate change are important topics due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable logistics management with optimized routes for trucks can assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and easing the effects of temperature increases on our living environment. Methods: A heuristic approach based on Particle Swarm Optimization, called ePSO, was proposed and implemented in this paper to solve the vehicle routing problems with cross-docking and carbon emissions reduction at the same time. Results: Performance comparisons were made with the Genetic Algorithm (GA) through the experiments of several vehicle routing problems with pickup and delivery benchmark problems to validate the performance of the ePSO procedure. Conclusions: Experimental results showed that the proposed ePSO approach was better than the GA for most cases by statistical hypothesis testing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 474 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Electric Vehicle Owners’ Perception of Remanufactured Batteries: An Empirical Study in China

by Kenichiro Chinen, Mitsutaka Matsumoto, Pingsheng Tong, Yongliang Stanley Han and Kuei-Hsien Jeff Niu

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10846; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710846 - 31 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) globally is remarkable progress in strides toward a low carbon society. However, the volume of end-of-life EV batteries will hit a critical mass in the future. Widespread adoption of EV battery remanufacturing is essential in achieving higher [...] Read more.

The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) globally is remarkable progress in strides toward a low carbon society. However, the volume of end-of-life EV batteries will hit a critical mass in the future. Widespread adoption of EV battery remanufacturing is essential in achieving higher resource efficiency. The current study investigated Chinese EV owners’ perceptions of remanufactured EV batteries: 420 respondents in China who own and drive EVs participated in the survey. This study modeled respondents’ acceptance, purchase intention, and willingness-to-pay for remanufactured EV batteries by adapting the structural equation model (SEM). The results showed that consumers’ price consciousness and perceived benefits both directly influence their purchase intention of remanufactured batteries. Unlike previous studies, this study found that consumers’ perceived risks on remanufactured batteries do not directly influence their purchase intention. Instead, the influence of perceived risks on purchasing behavior is mediated by perceived benefits. The study also found that purchase intention affects willingness to pay and acceptance of remanufactured batteries. Drawing on our study results, this research suggests measures to promote markets for remanufactured EV batteries and provides corporate marketing options to accelerate proliferation of remanufactured batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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21 pages, 2582 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Life-Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Liquid Kerosene Produced from Renewable Electricity and CO₂ from Direct Air Capture in Germany

by Matteo Micheli, Daniel Moore, Vanessa Bach and Matthias Finkbeiner

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10658; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710658 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4512

Abstract

Decarbonization of the aviation sector is crucial to reaching the global climate targets. We quantified the environmental impacts of Power-to-Liquid kerosene produced via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis from electricity and carbon dioxide from air as one broadly discussed alternative liquid jet fuel. We applied a [...] Read more.

Decarbonization of the aviation sector is crucial to reaching the global climate targets. We quantified the environmental impacts of Power-to-Liquid kerosene produced via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis from electricity and carbon dioxide from air as one broadly discussed alternative liquid jet fuel. We applied a life-cycle assessment considering a well-to-wake boundary for five impact categories including climate change and two inventory indicators. Three different electricity production mixes and four different kerosene production pathways in Germany were analyzed, including two Direct Air Capture technologies, and compared to fossil jet fuel. The environmental impacts of Power-to-Liquid kerosene varied significantly across the production pathways. E.g., when electricity from wind power was used, the reduction in CO₂-eq. compared to fossil jet fuel varied between 27.6–46.2% (with non-CO₂ effects) and between 52.6–88.9% (without non-CO₂ effects). The reduction potential regarding CO₂-eq. of the layout using low-temperature electrolysis and high-temperature Direct Air Capture was lower compared to the high-temperature electrolysis and low-temperature Direct Air Capture. Overall, the layout causing the lowest environmental impacts uses high-temperature electrolysis, low-temperature Direct Air Capture and electricity from wind power. This paper showed that PtL-kerosene produced with renewable energy could play an important role in decarbonizing the aviation sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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12 pages, 4227 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Crowded Propagation on the Metro Network

by Cai Jia, Shuyan Zheng, Hanqiang Qian, Bingxin Cao and Kaiting Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169829 - 09 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1148

Abstract

The crowd in a metro system can cause inconvenience and even safety problems to passengers. The study of crowded propagation in metro systems can identify where and when crowds occur, ensuring travel quality and safety. Based on this, a modified susceptible–infected-susceptible (SIS) crowded [...] Read more.

The crowd in a metro system can cause inconvenience and even safety problems to passengers. The study of crowded propagation in metro systems can identify where and when crowds occur, ensuring travel quality and safety. Based on this, a modified susceptible–infected-susceptible (SIS) crowded propagation model is proposed to estimate the risk probability of crowding (RPC) in the metro network. Each station’s real transport capacity is considered. Infection rate and the recovery rate are proposed considering the traffic difference between stations. Using the Beijing metro network as a case study, the spatial and temporal patterns of crowded propagation are analyzed, and the types of nodes suitable for regulation are further discussed. This proposed model can provide a reference for RPC identification and regulation and promote sustainable development of metro operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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25 pages, 1851 KiB  

Open AccessReview

International Research Progress in School Travel and Behavior: A Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

by Xiaofeng Ji, Haotian Guan, Mengyuan Lu, Fang Chen and Wenwen Qin

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8857; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148857 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

A deep understanding of school travel mode can help policymaking related to the optimization of the school travel structure, alleviating urban traffic congestion due to the increasingly prominent phenomenon of urban sprawl. However, existing studies in this field are based on a specific [...] Read more.

A deep understanding of school travel mode can help policymaking related to the optimization of the school travel structure, alleviating urban traffic congestion due to the increasingly prominent phenomenon of urban sprawl. However, existing studies in this field are based on a specific research perspective, and comprehensive reviews are rather limited. Therefore, this study aims to provide an in-depth, systematic review of school travel by using bibliometric analysis. Firstly, based on the Web of Science, TRID, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE databases, 457 studies about school travel are selected from between 1996 and 2021. Secondly, utilizing bibliometric analysis, the research progress is summarized with emphasis on the annual performance of the literature, publication status of a country or region, literature source institutions, keywords of the literature, and co-citation network analysis. The research results show that (1) the United States, Canada, and Australia rank top in the number of studies on school travel, and they also have high citation frequency and connection strength. (2) This study collects studies published in 34 journal publications, and the “Journal of Transport & Health” is the main source for publishing research. (3) The choice of school travel mode is significantly affected by individual characteristics, family conditions, and social status. The built environment and parental factors play a leading role in students’ active travel to school, and independent mobility and active transport contribute to students’ healthy development. However, policy planning is necessary to further improve the transportation infrastructure sustainability and school route safety. (4) Finally, several promising directions and potential limitations are discussed for developing countries based on the research progress in developed economies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 3052 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Spatial Variations of Traffic Congestion Using Traffic Index Data in a Developing City: Lessons from Johannesburg, South Africa

by Thembani Moyo, Siphiwe Mbatha, Oluwayemi-Oniya Aderibigbe, Trynos Gumbo and Innocent Musonda

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8809; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148809 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4849

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unforeseen effects in public transport and the mobility of people in cities globally. Johannesburg, being a developing city in one of the most affected countries in Africa during the pandemic, has experienced severe changes in traffic management and [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unforeseen effects in public transport and the mobility of people in cities globally. Johannesburg, being a developing city in one of the most affected countries in Africa during the pandemic, has experienced severe changes in traffic management and travel patterns as a result of the restrictions imposed on movement. Hence, this study examined the spatial variations in traffic during the pandemic. The study utilized data obtained from the TomTom Traffic Index for the city of Johannesburg from 2019 to 2021, with 2019 representing the period pre-COVID-19 with no lockdown restrictions, 2020 representing the period with restricted movement to limit spread of COVID-19, and 2021 representing a period of relaxed and minimized restrictions on movement. Our findings revealed that there was a variation in congestion levels between 2019–2021 with year 2020 having the least congestion from the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions due to regulations enforced in movement and reduced travel. Our findings further revealed that traffic congestion was higher during weekdays than weekends during the three periods, with mini-bus taxis as the major contributors to congestion. Consequently, there is a need to discourage the use of single occupancy vehicles and invest in more sustainable means of transportation to ease the mobility of people and reduce traffic on major roads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 4064 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Objective Optimization Model for the Intercity Railway Train Operation Plan: The Case of Beijing-Xiong’an ICR

by Zilong Fan, Di Liu, Wenyu Rong and Chengrui Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8557; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148557 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1525

Abstract

For intercity railway transportation enterprises, a reasonable intercity train operation plan is not only the foundation of the intercity railway operation organization, but also the key to the sustainable development of the intercity railway (ICR). In this paper, taking into account the economic [...] Read more.

For intercity railway transportation enterprises, a reasonable intercity train operation plan is not only the foundation of the intercity railway operation organization, but also the key to the sustainable development of the intercity railway (ICR). In this paper, taking into account the economic benefits of railway transportation enterprises and the social benefits of passenger travel, an optimization model is established with the intercity railway train operation plan as the research object. The model aims to minimize the operating cost of railway transportation enterprises and minimize the travel time of passengers, and considers constraints such as passenger seat utilization, passenger flow, train frequency, and stops. It is a multi-objective optimization model that accumulates two objectives by introducing the passenger time value coefficient. According to the characteristics of the model, a genetic algorithm is designed to solve the model. Taking the Beijing-Xiong’an Intercity Railway (BXICR) as an example, the “smart business card” of China’s high-speed railway, two scenarios of passenger time value are designed, and the optimized train operation plan is obtained according to the existing OD passenger flow data, which verifies the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. The results show that compared with the original train operation plan, the number of stops per train of the optimized train operation plan under the two passenger time value scenarios decreased by 8.8% and 14.9%, the operating cost of the enterprise decreased by 7.7% and 1.6%, the travel time of passengers decreased by 0.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Under the condition of meeting the demand of passenger flow, the optimized train operation plan can effectively reduce the operating cost of enterprises and save the travel time of passengers, which is conducive to the sustainable development of intercity railways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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13 pages, 3491 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Black-Spot Analysis in Hungary Based on Kernel Density Estimation

by Dávid Baranyai and Tibor Sipos

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148335 - 07 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1467

Abstract

Between 2010 and 2020 in the European Union, 30% of road accidents resulted in the death of a pedestrian or a cyclist. Accidents of unprotected pedestrians and cyclists are the reason why it is essential to introduce road safety measures. In our paper, [...] Read more.

Between 2010 and 2020 in the European Union, 30% of road accidents resulted in the death of a pedestrian or a cyclist. Accidents of unprotected pedestrians and cyclists are the reason why it is essential to introduce road safety measures. In our paper, we identify and rank black spots using an innovative reactive approach based on statistics. We elaborate on the mathematical methodological considerations through the processing of real-life empirical data in a Matlab environment. The applied black-spot analysis is based on a Kernel density estimate method, and the importance of the kernel functions and bandwidth are elaborated. Besides, special attention is devoted to the distorting effect of annual average daily traffic. The result of our research is a new methodology by which the real locations of the examined black spots can be determined. Furthermore, the boundaries of the critical sections and the extent of the formation of black spots can be determined by the introduced mathematical methods. With our innovative model, the black spots can be ranked, and the locations having the highest potential for improvement can be identified. Accordingly, optimal measures can be determined considering social-economic and sustainability aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 1847 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Performance Measurement of Cargo Handling Equipment in Vietnam Container Terminals

by Huy Tung Pham and Luong Hai Nguyen

Logistics 2022, 6(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics6030044 - 04 Jul 2022

Viewed by 4280

Abstract

Background: Cargo-handling equipment (CHE) plays a vital role in maintaining the efficiency of a highly-worked container terminal. Methods: This study is aimed to analyze the CHEs’ performance, which is conducted based on a contextual application of the overall equipment-effectiveness (OEE) technique [...] Read more.

Background: Cargo-handling equipment (CHE) plays a vital role in maintaining the efficiency of a highly-worked container terminal. Methods: This study is aimed to analyze the CHEs’ performance, which is conducted based on a contextual application of the overall equipment-effectiveness (OEE) technique and data collected from a field survey in 14 container terminals in Vietnam. Results: The findings reveal that the CHEs are operated incompatibly with their actual capacity due to low performance. Also, the findings clarified the unproductive exploitation of container terminals and low actual terminal throughput since the capacity-designed terminals are currently operating above their actual capacity. Conclusions: The application of the OEE index for groups of CHE equipment is an origin for the impact assessment of the overall performance between the groups of CHEs’ equipment, thereby proposing management tools for supporting the improvement of the CHEs and container terminals’ performance in Vietnam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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20 pages, 6675 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Heat and Moisture Relevant In Situ Measurements in a Railway Passenger Vehicle Driving through the Swiss Alpine Region

by Wolfgang Raedle, K. Ghazi Wakili, Christoph Geyer, Roman Hausammann and Urs Uehlinger

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127462 - 18 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Transportation is a major sector of energy consumption in most, if not in all, European countries. Besides the energy used for traction, energy is also consumed for ventilation, heating, and cooling inside the vehicles to assure traveler comfort. This issue gains increasing importance [...] Read more.

Transportation is a major sector of energy consumption in most, if not in all, European countries. Besides the energy used for traction, energy is also consumed for ventilation, heating, and cooling inside the vehicles to assure traveler comfort. This issue gains increasing importance as the demand for public transport increases in the future. There is a need for retrofit to improve the thermal resistance of the envelope of existing vehicles to reduce the heat loss to the environment during the cold period of the year, especially in the Alpine region. A major concern in adding insulation material to the envelope is the possibility of convective moisture transfer due to air circulation in the vehicle, which would cause condensation accumulation on the cold surfaces. The present investigation addresses this topic by measuring surface and air temperature, air moisture, air flow, and heat flow at several critical locations of a vehicle during its travel in the Swiss Alpine region over several months during the cold period of the year. Temperature measurements showed the potential of reducing the heat losses in some parts of the vehicle. The level and duration of the moisture exposure did not suggest a relevant formation of condensation in the cross-section of the vehicle wall. The observed increase in relative humidity when driving through tunnels is too short to cause relevant condensation in the vehicle shell. The measured low air flow justifies the assumption that no forced convection occurs in the envelope cavities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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13 pages, 2734 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Shareholder Option Valuation in Mezzanine Financing Applied to CO₂ Reduction in Sustainable Infrastructure Projects: Application to a Tunnel Road in Medellin, Colombia

by Luis Aguilar, Juan David González-Ruiz and Sergio Botero

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7199; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127199 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

This research uses real options analysis (ROA) to examine a lender’s conversion option in a mezzanine debt for a sustainable infrastructure project. We examine a transport infrastructure case in Medellin, Colombia, called “Tunel del Oriente” (Eastern tunnel), which meets sustainable criteria to allow [...] Read more.

This research uses real options analysis (ROA) to examine a lender’s conversion option in a mezzanine debt for a sustainable infrastructure project. We examine a transport infrastructure case in Medellin, Colombia, called “Tunel del Oriente” (Eastern tunnel), which meets sustainable criteria to allow the access to credit through a sustainable bond. This study proposes a model to evaluate the right to exercise the conversion option by employing ROA with a binomial approach under the concept of a call option. The underlying assets are based on revenues from the forecast of estimated demand and the alternative sales of carbon credits as the sustainable factor. The results indicated that the financial captured value (FCV), with one as the conversion ratio, could be up to 39.10% of the investment when the lender decides to become a shareholder. Furthermore, the FCV can increase by 6% more if the project sells TonCO2e saved by the sustainable factor, highlighting that the tax benefits are approximately 11% of the FCV if the project is sustainable. Additionally, the option value is 39.09% of the debt amount. Finally, this study demonstrates that project finance using mezzanine debt proves to be an effective and attractive method for any lender wanting to boost profit while supporting stakeholders and the environment with sustainable projects and responsible investment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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20 pages, 3645 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Method for Setting Weight Tolerance Limits in High-Speed Weigh-in-Motion Systems: A Case Study in Brazil

by Nayara Donelli Pellizzon, Alan Ricardo da Silva and Gustavo Garcia Otto

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7039; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127039 - 08 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

High-speed weighing systems are considered a potential tool to restrain overloaded vehicles traffic, since this practice promotes threats to the infrastructure’s durability and to citizens’ safety. In view of the discussion on the certification of such systems, a method to define the weight [...] Read more.

High-speed weighing systems are considered a potential tool to restrain overloaded vehicles traffic, since this practice promotes threats to the infrastructure’s durability and to citizens’ safety. In view of the discussion on the certification of such systems, a method to define the weight tolerance limits of heavy goods vehicles was proposed in this work, using statistical experimentation methods. The method was applied to a case study in Brazil, which considered a high-speed weighing system and three known vehicles (3C, 2S3, and 3S3). The vehicles were loaded with gravel and the bending plate scale was used to set the weight. The test was conducted by checking the weight of the vehicles in the HS-WIM system and composed by the observance of three mandatory speeds (60, 70, and 80 km/h), in three different lateral positions in relation to the lane (center, left, and right), and at various times during the collection days. As result, maximum weights accuracy limits were obtained for gross vehicle weight (GVW) and for axes groups (G1, G2, and G3) as 13% (GVW), 20% (G1), 20% (G2), and 17% (G3). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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16 pages, 5889 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Sustainable Traffic Flow Operational Features of U-turn Design with Advance Left Turn

by Shengneng Hu, Zhen Jia, Anping Yang, Kui Xue and Guoqi He

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6931; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116931 - 06 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1933

Abstract

Median U-turn intersection treatment (MUIT) has been considered as an alternative measure to reduce congestion and traffic conflict at intersection areas, but the required spacing between the U-turn opening and the intersection limits its applicability. In this paper, a U-turn design with Advance [...] Read more.

Median U-turn intersection treatment (MUIT) has been considered as an alternative measure to reduce congestion and traffic conflict at intersection areas, but the required spacing between the U-turn opening and the intersection limits its applicability. In this paper, a U-turn design with Advance Left Turn (UALT) is proposed with the aim of addressing the disadvantages of insufficient intersection spacing and difficulty in the continuous vehicle lane change. UALT provides a dedicated lane to advance the turning vehicle out of the intersection and directly to the U-turn opening without interacting with through traffic. The effectiveness and traffic volume applicability of UALT was demonstrated through field data investigation, simulation and analysis with VISSIM software. The proposed design was evaluated in terms of three parameters: delay, queue length and the number of stops. The results show that when the traffic volume range of the main road is (1900, 2200) pcu/h and the traffic volume of the secondary road is more than 900 pcu/h, the optimization effect of UALT on both conventional intersections and MUIT is very significant. Taking a signal-controlled intersection in Zhengzhou City, China, as an example to build a simulation model, compared with the conventional intersection and MUIT, the delay drop is reduced by 73.48% and 41.48%, the queue length is reduced by 84.85% and 41.66%, and the operation efficiency is significantly improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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15 pages, 2976 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Topology and Robustness of Weighted Air Transport Networks in Multi-Airport Region

by Bingxue Qian and Ning Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6832; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116832 - 02 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

Topological analyses of multi-airport regional air transport networks are the basis for the sustainable development of multi-airport systems. In this study, we modeled the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region’s airport infrastructure as a network and presented a weighted approach by which to analyze [...] Read more.

Topological analyses of multi-airport regional air transport networks are the basis for the sustainable development of multi-airport systems. In this study, we modeled the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region’s airport infrastructure as a network and presented a weighted approach by which to analyze the network structure and robustness from the perspective of complex network theory. The analysis of the Yangtze River Delta Airport Network (YRDAN) indicates that it is a small-world network, and its cumulative degree has a power-law distribution, suggesting that it has scale-free properties. As its weighted clustering coefficient was found to be much smaller than the non-weighted counterpart, this demonstrates that most of the network traffic is focused on a hub-and-spoke pattern. Furthermore, the over-centrality of the YRDAN suggests weak accessibility of small cities and high dependence of air transport on the hub-and-spoke pattern. The assessment of the robustness of the YRDAN in the face of intentional attacks found that domestic networks are more robust than foreign aviation networks. However, the isolation of a small fraction of selected nodes can cause serious problems in the functioning of the YRDAN. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 2298 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nonlinear Effects of Community Built Environment on Car Usage Behavior: A Machine Learning Approach

by Keliang Liu, Jian Chen, Rui Li, Tao Peng, Keke Ji and Yuyue Gao

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6722; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116722 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1442

Abstract

This study aims to guide the community life circle to create a green, travel-supportive built environment. It quantitatively analyzes the variations in car usage behavior based on the level of the built environment of the community and objectively reflects the car usage behavior [...] Read more.

This study aims to guide the community life circle to create a green, travel-supportive built environment. It quantitatively analyzes the variations in car usage behavior based on the level of the built environment of the community and objectively reflects the car usage behavior based on the parking space utilization rate (PSUR). Ordinary least squares (OLS) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) models were developed to describe the impact of the built environment on this utilization rate. An empirical analysis of the model was also conducted using the multisource, heterogeneous parking data of commercial parking facilities in the main urban area of Chongqing, China; the data include records of parking survey, points of interest, and road networks. The results showed that the GBDT model had a better fitting degree than the OLS model considering nonlinear effects. In terms of the contribution of community-built environment variables, distance to business center (14.30%), population density (14.20%), and land use mix (12.60%) considerably affect the PSUR, indicating that these variables have an important influence on the use of private cars. All built environment variables have nonlinear relationships, and the threshold effects reflect a complex relationship between the built environment and car usage behavior. This study provides refined suggestions for the spatial design and transformation of the community life circle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 4806 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Load–Temperature Coupling Effect on the Base Plate End of the Whole Tram Road

by Chongwei Huang, Meixuan Zhu and Yu Sun

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6438; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116438 - 25 May 2022

Viewed by 1294

Abstract

Although trams have been widely recognized, systematic and comprehensive research on their design and construction is lacking. Based on the ABAQUS finite element software, we constructed a three-dimensional finite element analysis model of the overall track bed of the tram. Taking the most [...] Read more.

Although trams have been widely recognized, systematic and comprehensive research on their design and construction is lacking. Based on the ABAQUS finite element software, we constructed a three-dimensional finite element analysis model of the overall track bed of the tram. Taking the most unfavorable working condition of load and temperature coupling as the research object, that is from 5:30 to 6:00 a.m., the load was applied to the plate end position. The simulation experiments were carried out by selecting different thicknesses of the track bed slab, support layer thickness, contact conditions between the track bed slab and the support layer, the modulus of the track bed slab, the modulus of the support layer and the soil foundation strength, and the stress and deflection of the subgrade were calculated. The most unfavorable load–temperature coupling condition was taken as the research object, that is, applying a load of 5.5–6 points on the plate end. Different track bed slab thicknesses, support layer thicknesses, contact conditions between track bed slab and support layer, track bed slab moduli, support layer moduli, and foundation strengths were utilized to conduct simulation tests for calculating the stress and deflection of the subgrade. Under the coupling effect of load on the end of the slab and the effect of temperature, changing the thickness of the track bed slab and the coefficient of friction between layers can improve the lateral force and deflection of the track bed slab. The effect of deflection is small. Changing the thickness of the support layer has an insignificant effect on the stress on the top surface of the soil foundation and the deflection of the top surface of the subgrade. The modulus of the track bed slab can affect the lateral force and deflection of the track bed slab, but it only slightly affects the longitudinal force and deflection of the track bed slab and the longitudinal and lateral force and deflection of the soil foundation. The modulus of the supporting layer only slightly affects the vertical and horizontal force and deflection of the track bed slab and soil foundation. The soil foundation modulus has the greatest influence on the vertical and horizontal forces and deflection of the track bed slab and soil foundation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 4439 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Design of Subway Train Cross-Line Operation Scheme Based on Passenger Smart Card Data

by Maosheng Li and Hangcong Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116420 - 24 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2123

Abstract

The network operation of the subway can reduce the number of passenger transfers and improve subway operation efficiency. Based on the subway smart card data, this paper proposes an optimal design method for the cross-line operation scheme of subway trains. The method firstly [...] Read more.

The network operation of the subway can reduce the number of passenger transfers and improve subway operation efficiency. Based on the subway smart card data, this paper proposes an optimal design method for the cross-line operation scheme of subway trains. The method firstly calculates the OD matrix between subway stations, the passenger section flow, and the transfer flow according to the passenger smart card data. It then optimizes the design of the subway train cross-line operation plan, including determining the routing type of cross-line operation and the number of trains running. Finally, for the lines with cross-line operation conditions in the urban subway system, we design the cross-line operation schemes under all possible combinations. According to the volume of the cross-line passenger flow that the cross-line trains can carry, the top-ranked operation plans are preferably recommended. Taking the Chengdu subway network as an example, the research results show that, in the Chengdu subway network, the North Railway Station, Xibo City Station, and South Railway Station bear the highest transfer demand. The transfer demands that can be undertaken by cross-line trains are 23,934, 16,710, and 13,024 trips per hour, respectively. This shows that the proposed design method can accurately and reasonably screen out the transfer stations and lines with an urgent need for cross-line trains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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19 pages, 5399 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

To What Extent May Transit Stop Spacing Be Increased before Driving Away Riders? Referring to Evidence of the 2017 NHTS in the United States

by Telan Wu, Hui Jin and Xiaoguang Yang

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6148; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106148 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1341

Abstract

With the emergence of ride-sourcing and ride-splitting services, more options are available to support shifts away from transit, where maintaining transit ridership increases requirements for transit service quality, so as to promote high-capacity and sustainable transport systems. In this endeavor, proper transit stop [...] Read more.

With the emergence of ride-sourcing and ride-splitting services, more options are available to support shifts away from transit, where maintaining transit ridership increases requirements for transit service quality, so as to promote high-capacity and sustainable transport systems. In this endeavor, proper transit stop spacing is critical for both service accessibility and in-vehicle trip efficiency, as well as operation cost. This research explores acceptable stop spacing for three kinds of transit services from the perspective of travel behavior, drawing on the 2017 National Household Travel Survey in the United States. A stochastic frontier model is developed to infer passengers’ unobservable vertex of acceptable transit access times on the basis of observed walk time, which can be converted to the tolerance with respect to stop spacing with the average walking speed. Significant explanatory variables on the vertex of acceptable transit stop spacing are further identified with their quantified impacts, including household density, household income, wait time, trip distance, transfer, and maintenance purpose, while the inefficiency variance is significantly related to traveler age, wait time, secondary walk time, and trip frequency. Recommended response strategies follow. Findings from this study provide insights, guidelines, and implementation plans for different transit agencies when considering stop spacing redesign, to strengthen transit service appeal and to promote cooperative and sustainable multi-modal urban transport systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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15 pages, 1335 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the INDC and GGRMA Regulations on the Impact of PM_2.5 Particle Emissions on Maritime Ports: A Study of Human Health and Environmental Costs

by Ching-Chih Chang, Yu-Wei Chang and Po-Chien Huang

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6133; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106133 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1149

Abstract

This study employs an activity-based model to estimate the PM_2.5 particle emissions from ships, cargo-handling equipment, and heavy-duty vehicles in the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. External health costs, the index of health impact (IHI), and external environmental costs are assessed to quantify [...] Read more.

This study employs an activity-based model to estimate the PM_2.5 particle emissions from ships, cargo-handling equipment, and heavy-duty vehicles in the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. External health costs, the index of health impact (IHI), and external environmental costs are assessed to quantify the impact of PM_2.5 particle emissions. The mitigation regulations applied in this study are the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution Act (INDC) and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (GGRMA). The provisions in these acts are incorporated into Scenario-INDC and Scenario-GGRMA. The results are as follows: from 2005 to 2017, PM_2.5 particle emissions caused an external health cost of 3238.30 DALY (disability-adjusted life year), an IHI value of 8.53%, and environmental cost of USD 2176.04 million annually. For Scenario-INDC and Scenario-GGRMA, it is predicted that PM_2.5-related external health costs, IHI value, and external environmental cost will decrease by 927.64 DALY, 2.45%, and USD 608.86 million and by 1736.28 DALY, 4.58%, and USD 1139.84 million, respectively, as compared to BAU-2030 and BAU-2050. The results indicate that compliance with INDC and GGRMA regulations will lead to a significant mitigation of PM_2.5 particle emissions, resulting in a significant improvements in air quality and human health in addition to a reduction in environmental costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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24 pages, 4238 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Spatiotemporal Impacts of the Built Environment on Taxi Ridership Using Multisource Data

by Chen Xie, Dexin Yu, Ciyun Lin, Xiaoyu Zheng and Bo Peng

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6045; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106045 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Taxis are an important component of the urban public transportation system, with wide geographical coverage and on-demand services characteristics. Thorough understanding of the built environment affecting taxi ridership can enable transportation authorities to develop targeted policies for transportation planning. Previous studies in this [...] Read more.

Taxis are an important component of the urban public transportation system, with wide geographical coverage and on-demand services characteristics. Thorough understanding of the built environment affecting taxi ridership can enable transportation authorities to develop targeted policies for transportation planning. Previous studies in this field had few data sources and did not consider the spatiotemporal variability. This study aims to develop an analytical framework for understanding the spatiotemporal correlation between the urban built environment and taxi ridership, which is empirically analyzed in New York City. The built environment is defined through multisource data in terms of density, design, diversity, and destination accessibility. Besides the exploration of travel patterns, the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of taxi ridership is modeled using geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). The result shows that GTWR outperforms ordinary least squares (OLS), geographically weighted regression (GWR), and temporally weighted regression (TWR) in both goodness of fit and explanatory accuracy. More importantly, our study found that land use diversity is negatively correlated with taxi ridership, while transportation diversity is positively correlated with it. A highly accessible road network improves the people’s demand for taxis in the morning rush hours. Moreover, the density of railway stations is positively correlated with taxi ridership on weekdays but adversely on weekends. These findings provide practical insights for urban transportation policy development and taxicab regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 1685 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Analysis of Homogenous Groups’ Preferences by Using AIP and AIJ Group AHP-PROMETHEE Model

by Laila Oubahman and Szabolcs Duleba

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5980; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105980 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1673

Abstract

Preference surveys often strive to reveal the perceptions of respondents with different demographic and habitual characteristics to reflect the features of a local community or city. However, the target group can be considered a priori homogenous in some cases, which requires an adjusted [...] Read more.

Preference surveys often strive to reveal the perceptions of respondents with different demographic and habitual characteristics to reflect the features of a local community or city. However, the target group can be considered a priori homogenous in some cases, which requires an adjusted survey methodology. Apart from the smaller sample size, the aggregation technique of the individual preferences into a global common priority is also different in these types of problems according to the decision science principles. Interestingly, this feature is often ignored in group multi-criteria decision-making problems, especially in PROMETHEE model applications. This paper aims to apply the Aggregation of Individual Judgement technique in PROMETEHEE AIJ-PROMETHEE via the introduction of a hybrid Group AIJ-AHP-PROMETHEE model, specifically designed for homogenous group preference problems, to be compared with the conventional Aggregation of Individual Priorities (AIP). The new AIJ-AHP-PROMETHEE model, which is more suitable for homogenous groups, is less costly and less time-consuming than the general aggregations. The effectiveness of this new model is emphasized with real data, surveying university students’ perceptions of different transport modes in the city of Budapest. Results show considerable findings of the introduced model and its general applicability to the evaluation of the public transport service quality system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 4368 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Interconnection for Multi-Transfer Facilities: A Perspective from Coupling Coordination

by Lijun Chen, Haiping Zhang and Weike Lu

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5803; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105803 - 11 May 2022

Viewed by 1201

Abstract

Transfer terminals with a high integration level could provide favorable support to Mobility-as-a-Service, which is essential to sustainable transportation. The interconnection of multiple transfer facilities in terminals would affect travelers’ transfer choices during their trips. Existing research on intermodality lacks an efficient multi-dimension [...] Read more.

Transfer terminals with a high integration level could provide favorable support to Mobility-as-a-Service, which is essential to sustainable transportation. The interconnection of multiple transfer facilities in terminals would affect travelers’ transfer choices during their trips. Existing research on intermodality lacks an efficient multi-dimension indicator system regarding transfer facilities. To date, the selection of representative indicator systems and the construction of quantitative evaluation models based on these indicators that can reflect the coupling relationship between transfer facilities effectively and comprehensively are still challenging. Aiming at this challenge, this study conducts the work in the following three ways. First, the concept of the degree of coupling coordination of multiple transfer facilities (DCC-MTF) is proposed to evaluate the interaction among multiple transfer facilities. Second, indicators of diversity, selectivity, accessibility, and continuity are designed and used to establish the model by using the entropy weight method. Third, the spatial distribution characteristics of DCC-MTF for each transfer facility are geo-visualized and clustered. Field observation is conducted at Lelylaan Station in the city of Amsterdam, and the indicator analysis derived from the collected data is discussed. Overall, the quantitative evaluation model presented in this study, which is universal and can be applied to similar scenarios, is directly valuable for planners and designers who aim to improve the integration level of transfer terminals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 1530 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Distributionally Robust Model and Metaheuristic Frame for Liner Ships Fleet Deployment

by Mihaela Bukljaš, Kristijan Rogić and Vladimir Jerebić

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5551; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095551 - 05 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1421

Abstract

The container shipping industry market is very dynamic and demanding, economically, politically, legally, and financially. Considering the high cost of core assets, ever rising operating costs, and the volatility of demand and supply of cargo space, the result is an industry under enormous [...] Read more.

The container shipping industry market is very dynamic and demanding, economically, politically, legally, and financially. Considering the high cost of core assets, ever rising operating costs, and the volatility of demand and supply of cargo space, the result is an industry under enormous pressure to remain profitable and competitive. To maximize profits while maintaining service levels and ensuring the smooth flow of cargo, it is essential to make strategic decisions in a timely and optimal manner. Fleet deployment selection, which includes the profile of vessel hire, as well as their capacity and port rotation, is one of the most important strategic and tactical decisions container shipping operators must make. Bearing in mind that maritime business is inherently stochastic and uncertain, the key aims of this paper are to address the problem of fleet deployment under uncertain operating conditions, and to provide an integrated and optimized tool in the form of a mathematical model, metaheuristic algorithm, and computer program. Furthermore, this paper will show that the properties of the provided solutions exceed those offered in the literature so far. Such a solution will provide the shipping operator with a decision tool to best deploy its fleet in a way that responds more closely to real life situations and to meet the maximum demand for cargo space with minimal expense. The final goal is to minimize the operating costs while managing cargo flows and reducing the risks of unfulfilled customer demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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17 pages, 2212 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Price Controls and Platform Ecosystem: A Comparative Analysis of Parking Applications between Beijing and London

by Zhong Wang and Rui Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5485; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095485 - 03 May 2022

Viewed by 1554

Abstract

As a platform to improve the efficiency of matching supply and demand, parking applications once blossomed in many cities. However, some have achieved success while others quickly withered. By comparing the development of parking applications between Beijing and London, it is found that [...] Read more.

As a platform to improve the efficiency of matching supply and demand, parking applications once blossomed in many cities. However, some have achieved success while others quickly withered. By comparing the development of parking applications between Beijing and London, it is found that price controls are a key factor. Price controls include price limits and hourly limits. Flexible price or controlled duration facilitate platform sustainability, as these increase the supply side’s digital investment and willingness to access the platform, and also increase demanders’ willingness to use the platform. Meanwhile, flat and low pricing or no time limit will make the platform less attractive, since these reduce the supply and its mobility, and also discourage demanders from using the platform. This paper enriches the literature on the digital platform ecosystem and information systems (IS) and provides practical inspiration for urban parking management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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15 pages, 944 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Factors Influencing Resident’s Intentions on E-Bike Sharing Usage in China

by Ruiwei Li, Gobi Krishna Sinniah and Xiangyu Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095013 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2544

Abstract

E-bike sharing is considered a new mode of transport that is rapidly developing in China. In order to better understand the factors affecting the intention to use e-bike sharing, this study is based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the technology [...] Read more.

E-bike sharing is considered a new mode of transport that is rapidly developing in China. In order to better understand the factors affecting the intention to use e-bike sharing, this study is based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) and added the variable of policy support. A sample of 441 respondents in a small city in China was collected to analyze residents’ intention on e-bike sharing usage. The results show that the research model can explain well residents’ intention to use shared e-bikes. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have direct positive effects on the intention to use shared e-bikes. Among them, the perceived ease of use has the greatest impact on the intention to use shared e-bikes. Moreover, policy support has an indirect positive influence on the intention to use shared e-bikes through partial mediation of attitude and subjective norms. Finally, some strategies to promote e-bike sharing are proposed. This study can provide a better understanding of the acceptance of e-bike sharing and the strategy for promoting e-bike sharing in urban transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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21 pages, 1155 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploiting Marketing Methods for Increasing Participation and Engagement in Sustainable Mobility Planning

by Maria Morfoulaki, Glykeria Myrovali and Maria Chatziathanasiou

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084820 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

Experience has shown that when a target group that benefits from or is affected by an intervention is included in the planning procedure from the beginning, underlying success factors are revealed and respected. Coming to sustainable mobility planning, an ideal participatory scheme (optimal [...] Read more.

Experience has shown that when a target group that benefits from or is affected by an intervention is included in the planning procedure from the beginning, underlying success factors are revealed and respected. Coming to sustainable mobility planning, an ideal participatory scheme (optimal synthesis of different perspectives) accompanying the sustainable mobility planning cycle would add to the interventions’ success. The current paper, based on the knowledge acquired within the e-smartec Interreg EUROPE project, is inspired by the wide spectrum of marketing techniques from the business sector and proposes the effective transfer of them to mobility co-planning and citizens’ engagement. The approach for developing this capacity-building guide (MOBENGAGE-RADAR) on engagement in mobility planning includes (i) review of existing appealing marketing techniques (1st level), (ii) extraction of the affiliated engagement methods (2nd level), (iii) identification of real-world examples of successful citizens’ engagement practices (3rd level), and (iv) correlation of methods and examples with SUMP steps. MOBENGAGE-RADAR visualizes the applicability of the different engagement and awareness raising methods for each step of mobility planning and can be used as the base for creative thinking while developing an engagement strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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21 pages, 470 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Identifying the Challenges to Sustainable Urban Last-Mile Deliveries: Perspectives from Public and Private Stakeholders

by Thomas Maxner, Giacomo Dalla Chiara and Anne Goodchild

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084701 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3681

Abstract

While freight transportation is a necessary activity to sustain cities’ social and economic life—enabling the movement and deployment of goods and services in urbanized areas—it also accounts for a significant portion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The urban freight ecosystem is [...] Read more.

While freight transportation is a necessary activity to sustain cities’ social and economic life—enabling the movement and deployment of goods and services in urbanized areas—it also accounts for a significant portion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The urban freight ecosystem is a complex network of agents, both public and private. Reducing CO₂ emissions from urban freight requires the collaboration and coordination between those agents, but the motivations behind their goals, strategies for achieving those goals, and the challenges faced by each agent may differ. In this paper, we document the strategies aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions considered by cities and private companies with the goal of understanding the challenges to progress faced by each. To accomplish this, we interviewed officials from purposefully sampled city departments in North America and private companies involved in city logistics. We found that cities face challenges related to a lack of strong leadership, resources, and policy tools. Companies must consider technological challenges, costs, and their workforce before reducing emissions. Cities and companies are challenged by the disaggregated nature of the urban freight “system”—a system that is not organized at the municipal scale and that is driven by performance and customer expectations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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10 pages, 224 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Necessity of Introducing Autonomous Trucks in Logistics 4.0

by Eunbin Kim, Youngrim Kim and Jieun Park

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073978 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4955

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles have become important with the emergence of Logistics 4.0. Moreover, truck-based transport has become the critical means of transport in the logistics market. Thus, to deal with the pending issues of the logistics market, it is not enough to merely expand [...] Read more.

Autonomous vehicles have become important with the emergence of Logistics 4.0. Moreover, truck-based transport has become the critical means of transport in the logistics market. Thus, to deal with the pending issues of the logistics market, it is not enough to merely expand the workforce. Adopting autonomous trucks will also help change the truck allocation structure. This may enable horizontal and vertical integration based on the new logistics model and help address various problems faced by shipping companies. Thus, adopting autonomous trucks can provide various benefits for the logistics business, society, and consumers. However, adopting autonomous trucks does not only have benefits. Here, this study suggests truck platooning as a method of adopting autonomous trucks more efficiently. Furthermore, we approach the potential issues regarding autonomous truck adoption from various perspectives by demonstrating the efficiency of autonomous trucks as well as their problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Transportation)

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