An Adaptive Route Planning Method of Connected Vehicles for Improving the Transport Efficiency

In recent years, the route-planning problem has gained increased interest due to the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and increasing traffic congestion especially in urban areas. An independent route-planning strategy for each in-vehicle terminal improves its individual travel efficiency. However, individual optimal routes pursue the maximization of individual benefit and may contradict the global benefit, thereby reducing the overall transport efficiency of the road network. To improve traffic efficiency while considering the travel time of individual vehicles, we propose a new dynamic route-planning method by innovatively introducing a bidding mechanism in the connected vehicle scenario for the first time. First, a novel bidding-based dynamic route planning is proposed to formulate vehicle routing schemes for vehicles affected by congestion via the bidding process. Correspondingly, a bidding price incorporating individual and global travel times was designed to balance the travel benefits of both objectives. Then, in the bidding process, a new local search algorithm was designed to select the winning routing scheme set with the minimum bidding price. Finally, the proposed method was tested and validated through case studies of simulated and actual driving scenarios to demonstrate that the bidding mechanism would be conducive to improving the transport efficiency of road networks in large-scale traffic flow scenarios. This study positively contributes to the research and development of traffic management in ITSs.

Network traits predict ecological strategies in fungi

Colonization of terrestrial environments by filamentous fungi relies on their ability to form networks that can forage for and connect resource patches. Despite the importance of these networks, ecologists rarely consider network features as functional traits because their measurement and interpretation are conceptually and methodologically difficult. To address these challenges, we have developed a pipeline to translate images of fungal mycelia, from both micro- and macro-scales, to weighted network graphs that capture ecologically relevant fungal behaviour. We focus on four properties that we hypothesize determine how fungi forage for resources, specifically: connectivity; relative construction cost; transport efficiency; and robustness against attack by fungivores. Constrained ordination and Pareto front analysis of these traits revealed that foraging strategies can be distinguished predominantly along a gradient of connectivity for micro- and macro-scale mycelial networks that is reminiscent of the qualitative ‘phalanx’ and ‘guerilla’ descriptors previously proposed in the literature. At one extreme are species with many inter-connections that increase the paths for multidirectional transport and robustness to damage, but with a high construction cost; at the other extreme are species with an opposite phenotype. Thus, we propose this approach represents a significant advance in quantifying ecological strategies for fungi using network information.

Smart Mobility in the Mediterranean Cities

Smart mobility is linked to the ability to create transport efficiency in cities. Indeed, the increase of smart mobility within cities has a positive impact on citizens. The ability to create new projects related to smart mobility and its ability to involve the ecosystem, especially citizens, is part of urban planning in many countries and carries out this work. This study presents the urban projects in some Mediterranean cities and their impact on the externalities of smart mobility. The results show that the deployment of smart mobility has a positive impact on urban development and there is remarkable progress in connecting citizens, especially in cities where smart mobility is the result of investments in sustainable development. Based on the latest projects in smart cities in the Mediterranean and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, the study will help to evaluate urban projects but also to understand how cities increase the well-being of citizens.

New Generation of Smart Highway: Framework and Insights

The new generation of smart highway (NGSH) has become an irresistible global trend to improve transport efficiency and safety. The exploration of the features and framework for NGSH can guide us to upgrade the current highway system. This paper summarizes the fundamental features of the NGSH from the perspective of the interactive evolution of automobile industry and road transport. In line with the popularity of automated and connected vehicles, the primary technical features of the NGSH are proposed as (I) complete elements sensing, (II) cyber-physical systems, (III) cooperative vehicle-infrastructure applications, and (IV) 5th generation mobile communication technology. The corresponding physical framework and data flow are introduced, in which three data attributes (data accuracy, dimensionality, and freshness) are highlighted to describe the data requirements for various scenarios. The development path of the NGSH is further discussed in terms of the different vehicle automation levels. The characteristics of five levels of NGSH are identified from R1 to R5. Different combinations of NGSH level and vehicle automation level lead to distinct system functions. Several urgent problems in the current stage are pointed out in terms of system compatibility, standard specification, and information security. This paper provides new insights for sustainable and reproducible highway reformation, drawing some implications for NGSH design.

Impact of Automated Vehicles Using Eco-Cruise Control on the Traffic Flow

The paper provides a detailed analysis of the impact of automated vehicles using eco-cruise control system on the traffic flow. The speed profiles of vehicles using eco-cruise control system generally differ from those of conventional human-driven vehicles. The characteristics of the traffic flow on macroscopic traffic level combine both automated and human-driven vehicles. In the simulation-based analysis the effects of traffic volume and the ratio of the automated vehicles are in the focus. Based on the results the analysis an extension of the eco-cruise control is also proposed, in which the balance between the traffic flow and transport efficiency is achieved.

ON THE MACRO HYDRODYNAMIC DESIGN OF HIGHLY EFFICIENT MEDIUM- SPEED CATAMARANS WITH MINIMUM RESISTANCE

A new class of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly twin-hull vessels is currently under development. Compared to high-speed catamarans, a significant reduction in speed combined with an increase in deadweight tonnes will lead to a highly efficient medium-speed catamaran design. Recently-built conventional and high-speed ferries are compared to each other in terms of length, speed, deadweight and transport efficiency to classify the new design. The goal of this study is to find a preliminary macro design point for minimum total resistance by considering the main particulars of the catamaran vessel: block coefficient, prismatic coefficient and slenderness and separation ratios of the demihulls. Publications containing recommendations towards the optimum hull form parameters for moderate Froude numbers are reviewed and existing experimental data analysed to identify parameters for this new class of vessel. Designs with varied L/BOA-ratios and constant deck area are compared to find configurations of low total resistance for carrying a nominated deadweight at a particular speed, the associated change of the light ship weight has been taken into account. Two different model test series of catamaran models have been considered and their resistance curves agreed to each other. Recommendations are made; with the most important being the vessel should not exceed a speed of Fr = 0.35, with optimal prismatic coefficients around CP ≈ 0.5 and low transom immersion. This study presents the preliminary design of medium-speed single and twin-hull vessels for operations close to hump speed.