Analysis of Historic Pavement and Bridge Conditions and Alternative Funding Levels for the Michigan Department of Transportation

In 1997 the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) established an ambitious set of condition targets for its pavements and bridges, and the Department received increased revenue from a 4-cent-per-gallon increase in the state motor fuels tax to help meet its targets. However, over time, actual revenue was less than both what was initially estimated as needed to meet the targets and what was projected from the tax increase. Consequently, actual conditions were projected to fall short of the target levels, so the department issued bonds to address the shortfall through 2012. To support deliberations on future funding, in 2013 MDOT performed an analysis of historic conditions to determine what additional fuel tax revenues would have been required beginning in 1997 to: replace bond revenues used to fund pavement and bridge projects from 1997 to 2012;and enable MDOT to meet its condition targets. The analysis was performed using data on actual pavement and bridge funding and conditions;as well as predicted funding and conditions for different hypothetical increases in fuel taxes. The analysis concluded that, in addition to the actual increase of 4 cents per gallon, a fuel tax increase of another 10 cents per gallon would have been required in 1997 to replace bond revenue used for pavement and bridges and allow MDOT to meet its condition targets. The analysis results were used to help inform the discussion of Michigan’s target asset conditions and funding, and demonstrate application of MDOT’s pavement and bridge management systems for performing historic analyses.

Scheduling on tractor and trailer transportation considering the influence of disrupted events based on the contract net and simulated annealing algorithm

To provide a much more resilient transport scheme for tractor and trailer transportation systems,this paper explores the generation method of tractor and trailer transport schemes considering the influence of disrupted events.Three states of tractors including towing loaded trailers,towing empty trailers,and idle driving are taken into account.Based on the disruption management theory,a scheduling model is constructed to minimize the total deviation cost including transportation time,transportation path,and number of used vehicles under the three states of tractors.A heuristics based on the contract net and simulated annealing algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model.Through comparative analysis of examples with different numbers of newly added transportation tasks and different types of road networks,the performance of the contract net algorithm in terms of deviations in idle driving paths,empty trailer paths,loaded trailer paths,time,number of used vehicles,and total deviation cost are analyzed.The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and algorithm,highlighting the superiority of the disruption management model and the contract net annealing algorithm.The study provides a reference for handling unexpected events in the tractor and trailer transportation industry.

Research on the Core Factors of Influencing College Students Entrepreneurial Success Rate under the Perspectives of the Law and Team Management Perspectives

In this paper, we conduct research on primary core factors of influencing college students＇ entrepreneurial success rate under the perspectives of the law and team management perspectives. College students＇ entrepreneurship education is cultivating he students innovative spirit and creative ability as the basic value tendency, in order to cultivate creative talents as the main goal of education, it is an extension of the quality-oriented education, is the comprehensive development of students＇ qualities of wisdom education is the all-round development of students＇ personality education ＇is pay more attention to the body of the human spirit, the humanist education. Carrying out entrepreneurship education, the reform and development of higher education to improve the quality of talent training levels promote national independent innovation and entrepreneurship has important significance. Our research proposes the novel perspective on the issues that is meaningful.

An Overview of the Application of Big Data in Supply Chain Management and Adaptation in Nigeria

That the world is a global village is no longer news through the tremendous advancement in the Information Communication Technology (ICT). The metamorphosis of the human data storage and analysis from analogue through the jaguars-loom mainframe computer to the present modern high power processing computers with sextillion bytes storage capacity has prompted discussion of Big Data concept as a tool in managing hitherto all human challenges of complex human system multiplier effects. The supply chain management (SCM) that deals with spatial service delivery that must be safe, efficient, reliable, cheap, transparent, and foreseeable to meet customers’ needs cannot but employ bid data tools in its operation. This study employs secondary data online to review the importance of big data in supply chain management and the levels of adoption in Nigeria. The study revealed that the application of big data tools in SCM and other industrial sectors is synonymous to human and national development. It is therefore recommended that both private and governmental bodies should key into e-transactions for easy data assemblage and analysis for profitable forecasting and policy formation.

Automobile Transportation Logistics Supply Chain Management Strategy

To enhance the management level and quality of the automobile transportation logistics supply chain and promote innovation and development in automobile transportation logistics enterprises,it is essential to strengthen the construction of the automobile transportation logistics supply chain management model.This can be achieved through the gradual improvement of the automobile transportation logistics management process,ensuring that the management of the automobile transportation logistics supply chain proceeds in an orderly manner.The aim is to improve automobile transportation and logistics service levels while meeting the changing market supply needs.This will enable automobile transportation and logistics enterprises to maintain steady economic benefits and enhance their core competitiveness in the market.Therefore,this paper has conducted a comprehensive exploration and research on managing the automobile transportation logistics supply chain.Corresponding management strategies are proposed as a starting point to achieve the aforementioned goals.

Event management architecture for the monitoring and diagnosis of a fleet of trains: a case study

In recent years, more and more manufacturers and operators of fleets of mobile systems have been focusing their efforts on studying and developing condi-tional maintenance, monitoring, and diagnostic strategies to cope with an increasingly competitive, unstable, costly, and unpredictable environment. This paper proposes a case study concerning the application of a novel event management architecture, called EMH^2, to a fleet of trains. This EMH^2 architecture, which applies the holonic paradigm, aims to facilitate the monitoring and diagnosis of a fleet of mobile systems. It is based on a recursive decomposition of cooperative monitoring holons. The definition of a generic event modeling, called SurfEvent, is the second key element of the contribution. EMH^2 has been designed to be applicable to any kind of system or equipment up to fleet level. The edge computing paradigm has been adopted for implementation purpose. The EMH^2 architecture is designed to facilitate asynchronous and progressive onboard and off-board deployments. A real-world application of EMH^2 to a fleet of ten trains cur-rently in use, in collaboration with our industrial partner, Bombardier Transport, is presented. Three key perfor-mances indicators have been estimated by comparing EMH^2 with the current industrial situation. These indi-cators are (1) the number of fleet maintenance visits,(2) the time needed by a maintenance operator to investigate and diagnose, and (3) the time needed by the system to update data regarding the health status and monitoring of trains. Results obtained outperformed industrial expecta-tions. The paper finally discusses feedbacks from experi-ence and limitations of the work.

Analysis of Historic Pavement and Bridge Conditions and Alternative Funding Levels for the Michigan Department of Transportation

In 1997, MDOT （Michigan Department of Transportation） established an ambitious set of condition targets for its pavements and bridges and the department received increased revenue from a 4-cent-per-gallon increase in the state motor fuels tax to help meet its targets. However, over time, actual revenue was less than what was initially estimated as needed and actual conditions fell short of the target levels. In 2013, MDOT performed an analysis of historic conditions to determine what additional fuel tax revenues would have been required beginning in 1997 to replace bond revenues used to fund pavement and bridge projects from 1997 to 2012 and enable MDOT to meet its condition targets. The analysis concluded that, in addition to the actual increase of 4 cents per gallon, a fuel tax increase of another 10 cents per gallon would have been required in 1997 to replace bond revenue used for pavement and bridges and allow MDOT to meet its condition targets. The analysis results were used to help inform the discussion of Michigan＇s targets asset conditions and funding and demonstrate application of MDOT＇s pavement and bridge management systems for performing historic analyses.

Conflict： Efficient State or State Under the Rule of Law？-- The Hungarian Case of the Victory of the Efficient State over the State Under the Rule of Law

This study is seeking an answer as to whether the efficient state and the state under the rule of law are indeed irreconcilable, as well as to whether these two categories are by nature to be seen as contrary concepts. The basic issue is whether efficiency is to be handled as an ＂extralegal＂ category, or whether legal regulation, in accordance with public administration traditions in Europe, can in itself meet the requirement of efficiency. Also the study presents the formation of the issue of conflict between the effective state and the state under the rule of law in Hungary after the election held in 2010 in the practice of economic policy and legislation of the Orban government. We are trying to answer the question of the tendency of power concentration to really menace the principles of a traditionally-formed state under the rule of law, as well as whether the economic policy of the government can be implemented effectively in a strongly centralized political and state administrative system.

Characteristics and trends of integrated ocean management under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

As the international community place high value on the ocean,protecting the marine environment and promoting the sustainable development of the ocean have become the consensus of all countries around the world.Integrated ocean management,as an important part of the ocean governance mechanism within the framework of the United Nations,have approached to the scene view of human gradually.Taking the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the framework,the current international integrated ocean management is summarized and the future development trend of ocean management is analyzed,providing reference for China to build a maritime power and a maritime community with shared future.

The Optimization Method of the Sector Partition Based on Metamorphic Voronoi Polygon

Voronoi diagram is founded by using computational geometry based on originaldistribution of the waypoints, and then the elements from Voronoi diagram are metamorphosed by usingthe rule for airsppce partition, and the controller's workload is accounted in each element that ismade up of Metamorphic Voronoi polygon. Then in accordance with the rule about balance ofcontroller's workload, Simulated Annealing algorithm (SA) is used to achieve the optimization ofcombination of those elements , and the new resolution has satisfied the restriction of two rulesfor airspace partition. Therefore, the boundaries of the aggregates of these elements are theoptimal borderlines of sectors. The result of actual airspace design example validates therationality of the sector optimization method presented in this paper.

Reinvestigation of the scaling law of the windblown sand launch velocity with a wind tunnel experiment

Windblown sand transport is a leading factor in the geophysical evolution of arid and semi-arid regions.The evolution speed is usually indicated by the sand transport rate that is a function of launch velocity of sand particle,which has been investigated by the experimental measurement and numerical simulation.However,the obtained results in literatures are inconsistent.Some researchers have discovered a relation between average launch velocity and wind shear velocity,while some other researchers have suggested that average launch velocity is independent of wind shear velocity.The inconsistence of launch velocity leads to a controversy in the scaling law of the sand transport rate in the windblown case.On the contrary,in subaqueous case,the scaling law of the sand transport rate has been widely accepted as a cubic function of fluid shear velocity.In order to explain the debates surrounding the windblown case and the difference between windblown and subaquatic cases,this study reinvestigates the scaling law of the vertical launch velocity of windblown transported sand particles by using a dimensional analysis in consideration of the compatibility of the characteristic time of sand particle motion and that of air flow.Then a wind tunnel experiment is conducted to confirm the revisited scaling law,where the sand particle motion pictures are recorded by a high-speed camera and then the launch velocity is solved by the particle tracking velocimetry.By incorporating the results of dimensional analysis and wind tunnel experiment,it can be concluded that,the ratio of saltons number to reptons number determines the scaling law of sand particle launch velocity and that of sand transport rate,and using this ratio is able to explain the discrepancies among the classical models of steady sand transport.Moreover,the resulting scaling law can explain the sand sieving phenomenon:a greater fraction of large grains is observed as the distance to the wind tunnel entrance becomes larger.

Revenue management method and critical techniques of railway passenger transport

Purpose–Revenue management(RM)is a significant technique to improve revenue with limited resources.With the macro environment of dramatically increasing transit capacity and rapid railway transport development in China,it is necessary to involve the theory of RM into the operation and decision of railway passenger transport.Design/methodology/approach–This paper proposes the theory and framework of generalized RM of railway passenger transport(RMRPT),and the thoughts and methods of the main techniques in RMRPT,involving demand forecasting,line planning,inventory control,pricing strategies and information systems,are all studied and elaborated.The involved methods and techniques provide a sequential process to help with the decision-making for each stage of RMRPT.The corresponding techniques are integrated into the information system to support practical businesses in railway passenger transport.Findings–The combination of the whole techniques devotes to railway benefit improvement and transit resource utilization and has been applied into the practical operation and organization of railway passenger transport.Originality/value–The development of RMRPT would provide theoretical and technical support for the improvement of service quality as well as railway benefits and efficiency.

Pore-Scale Investigation of Coupled Two-Phase and Reactive Transport in the Cathode Electrode of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

A three-dimensional multicomponent multiphase lattice Boltzmann model(LBM)is established to model the coupled two-phase and reactive transport phenomena in the cathode electrode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.The gas diff usion layer(GDL)and microporous layer(MPL)are stochastically reconstructed with the inside dynamic distribution of oxygen and liquid water resolved,and the catalyst layer is simplifi ed as a superthin layer to address the electrochemical reaction,which provides a clear description of the fl ooding eff ect on mass transport and performance.Diff erent kinds of electrodes are reconstructed to determine the optimum porosity and structure design of the GDL and MPL by comparing the transport resistance and per-formance under the fl ooding condition.The simulation results show that gradient porosity GDL helps to increase the reactive area and average concentration under fl ooding.The presence of the MPL ensures the oxygen transport space and reaction area because liquid water cannot transport through micropores.Moreover,the MPL helps in the uniform distribution of oxygen for an effi cient in-plane transport capacity.Crack and perforation structures can accelerate the water transport in the assembly.The systematic perforation design yields the best performance under fl ooding by separating the transport of liquid water and oxygen.

Telematics as a Transformative Agent for the Zimbabwean Auto Insurance Ecosystem

Zimbabwe has witnessed the evolution of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The vehicle population soared to above 1.2 million hence rendering the Transport and Insurance domains complex. Therefore, there is a need to look at ways that can augment conventional Vehicular Management Information Systems (VMIS) in transforming business processes through Telematics. This paper aims to contextualise the role that telematics can play in transforming the Insurance Ecosystem in Zimbabwe. The main objective was to investigate the integration of Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) with vehicle tracking solutions provided by technology companies like Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe, aiming to align customer billing with individual risk profiles and enhance the synergy between technology and insurance service providers in the motor insurance ecosystem. A triangulation through structured interviews, questionnaires, and literature review, supported by Information Systems Analysis and Design techniques was conducted. The study adopted a case study approach, qualitatively analyzing the complexities of the Telematics insurance ecosystem in Zimbabwe, informed by the TOGAF framework. A case-study approach was applied to derive themes whilst applying within and cross-case analysis. Data was collected using questionnaires, and interviews. The findings of the research clearly show the importance of Telematics in modern-day insurance and the positive relationship between technology and insurance business performance. The study, therefore revealed how UBI can incentivize positive driver behavior, potentially reducing insurance premiums for safe drivers and lowering the incidence of claims against insurance companies. Future work can be done on studying the role of Telematics in combating highway crime and corruption.

The Changing Labour Relations during the Period of Economic Reform:A Case Study of Chinese Township and Village Enterprises in Yangtze River Delta

The economic reform launched in the People's Republic of China(China) led to a rapid growth in non-state sectors.Various forms of corporate governances and ownerships emerged during the last two decades,especially the Township and Village Enterprises owned by local residents.This article is conducted on the changing labour relations in Chinese Township and Village Enterprises(TVEs) despite their increasing contributions to China's transition from planned economy to market economy,and studies the labour market and the Labour Law to understand the unique labour mobility and to test the relationship between Human Resource Management(HRM) practice and the performance among TVEs.

Legal Aspects of Coordinating the LEO Mega-Constellation Operations in the Framework of STM

Mega-constellations of satellites are making a complex network in Low-Earth Orbit(LEO),which presents new legal and technical challenges.The widespread operation of mega-constellations necessitates a special technical and legal regulatory framework that is constantly evolving based on emerging technologies.Although it has not yet been completely established since it is fully dependent on the development of Space Traffic Management(STM),includ-ing the rules on space debris mitigation and collision avoidance systems,cyber security issues,environmental concerns,rules of registration,Radio Frequency Interferences(RFI),Space Surveillance&Tracking(SST),etc.This paper addresses the legal issues of coordinating LEO mega-constellation operations within the framework of STM.The LEO mega-constellations creating the space environment congested necessitates the establishment of STM rules and standards to safeguard the safety,security,and sustainability of outer space activities.To do so,States and the private sector will have to develop effective,safe,and workable mechanisms that will allow space activities in the field of the deployment and operation of satellite constellations while ensuring the sustainability of all space activities on a long-term basis.Moreover,it needs the cooperation of related national and international organizations and other entities,including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space(UNCOPUOS),its Subcommittees,and Internation Telecommunication Union(ITU),to solve the legal and technical challenges of satellite constellations,especially mega-constellations,through the amendment of the current international legal regime,the implementation of a new international treaty,or the creation of soft law documents.

RENEWAL OF BASIC LAWS AND PRINCIPLES FOR POLAR CONTINUUM THEORIES (Ⅵ)—CONSERVATION LAWS OF MASS AND INERTIA

The purpose is to reestablish the coupled conservation laws, the local conservation equations and the jump conditions of mass and inertia for polar continuum theories. In this connection the new material derivatives of the deformation gradient, the line element, the surface element and the volume element were derived and the generalized Reynolds transport theorem was presented. Combining these conservation laws of mass and inertia with the balance laws of momentum, angular momentum and energy derived in our previous papers of this series, a rather complete system of coupled basic laws and principles for polar continuum theories is constituted on the whole. From this system the coupled nonlocal balance equations of mass, inertia, momentum, angular momentum and energy may be obtained by the usual localization.

Simulation of Artificial Grain Feeding in Order to Reach Dynamical Bed Stabilisation Along the River Rhine

The Wesel-Xanten stretch of the fiver Rhine between km-812.5 and km-821.5 is one of the reaches where strong erosion leads to high maintenance efforts conceming navigability.In order to improve the naviga- tion conditions without aggravating the flood protection,but also ensuring that the ecological system of the river is not damaged,investigations of the morphodynamical processes in connection with artificial grain feeding ac- tivities have to be carried out by Federal Waterways Engineering and Research...

Utilization and Usability of Delaware Traffic Management Products: A Survey and Challenges

To address the growing problem of congestion, delays, and overall traffic issues, DelDOT (Delaware Department of Transportation) established the Transportation Management Center (TMC) in 1997. DelDOT-TMC also coordinates and manages DelDOT’s response to any incident that impacts the multimodal transportation system within the state of Delaware. Among other things, DelDOT-TMC collects traffic, roadway weather, and hydrological data using over a thousand monitoring devices installed throughout the state of Delaware. After data has been obtained, DelDOT-TMC analyzes and disseminates real-time travel information to the public through DelDOT’s website (online interactive maps), smartphone application, traffic advisory radio, and social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Blog, and Flickr;however, the utilization and usability of this information by the public are, for the most part, unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the global responsibilities of DelDOT-TMC and assess the process that DelDOT-TMC uses to gather, process, analyze, and distribute traffic and roadway weather data to the public. The study employs a survey to assess the utilization of DelDOT-TMC’s products, i.e., DelDOT Mobile App, WTMC 1380 AM travel advisory radio, DelDOT’s public website, DelDOT’s social media, as well as the usability of the DelDOT mobile app to check DART (Delaware Authority for Regional Transportation) First State transit service schedules.

Critical Factors in Financing and Management of Light Rail Transit Systems： Delphi Methodology Approach

In recent years, a large number of LRT （light rail transit） networks and tramways have been built in Spain using the tender system. The rhythm of construction has been such that very few analyses have been carried out and those that have were only partially done because the main participants involved had ulterior motives which impeded their having a critical and independent opinion of the projects carried out. Within this framework, the Delphi methodology presents itself as a very useful instrument, as the intrinsic advantages that it has added to the characteristic that the experts who participate in the project can remain anonymous without detracting value from the conclusions obtained as these are grouped together according to their worth.