Search Results (27)

We propose a hub ridesharing method that considers path similarity to swiftly evacuate high volumes of passengers arriving at a high-speed railway hub. The technique aims to minimize total mileage and the number of service vehicles, considering the characteristics of hub passengers, such as the constraints of large luggage, departure times, and arrival times. Meanwhile, to meet passengers’ expectations, a path morphology similarity indicator combining directional and locational features is developed and used as a crucial criterion for passenger matching. A two-stage algorithm is designed as a solution. Passenger requests are clustered based on path vector similarity in the first stage using a heuristic approach. In the second stage, we employ an adaptive large-scale neighborhood search to form passenger matches and shared routes. The experiments demonstrate that this method can reduce operational costs, enhance computational efficiency, and shorten passenger wait times. Taking path similarity into account significantly decreases passenger detour distances. It improves the Jaccard coefficient (JAC) of post-ridesharing paths, fulfilling the passenger’s psychological expectation that the shared route will closely resemble the original one. Full article

In this article, we point out that luggage disinfection is a key step in stopping the spread of infectious diseases that can be contracted at airports due to viruses and bacteria, which can spread through passenger luggage at airports. To prevent the spread of respiratory infections at airports, in this research study, we compare two types of baggage disinfection system. The first method uses UV light to disinfect luggage while selectively checking it for the presence of bacteria and viruses. The second system uses non-selective disinfection, taking into account the possibility of the spread of disease from the aircraft’s home country. An analysis and simulation of a specific airport security procedure was carried out on the model under study, which is an automated system for disinfecting baggage at airports in two variants. The aim is to reduce the transmission of harmful diseases and, at the same time, to ensure the accuracy of passenger security screening by efficiently exhausting each of the proposed models. This research shows that the suggested measures to stop the spread of infectious diseases that travelers’ luggage can bring in will enhance screening procedures and, in particular, boost overall security while lowering the risk of infection transmission at airports. Full article

This study presents a novel approach to enhancing indoor navigation in crowded multi-terminal airports using visible light communication (VLC) technology. By leveraging existing luminaires as transmission points, encoded messages are conveyed through modulated light signals to provide location-specific guidance. The objectives are to facilitate navigation, optimize routes, and improve system performance through Edge/Fog integration. The methodology includes the use of tetrachromatic LED-equipped luminaires with On–Off Keying (OOK) modulation and a mesh cellular hybrid structure. Detailed airport modeling and user analysis (pedestrians and luggage/passenger carriers) equipped with PINPIN optical sensors are conducted. A VLC-specific communication protocol with coding and decoding techniques ensures reliable data transmission, while wayfinding algorithms offer real-time guidance. The results show effective data transmission and localization, enabling self-localization, travel direction inference, and route optimization. Agent-based simulations demonstrate improved traffic control, with analyses of user halting and average speed. This approach provides reliable indoor navigation independent of GPS signals, enhancing accessibility and convenience for airport users. The integration of VLC with Edge/Fog architecture ensures efficient movement through complex airport layouts. Full article

In current transportation hubs, passengers travelling with wheeled luggage or suitcases is a common phenomenon. Due to the fact that most luggage occupies a certain space in dense passenger crowds with high mass inertia, its abnormal motion, such as drifting, can frequently trigger unavoidable local disturbances and turbulence in the surrounding pedestrian flows, further increasing congestion risk. Meanwhile, there still is a lack of quantitative disturbance propagation analysis, since most state-of-the-art achievements rely on either scenario-based experiments or the spatial characteristics of crowd distribution assessed qualitatively. Therefore, this study considers the luggage-laden passenger as a deformable particle. The resulting disturbance on surrounding non-luggage-carrying passengers is analyzed and quantified into a nonlinear pressure term. Subsequently, the disturbance propagation model of passenger-owned luggage is developed by adapting the classical Aw–Rascle traffic flow model with a pressure term. Simulation experiments of disturbances caused by luggage drifting and retrograding were conducted in Pathfinder 2022 Software. Experimental results showed that the disturbing force of a left-sided crowd can reach a peak of 238 N with a passenger density of 3.0 $\mathrm{p}/{\mathrm{m}}^2$, and the maximum force difference between the left- and right-sided disturbing force can reach 153 N, as confirmed by a case study in an L-shaped corridor of a transportation hub. Furthermore, it is recommended that the proposed model can be applied in crowd flow analysis and intelligent decision-making for passenger management in transportation hubs. Full article

The evaluation of structural crashworthiness is important for the development of civil aircraft. In this study, cargo luggage was considered in the vertical drop simulation of an aircraft mid-fuselage section. First, quasi-static compression tests on three types of luggage made of different materials were conducted. Then, a finite element model (FEM) of the cargo luggage was developed with a crushable foam material in LS-PrePost4.5 software. The finite element analysis results of the luggage made of different materials were consistent with the corresponding compression experiments. Secondly, the FEM of the mid-fuselage section was established without cargo luggage. The simulated displacement and acceleration of the fuselage section were consistent with the test results. Finally, the influences of cargo luggage on the fuselage vertical drop response were studied with the FEM considering both the fuselage structure and cargo luggage. Compared with the responses of the fuselage without cargo luggage, the cargo luggage could reduce the deformation of the cargo bay and maintain the integrity of the passenger living space in the cabin at the vertical velocity of 6 m/s, even though the initial kinetic energy was higher. Full article

Boarding time constitutes a critical element of turnaround time, which is used to measure the efficiency of airline operations. Therefore, to reduce boarding time, it is imperative to reconsider traditional passenger boarding strategies to make them more efficient. In this sense, this study seeks to analyze the impact of different strategies on boarding times using discrete event simulation on an Airbus 320. Seven boarding strategies have been identified and considered in our study, as follows: random, back-to-front, outside-in, reverse pyramid, blocks, Steffen, and modified optimal. The impact of carrying hand luggage and the presence of priority passengers has been considered, as well as the impact of having a continuous arrival of passengers during the boarding process versus having all passengers available at boarding time. In general, simulation results have pointed out that the outside-in and reverse pyramid strategies are the most effective, improving boarding time by up to 15%, when compared to the random strategy. Moreover, the back-to-front strategy, which is generally implemented by airline companies, has been shown to be the most inefficient strategy. Efficient boarding strategies are expected to contribute to the sustainability of air travel by minimizing the turnaround time, improving operational efficiency, and reducing emissions. Full article

To ensure the safety of passengers concerning virus propagation, such as COVID-19, and keep the turnaround time at low levels, airlines should seek efficient aircraft boarding strategies in terms of both physical distancing and boarding times. This study seeks to analyze the impact of different boarding strategies in the context of the International Air Transport Association’s recommendations during the pandemic to reduce interference and physical contact between passengers in airplanes. Boarding strategies such as back-to-front, outside-in, reverse pyramid, blocks, Steffen, and modified optimal have been tested in this context. This study extends the previous literature using discrete event simulation to evaluate the impact of the occupation of the middle seat by family members only. This study also analyses the impact of having passengers carrying hand luggage and priority passengers on the performance of these strategies concerning boarding times. In general, the simulation results revealed a 15% improvement in boarding times when the reverse pyramid strategy is used compared to a random strategy, which essentially results from a reduction in the boarding interferences between passengers. The results also show that Steffen’s strategy is the best performing, while the blocks strategy results in the worst performance. This study has practical implications for airline companies concerning both operation efficiency and passenger safety. Full article

The current study examines how different types of passengers (elders, travelers with luggage, travelers without luggage, and mixed population) affect the evacuation process in railway tunnels after a fire accident based on Fractional Effective Dose (FED) index values. A 20 MW diesel pool fire in an immobilized train located inside a straight, rectangular railroad tunnel that is ventilated by a longitudinal jet fan ventilation system is the scenario under consideration. Two fire scenarios were examined, one with and one without ventilation, combined with four evacuation scenarios. The numerical simulation of the fire and the evacuation process is conducted with the Fire Dynamics Simulator and Evacuation code (FDS + Evac) which is a Large Eddy Simulator (LES) for low-Mach thermally driven flows. The results (evacuation times, walking speeds, and mean and max FED values) are compared for each passenger type. It is found that during the evacuation from a railway tunnel fire accident, the most affected population are the elderly because of their lower movement speed, and travelers with luggage because of their increased dimensions. It is also shown that a non-homogenous population has increased uptake of combustion products and longer evacuation times than a homogenous population with similar geometrical characteristics. Full article

Queueing theory is currently a widely used method for optimizing activities not only in air transport but also in other sectors, in both production and the use of personnel. Using this theory, it is possible to simulate in advance various scenarios that may arise during aircraft handling, handling of passengers and their luggage, cargo, or in production lines. This article aims to point out the possibilities of modeling queueing systems in air transport using a simulation model. It applies the measured data from the airport to the created simulation model, analyzes the knowledge gained from the simulations, and then proposes improvements or elimination of problems that may arise during the process in order to dimension the most favorable number of parallel service desks. During this process, we chose to evaluate the criteria of the efficiency of service check-in desks in the passenger handling process at the international airport in Košice and Prague. The handling process at the airport in Košice for weekly flights to Warsaw and at the airport in Prague also for flights to Warsaw during one week in the summer of 2019 was analyzed in more detail. During modeling, five efficiency criteria were monitored, which were focused on the probability of passengers waiting and their time spent waiting for their handling at the check-in desk. However, in these experiments, only the time spent at the check-in desk was taken into account; the following security, passport, and other checks were not included. As part of the evaluation of the efficiency of the passenger handling process, it was concluded that the critical point in the optimization of the handling process is dimensioning the optimal number of check-in desks, which had the greatest impact on the speed and possibility of processing all requests that entered the system. Therefore, it is advisable to first choose the most suitable number of desks and then work with other parameters that are adapted to the individual requirements for optimizing the handling process at airports. Full article

Airlines’ major adoption of digital technology during the COVID-19 crisis may have changed how customers experience the services and may affect passengers’ perceptions compared to the past. However, there is a lack of studies systematically examining the adoption of new technology in the airline industry from a passenger satisfaction-centric perspective. This study investigates passengers’ perceptions and satisfaction with digital technology adoption by airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire survey was conducted to examine Chinese passengers’ perceptions and satisfaction with 11 digital technology-based services offered by airlines. A total of 365 valid responses were analyzed using ANOVA tests and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. The analysis indicates that most passengers have a positive attitude towards airlines’ new technology adoption. In the final selected regression model, six technologies offered by the airlines are statistically significant and have impacted passenger satisfaction. They are artificial intelligence (AI) customer service, e-luggage tag, cleaning robot, ultraviolet light and antimicrobial cabin cleaning, an app-controlled in-flight entertainment system, and e-library. The facial recognition service, digital documentation and AI Customer service are the least favorable among the 11 technologies offered by the airlines. There is an opportunity for airlines to improve these services further to gain the trust of the passengers. Full article

Among European countries, Italy is the most exposed to the risk of biological invasions, principally for its numerous entry points (ports and airports) and for climatic conditions favorable for the acclimatization of several invasive species. Here it was assessed that the greatest threats to our agro-ecosystems come mainly from the passenger baggage in which a variety of fruits and vegetables are carried. From 2016 to 2021, large quantities of plant products were found in the luggage of passengers travelling from outside the EU and seized at the BCPs (border control posts) in the Campania region. Inspections and the following laboratory analyses were conducted on the plant material to assess the presence of exotic pests. Inspections led to several non-native species being recorded, and among the intercepted organisms, some should be considered “alarming”, such as Bactrocera dorsalis, Anastrepha obliqua, and Leucinodes africensis. Despite a well-organized border inspection system, travelers transporting infested material unknowingly contribute to increasing the risk of the introduction of exotic species. Given the current situation, it is necessary to impose stricter controls and greater attention, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the new phytosanitary regulations by the actors involved in the transport of plant material. Finally, it is essential to improve awareness through a phytosanitary campaign on plant health risks, especially for people wishing to transport fruits and vegetables in their luggage. Full article

In this paper, we present a concept for an assistance system for public transport passengers currently being developed for Kassel, Germany, and its surrounding area. The assistance system aims at increasing the attractiveness of local public transport by reducing barriers to use, thus promoting sustainable travel behavior. Three main barriers were identified: crowded vehicles, missed connections, and inconveniences in the transportation of shopping bags and luggage. To tackle these issues, three assistance system services were conceptualized: the occupancy rate informing passengers about the occupancy level of vehicles, the transfer connection monitor and secure system giving passengers the option to communicate transfer connection requests, and the delivery service allowing the use of public transport while shopping without the need to transport purchased goods. The three services are presented in detail along with the user interfaces they will be integrated into. Moreover, for the further implementation of the assistance system, a user requirement analysis is outlined. We finally give an overview and outlook regarding the implementation and evaluation of the concept in laboratory studies and a one-year field study. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted both healthcare and the economy on a global scale. This pandemic has changed consumer habits and behaviors significantly, primarily because of confinement-related issues. While numerous research has been undertaken to study customer satisfaction using surveys and online passenger ratings, the effect of COVID-19 on passenger satisfaction has not been explored. It is vital to assess satisfaction indicators gathered from online consumer reviews to ascertain consumers’ preferences for airline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study is to determine the primary themes that emerged from airline travelers’ internet reviews during the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, it attempts to determine which of these themes relate to higher and lower passenger satisfaction. The article uses qualitative (i.e., narratives) analyses to examine the main components of passengers’ subjective experiences of the airline. Data are represented by passenger reviews posted on the TripAdvisor website. The analyses revealed ten themes in descriptions of airline travel experiences. These include “flight”, “service”, “staff”, “food”, “check-in”, “cancellation”, “COVID-19”, “airport”, “class”, and “luggage”. Dissatisfying concepts are linked with the “cancellation”, “check-in”, “refund”, and “airport” concepts. Full article

The social distancing imposed by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has affected people’s everyday lives and has resulted in companies changing the way they conduct business. The airline industry has been continually adapting since the novel coronavirus appeared. A series of airlines have changed their airplane boarding and passenger seat allocation process to increase their passengers’ safety. Many suggest a minimum social distance among passengers in the aisle while boarding. Some airlines have reduced their airplanes’ capacities by keeping the middle seats empty. Recent literature indicates that the Reverse Pyramid boarding method provides favorable values for boarding time and passenger health metrics when compared to other boarding methods. This paper analyses the extent to which aisle social distancing, the quantity of carry-on luggage, and an airline’s relative preferences for different performance metrics influence the optimal number of passengers to board the airplane in each of three boarding groups when the Reverse Pyramid method is used and the middle seats are empty. We also investigate the resulting impact on the average boarding time and health risks to boarding passengers. We use an agent-based model and stochastic simulation approach to evaluate various levels of aisle social distancing among passengers and the quantity of luggage carried aboard the airplane. When minimizing boarding time is the primary objective of an airline, for a given value of aisle social distance, decreasing the carry-on luggage volumes increases the optimal number of boarding group 1 passengers and decreases the optimal number of group 2 passengers with aisle seats; for a given volume of luggage, an increase in aisle social distance is associated with more passengers in group 1 and more aisle seat passengers in group 2. When minimizing the health risk to aisle seat passengers or to window seat passengers, the optimal solution results from assigning an equal number of window seat passengers to groups 1 and 2 and an equal number of aisle seat passengers to groups 2 and 3. This solution is robust to changes in luggage volume and the magnitude of aisle social distance. Furthermore, across all luggage and aisle social distancing scenarios, the solution reduces the health risk to aisle seat passengers between 22.76% and 35.31% while increasing average boarding time by less than 3% in each scenario. Full article

Extreme summertime heat is becoming a major issue for aircraft operations. As global temperatures continue to rise, some of the heaviest planes on the longest flights may eventually be unable to depart during the hottest part of summer days. During summer days, some airports have to reduce the payload of aircraft, including cargo and/or passengers in the hotter days of summer. Nonetheless, there is no existing body of research on the potential for airport cooling. Furthermore, extreme heat on the ground also affects airport workers; loading and unloading luggage and servicing platforms between flights could become more arduous. With global warming proceeding, it is becoming increasingly urgent to find a suitable strategy to cool airport environments, perhaps by irrigation of a vegetated landscape. All airports have large enclosed areas (usually of grass) acting as a buffer between airport activities and the adjacent industrial, commercial and residential land utilization. This paper describes the trial of irrigating the buffer area of Adelaide airport and analyzes the performance of irrigation cooling for Adelaide airport, examining whether this can benefit human thermal comfort. Results indicate that irrigation provides cooling, and the cooling effect reduces along with the increasing instance from the middle of the irrigation area. At 15:00, the average air temperature was 1.8 °C cooler in the middle of the irrigation area than in the non-irrigation area, and the relative humidity was 5.8% higher during the trial period. On an extremely hot day (the maximum air temperature was 45.4 °C), it was 1.5 °C cooler in the middle of the irrigation area than upwind the of irrigation area, and 0.8 °C cooler than downwind of the irrigation area at 13:00. Human thermal comfort (HTC) is unfavorable in the runway, but greater improvements can be made through promotion of irrigation. Full article