Search Results (108)

Waterborne transportation serves as a critical pillar of trunk-line freight systems, offering unparalleled advantages in transport capacity, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. As cargo throughput demands escalate, optimizing lock capacity becomes imperative. This study investigates ship sinkage dynamics through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for a representative inland cargo vessel navigating the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. We develop a predictive sinkage model that integrates four key hydrodynamic parameters: ship velocity, draft, water depth, and bank clearance, applicable to both open shallow water and lockage conditions. The model enables determination of maximum safe drafts for lock transit by analyzing upstream/downstream water levels and corresponding chamber depths. Our results demonstrate the technical feasibility of enhancing single-lock cargo capacity while maintaining safety margins. These findings provide (1) a scientifically grounded framework for draft control optimization, and (2) actionable insights for lock operation management. The study establishes a methodological foundation for balancing navigational safety with growing throughput requirements in constrained waterways. Full article

Due to the recent significant increase in the scale of both domestic and international cargo transportation, the transport sector is becoming an important factor in the country’s economic development. This implies the need to improve all links in the cargo transportation chain. A key role in it is played by logistics centers, which in their activities must meet both state (CO₂ emissions, reduction in road load, increase in transportation safety, etc.) and commercial (cargo transportation in the shortest time and at the lowest cost) requirements. The objective of the paper is freight transportation from China to European countries, reflecting issues of CO₂ emissions, reduction in road load, and increase in transportation safety. Transport operations from the manufacturer to the logistics center are especially important in this chain, since the efficiency of transportation largely depends on the decisions made by its employees. They select the appropriate types of transport (air, sea, rail, and road transport) and routes for a specific situation. In methodology, the analyzed problem can be presented as a dynamic multi-criteria decision model. It is assumed that the decision-maker—the manager responsible for planning transportation operations—is interested in achieving three basic goals: financial goal minimizing total delivery costs from factories to the logistics center, environmental goal minimizing the negative impact of supply chain operations on the environment, and high level of customer service goal minimizing delivery times from factories to the logistics center. The proposed methodology allows one to reduce the total carbon dioxide emission by 1.1 percent and the average duration of cargo transportation by 1.47 percent. On the other hand, the total cost of their delivery increases by 1.25 percent. By combining these, it is possible to create optimal transportation options, effectively use vehicles, reduce air pollution, and increase the quality of customer service. All this would significantly contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. It is proposed to solve this complex problem based on a dynamic multi-criteria model. In this paper, the problem of constructing a schedule of transport operations from factories to a logistics center is considered. The analyzed problem can be presented as a dynamic multi-criteria decision model. Linear programming and the AHP method were used to solve it. Full article

Background: The cargo stowage and securing plan for non-standardized cargo is vital for ensuring safety at sea, as improper placement or inadequate lashing can compromise maritime transport safety. Due to the diverse size and type of cargo, efficient planning is also essential to optimize space utilization and improve the economic performance of general cargo vessels. Methods: This paper presents a novel methodology to identify the optimal cargo securing layout using lashing lines that comply with international standards while minimizing deck space usage. A comparative analysis of two major securing guidelines was conducted to determine the stricter and safer standard. Results: The optimization approach was validated with real-world case studies, revealing the most effective securing configurations. These are defined by the optimal combination of vertical and horizontal lashing angles, which secure cargo in any stowage position by balancing longitudinal and transverse forces while minimizing occupied deck area. Additionally, novel graphs and 3D maps are introduced to illustrate the relationships between key securing parameters. Conclusions: The obtained results and the visual tools enhance understanding and provide practical support for lashing planners, facilitating safer and more efficient cargo securing decisions. Full article

In the future, electricity generation through eco-friendly renewable energy will accelerate. Surrounded by sea on three sides, the Republic of Korea is gaining attention for offshore wind power as a future industry, leveraging advantages of its maritime environment. However, maritime navigation remains active in waters, with maritime transportation being crucial, as it accounts for over 95% of the country’s cargo volume. Therefore, ensuring the safety of vessel operations is vital when constructing offshore wind farms. This study proposed alternative routes to ensure the safety of vessels and secure existing routes in the waters of the southwestern sea, where intensive development of OWFs is expected. The routes were determined based on the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC) Guidelines and Maritime Traffic Safety Act’s implementation guidelines. Clearance between a maritime route and OWF was set to the rule of 6 L + 0.3 NM + 500 m for safety. The route width was calculated while considering vessel maneuverability, environmental factors, seabed conditions, the depth-to-draft ratio, and two-way traffic. The alternative routes were categorized into four types—maritime highways, maritime provincial routes, approach routes for departure/arrival, and recommended routes based on vessel positions, engine status, and route function. By considering traffic flow and applying international and domestic standards, these routes will ensure safe, efficient, and orderly vessel operations. Full article

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by low-grade inflammation, cartilage breakdown, and persistent pain. Despite its prevalence, current therapeutic strategies primarily focus on symptom management rather than modifying disease progression. Monoclonal antibodies and cytokine inhibitors targeting inflammatory pathways, including TNF-α and IL-1, have shown promise but remain limited by inconsistent efficacy and safety concerns. Long-acting biologic therapies—ranging from extended-release formulations, such as monoclonal antibodies and cytokine inhibitors, to gene therapy approaches—have emerged as promising strategies to enhance treatment durability and improve patient outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained particular attention as a novel delivery platform due to their inherent stability, biocompatibility, and ability to transport therapeutic cargo, including biologics and immunomodulatory agents, directly to joint tissues. This review explores the evolving role of EVs in OA treatment, highlighting their ability to extend drug half-life, improve targeting, and modulate inflammatory responses. Additionally, strategies for EV engineering, including endogenous and exogenous cargo loading, genetic modifications, and biomaterial-based delivery systems, are discussed. Full article

Amid rapid global aviation development and increasingly stringent safety standards, aerostats demonstrate vast potential in environmental monitoring, communication relay, cargo transportation, and other applications. However, their operational safety has become a critical focus. These systems face complex flight environments and dynamic mission requirements that demand exceptionally high safety control standards. As the core component, the safety control computer directly determines the overall safety and stability of aerostat operations. This study employed a systems engineering methodology integrating hardware selection, software architecture design, fault diagnosis, and fault tolerance to develop a universal safety control computer system with high reliability, robust real-time performance, and adaptive capabilities. By adopting high-performance processors, redundant design techniques, and modular software programming, the system significantly enhanced anti-interference performance and fault recovery capabilities. These improvements ensured precise and rapid safety control monitoring under diverse operational conditions. Experimental validation demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in supporting both remote and autonomous safety control modes, substantially mitigating flight risks. This technological breakthrough provides robust technical support for the large-scale development and safe operation of universal aerostat systems, while offering valuable insights for safety control system design in other aerospace vehicles. Full article

This article presents a sector-specific digital maturity model (DMM) to assess digital transformation in inland waterway transport (IWT). Inland waterway transport plays a crucial yet underutilized role, and digitalization can enhance its efficiency, safety, and competitiveness. This study proposes a structured model to evaluate digital maturity in four key areas: (i) Customer Area: manages orders and cargo handling, (ii) System Management and Compliance: covers documentation and regulatory processes, (iii) Ship Maintenance: shifts from reactive to predictive maintenance, and (iv) Operational Management: enhances navigation and communication. The model uses a five-level maturity scale, assessing technological adoption and operational efficiency. It is validated through the assessment of two European inland waterway transport systems: the Oder and the Rhine. The analysis shows that the Rhine system has higher digital maturity, particularly in customer service and system management, while both systems exhibit similar gaps in operational ship maintenance. The results demonstrate that the model can be used as both a benchmarking tool and roadmap for digital transformation. The study underscores the need for continuous technological advancements and contributes to both academic research and practical applications in transport system digitalization. Full article

Technological innovation toward electrification and digitalization is revolutionizing aviation, paving the way for new aeronautical paradigms and novel modes to transport goods and people in urban and regional environments. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leverages vertical and digital mobility, driven by safe, quiet, sustainable, and cost-effective electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. A key enabler of this transformation is the development of vertiports—dedicated infrastructure designed for VTOL operations. Vertiports are pivotal in integrating AAM into multimodal transport networks, ensuring seamless connectivity with existing urban and regional transportation systems. Their design, placement, and operational framework are central to the success of AAM, influencing urban accessibility, safety, and public acceptance. These facilities should accommodate passenger and cargo operations, incorporating charging stations, takeoff and landing areas, and optimized traffic management systems. Public and private sectors are investing in vertiports, shaping the regulatory and technological landscape for widespread adoption. As cities prepare for the future of aerial mobility, vertiports will be the cornerstone of sustainable, efficient, and scalable air transportation. Full article

Bike-sharing initiatives play a crucial role in sustainable urban transportation, addressing vehicular congestion, air quality issues, and sedentary lifestyles. However, the connection between bike-sharing facilities and the advantages perceived by users remains insufficiently explored particular in post-industrial regions, such as Silesia, Poland. This study develops a multidimensional framework linking infrastructure elements—such as station density, bicycle accessibility, maintenance standards, and technological integration—to perceived benefits. Using a mixed-methods approach, a survey conducted in key Silesian cities combines quantitative analysis (descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and regression modelling) with qualitative insights from user feedback. The results indicate that the most valuable benefits are health improvements (e.g., improved physical fitness and mobility) and environmental sustainability. However, infrastructural deficiencies—disjointed bike path systems, uneven station placements, and irregular maintenance—substantially hinder system efficiency and accessibility. Inadequate bike maintenance adversely affects efficiency, safety, and sustainability, highlighting the necessity for predictive upkeep and optimised services. This research underscores innovation as a crucial factor for enhancing systems, promoting seamless integration across multiple modes, diversification of fleets (including e-bikes and cargo bikes), and the use of sophisticated digital solutions like real-time tracking, contactless payment systems, and IoT-based monitoring. Furthermore, the transformation of post-industrial areas into cycling-supportive environments presents strategic opportunities for sustainable regional revitalisation. These findings extend beyond the context of Silesia, offering actionable insights for policymakers, urban mobility planners, and Smart City stakeholders worldwide, aiming to foster inclusive, efficient, and technology-enabled bike-sharing systems. Full article

With the rapid growth in maritime traffic, navigational safety has become a pressing concern. Some vessels deliberately manipulate their type information to evade regulatory oversight, either to circumvent legal sanctions or engage in illicit activities. Such practices not only undermine the accuracy of maritime supervision but also pose significant risks to maritime traffic management and safety. Therefore, accurately identifying vessel types is essential for effective maritime traffic regulation, combating maritime crimes, and ensuring safe maritime transportation. However, the existing methods fail to fully exploit the long-term sequential dependencies and intricate mobility patterns embedded in vessel trajectory data, leading to suboptimal identification accuracy and reliability. To address these limitations, we propose MESTR, a Multi-Task Enhanced Ship-Type Recognition model based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. MESTR leverages a Transformer-based deep learning framework with a motion-pattern-aware trajectory segment masking strategy. By jointly optimizing two learning tasks—trajectory segment masking prediction and ship-type prediction—MESTR effectively captures deep spatiotemporal features of various vessel types. This approach enables the accurate classification of six common vessel categories: tug, sailing, fishing, passenger, tanker, and cargo. Experimental evaluations on real-world maritime datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of MESTR, achieving an average accuracy improvement of 12.04% over the existing methods. Full article

Air transport, in addition to passenger transport, also transports air shipments containing hazardous materials. Hazardous materials include lithium-ion batteries, which can be carried both by passengers and by cargo aircraft. Due to the dynamic development of lithium-ion power supply technology, many devices are equipped with batteries that threaten air traffic safety. The article presents the results of research based on FAA reports of incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. The article aims to present a risk assessment for transporting lithium-ion batteries. Due to the emergence of new devices containing batteries, it is essential to analyze their transport to minimize threats and eliminate aviation incidents. The observations and the analysis of FAA reports showed possible threats from the transport of lithium-ion batteries on board aircraft. The matrix method used indicated the level of risk of transporting lithium-ion batteries. The risk assessment showed the need to monitor or implement corrective actions while transporting flight-ion batteries. Possible solutions were also presented to increase the safety level of transporting lithium-ion batteries. Full article

Urban freight transportation is facing significant challenges due to increasing demand, driven by globalization, e-commerce growth, and the adoption of just-in-time logistics. These trends have led to rising vehicle flows in urban areas, negatively impacting sustainability, economic efficiency, and road safety. In response, cities are exploring innovative last-mile delivery strategies that emphasize sustainability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Among these strategies, cargo bikes—particularly electric cargo bikes (e-cargo bikes)—are emerging as promising low-emission solutions for urban freight distribution. However, despite their potential, a generalized methodology for estimating their demand share in urban contexts remains underdeveloped. This study proposes a comprehensive modelling framework to evaluate the freight demand share that can be addressed by e-cargo bikes, integrating quantity, restocking service, modal, and delivery sub-models, calibrated using data from a case study in Italy. The results demonstrate that e-cargo bikes could fulfil up to 20% of urban freight demand, depending on the category of goods transported, and underscore the feasibility of integrating e-cargo bikes into urban logistics systems. However, critical challenges related to scalability and cost-effectiveness persist, highlighting the need for further research and reliable cost data to support broader implementation. Full article

This systematic literature review aims to identify and discuss specific cargo loss risks in road transportation. The research also examines their impacts, challenges, and mitigation strategies. By synthesizing insights from 24 studies using a systematic snowballing methodology, this study categorizes risks into five primary domains: Man, Method, Machine, Material, and Environment. Specifically, the review highlights major cargo loss risks within the context of road transportation. A fishbone diagram illustrates the multifactorial interactions that contribute to cargo loss. Emerging technological solutions, such as predictive analytics, IoT-enabled monitoring, and advanced packaging designs, are explored as key strategies to mitigate these risks. The findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to enhance road transport safety, reduce cargo loss, and strengthen the resilience of global supply chains. Full article

Road hazardous material transportation plays a critical role in road traffic management. Due to the dangerous nature of the cargo, hazardous material transportation trucks (HMTTs) have different route selection and driving characteristics compared to traditional freight trucks. These differences lead to unique travel and emission patterns, which in turn affect traffic management strategies and emission control measures. However, existing research predominantly focuses on safety aspects related to individual vehicle behavior, with limited exploration of the broader travel and emission characteristics of HMTTs. To bridge this gap, this study develops a comprehensive framework for analyzing the travel patterns and emissions of HMTTs. The methodology begins by applying a Gaussian mixture distribution model to identify vehicle stop points, eliminating biases associated with subjective settings. Origin–destination (OD) pairs are then determined through stop time clustering, followed by the extraction of travel characteristics using non-negative matrix factorization. Emissions are subsequently calculated based on the identified trip data. The relationship between emissions and land use characteristics is further analyzed using geographically weighted regression (GWR). Crucially, this study leverages data from the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System, focusing on HMTTs operating within Shanghai. The processed data reveal three distinct travel modes of HMTTs, categorized by spatiotemporal patterns: Daytime—Surrounding cities, Early morning—In-city, and Midnight—Scattered. Moreover, unlike other road vehicles, HMTT emissions are heavily influenced by industrial and company-related points of interest (POIs). These findings highlight the significant role of BeiDou Satellite Navigation System data in optimizing HMTT management strategies to reduce emissions and improve overall safety. Full article

Tank vehicles are highly prone to rollover accidents, especially on curved–slope combination sections, which can cause hazardous chemical spills, endangering the environment, public safety, and human health. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct research aimed at reducing the risk of such incidents. Method: The rollover risk of tank vehicles under various loading conditions while traveling on curved–slope combination sections was investigated using driver–vehicle–road dynamics simulation. A multiple linear regression model was then developed to further quantify the impact of key factors on the rollover risk. Results: The results revealed that the road curve radius, vehicle operating speed, and liquid cargo fill level have the greatest impact on a tank vehicle’s rollover risk, and higher fill levels, higher speeds, and steeper downhill slopes all amplify the impact of curve radius on the rollover risk. In some cases, adhering to the road’s speed limit alone was insufficient to ensure the safe passage of the tank vehicle through curves. Conclusions: This study introduced, for the first time, a rollover risk assessment model for tank vehicles operating on curved–slope combination sections. The findings reveal effective methods to improve the transportation safety of tank vehicles. Practical Applications: The findings of this study can assist transportation agencies in selecting routes with lower rollover risks for tank vehicles with different configurations, as well as guide the development of loading standards and curve speed limits. This will effectively reduce rollover accidents of tank vehicles and support sustainable, safer transportation practices. Full article