Search Results (11)

Sea transportation plays a vital role in global trade, and studying the impact of emergencies on global sea transportation is essential to ensure the stability of trade. At present, the conflict between Palestine and Israel has attracted extensive attention worldwide. However, there is a lack of specific research on the impact of conflict on shipping, particularly on global shipping costs. By using the global vessel trajectory data of tankers from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and taking the global sea transportation of large tankers as an example, this paper quantifies and visualizes the changes in global sea transportation before and after conflicts from a data-driven perspective. Firstly, the complete vessel trajectory, as well as the port of departure and the port of destination are extracted. Then, from the perspective of shipping cost and vessel traffic flow, we evaluate the vessel traffic flow changes caused by the conflict by using the route distance to replace the shipping costs and quantify the cost increase for the relevant countries caused by the vessel detour based on the shipping cost increment index. The research results show that after the outbreak of the conflict, the number of vessels passing through the Red Sea area has decreased significantly. About 3.1% of global vessels were affected, with global sea transportation costs of large tankers increasing by about 0.0825%. This study takes the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as an example and analyzes the impact of emergencies on the global sea transportation situation of tankers based on AIS data. The research results reveal the characteristics of international shipping to a certain extent and provide guidance for global sea transportation route planning. Full article

Recently, major problems related to fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have arisen in the transportation sector. Therefore, developing transportation modes powered by alternative fuels has become one of the main targets for car manufacturers and governments around the world. This study aimed to investigate the economic prospects of using hydrogen fuel cell technology in taxi fleets in Westbank. For this purpose, a model that could predict the number of taxis was developed, and the expected economic implications of using hydrogen fuel cell technology in taxi fleets were determined based on the expected future fuel consumption and future fuel cost. After analysis of the results, it was concluded that a slight annual increase in the number of taxis in Palestine is expected in the future, due to the government restrictions on issuing new taxi permits in order to get this sector organized. Furthermore, using hydrogen fuel cells in taxi fleets is expected to become more and more feasible over time due to the expected future increase in oil price and the expected significant reduction in hydrogen cost as a result of the new technologies that are expected to be used in the production and handling of hydrogen. Full article

The transport sector is the second leading emitter of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) from fuel combustion activities on a global scale. Reducing emissions related to this sector requires detailed data about the emissions by vehicle type and traveled distance. Generally, these data are missing in developing countries, which makes difficult the establishment of effective policies for the reduction of these emissions. This paper presents a hybrid method to estimate these emissions using the IPCC 2006 guidelines. The method combines bottom-up and top-down approaches to estimate vehicular emissions using data about the vehicle type, vehicle kilometers traveled, and fuel consumption. This method is applied for the first time for the Palestinian territory. Data have been collected from the administration, official reports, and papers. The results show a significant increase in the total vehicles in Palestine, particularly diesel vehicles. Emissions from the on-road transport system were approximately 2,207,834 tons of CO₂eq in 2019. Diesel vehicles were responsible for about 75% of these emissions. Private cars were the most significant contributor to these emissions, with a share exceeding 50% of the total emissions, followed by commercial vehicles and light trucks (20%), public taxis (9%), and buses (7%). These results show clearly that the GHGEs reduction policies in Palestine should focus on diesel and private vehicles by developing the public transport systems and replacing diesel and gasoline vehicles with more environmentally friendly vehicles, such as hybrid and electric cars. Full article

This paper aims to investigate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) in conflict areas, emphasising Palestine. This estimation faces several difficulties, particularly in data collection. The paper first presents the geopolitical context of Palestine and its consequences for the analysis of GHGEs. Then, it presents the estimation of the GHGEs related to energy, which constitutes the major contributor to GHGEs in Palestine. The emissions were estimated according to Tier 1 in the 2006 IPCC guidelines. For the first time in Palestine, (i) the International Energy Agency methodology for calculating emission factors from electricity consumption is used to estimate the emission factors of GHG at the final point of consumption, and (ii) the scope 2 emissions from imported electricity are accounted for in the total emissions. The GHGEs from the Palestinian electricity generation (excluding imported electricity) were 446,471 tons of CO₂eq in 2019, representing 11% of the total emissions from the energy sector. The total GHGEs from electricity final consumption (including imported electricity) in all sectors were 3,929,829 tons of CO₂eq. More than 60% (2,316,465 tons of CO₂eq) of these emissions were attributed to the consumption of electricity by the households. Emissions from fuel consumption in 2019 were about 3,912,566 tons of CO₂eq. Transport was found to be the main emitter of GHGs, with more than half of the total emissions (2,207,834 tons of CO₂eq). Considering imported electricity in estimating the total GHGEs from the energy sector doubled the emissions. It increased the share of household emissions in the total GHGEs from the energy sector to become the most significant contributor to the total emissions. Full article

We introduce a simple yet efficient approach to optimize the modal fleet size of urban public transportation services, considering both user- and operator-oriented factors. This is envisaged to enhance the potential for achieving sustainable urban transportation systems and, eventually, opportunities to create sustainable cities. The presented constraint optimization approach can be described as follows. First, the expected passenger demand and the cycle time for the public transportation service are estimated. Next, the desired constraints and parameters, such as those related to the headway and seat supply, are determined. Finally, the optimal combination of different vehicle classes and the number of trips satisfying all the defined constraints are determined. The case of an urban area in a developing country is considered. The resulting solution determines the optimal numbers of public transportation trips and vehicles, by mode, required to meet the expected passenger demand, provide a high-quality service with acceptable headways for passengers, and, at the same time, reduce the service providers’ costs as well as the environmental impacts. It is also concluded that a fleet composed of different modes can better facilitate the achievement of the optimal solution for passengers and service providers compared with the one-mode fleet. Full article

Recently, due to the industrial and e-commerce revolution, the freight transport sector has grown rapidly and has become one of the key factors for economic development. Coupled with the growth of this sector, significant energy and environmental problems have arisen. Therefore, a huge effort has been made around the world in order to develop some solutions that could mitigate these problems. One of these promising solutions is electrifying the urban freight transport sector including the trucks and freight commercial vehicles fleets. In Palestine, as in other developing countries, the implications of this solution are still unquantified and the efficiency of the application is unpredicted. Therefore, this has necessitated a comprehensive study that considers all the relevant factors, such as the source of the electricity (renewable energy, oils, natural gas, etc.), fuel rates, and electricity rates. In this study, a prediction model has been developed using the historical data for the number of trucks and freight commercial vehicles over the period 2006–2020. Next, the total travelled kilometers, the total fuel consumption, and the total electricity consumption by the urban freight transport sector have been determined based on two scenarios (5% and 20% penetration of electric freight transport modes) during the next 10 years. Finally, the amounts of reduction in GHG emissions and the energy cost have been determined. The results have shown a significant reduction in the amount of GHG emission during the next 10 years by electrifying 20% of the freight transport sector in Westbank, Palestine. Moreover, an annual reduction of 66 million U.S $ could be achieved in total energy costs in this region. Full article

Over the last three decades, transportation has become one of the main energy-consuming sectors around the world and, as a result, large amounts of emissions are produced, contributing to global warming, climate change, and health problems. Therefore, huge investments and efforts have been made by governments and international institutions to find new renewable and clean sources of energy. As a contribution to these efforts, this study determined the practical energy and environmental implications of replacing conventional speed humps with energy-harvesting speed humps in Nablus city, Palestine. The study was implemented using an energy-harvesting speed hump (EHSH) system developed in the laboratories at An-Najah National University and based on comprehensive traffic volume counts at all speed humps’ locations. In addition, a traffic volume prediction model was developed in order to determine the implications over the next 10 years. As a result of the study, the expected annual amount of generated energy was determined. Moreover, the expected reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the reduction in the cost of roadway network lighting were determined based on the current and future traffic conditions. Full article

Recently, developing sustainable public transportation systems has been highlighted by decision makers and transportation agencies, due to the development of urban areas and the related environmental problems. Implementing new vehicle technologies has been introduced as an appropriate alternative to the conventional taxis. Hybrid electrical vehicles (HEVs) have been the potential candidates for replacing the conventional taxis, since they are more eco-friendly than conventional ones and even more reliable than electric vehicles (EVs) as a mode of public transportation. In this study, current and future environmental impact assessments have been determined for the taxi fleet in the West Bank, Palestine, and the implications of using new vehicle technologies (hybrid taxis) as a replacement of the conventional taxi fleet have been investigated. In order to perform this study, firstly, the data of the number of taxis for the period of 1994–2018 have been collected and a prediction model for the future number of taxis has been developed. The expected total amounts of consumed fuels have been then estimated. Finally, the current and the future N₂O and CO₂, and emissions, have been estimated and the expected influences of hybrid taxis have been determined. The results of the analysis have concluded that replacing 50% of conventional taxis with a hybrid fleet could achieve 42.3% and 28% reductions in N₂O and CO₂, respectively, in the next 10 years. A 395% increase in CH₄ could be obtained due to the higher amount of CH₄ that is produced by the gasoline combustion compared to the diesel fuel, since hybrid vehicles have gasoline-based engines (GHG in terms of CO₂-equivalent could be increased by 28.2%). Full article

During the last two decades, the development of sustainable transportation systems has been highlighted as a key element in solving environmental problems related to climate change and impacts on greenhouse gases. Globally, the transportation sector has become one of the main contributors to these environmental problems. Thus, the environmental impact assessment of this sector and the implications of new vehicle technologies have begun to be considered as first steps for any long-term future strategies in this sector. In Palestine, the lack of environmental data related to the transportation sector and the absence of studies that address the new vehicle technologies (such as hybrid vehicles) and their future implications make it difficult to set up any future strategies or plans. In this study, the current and the future environmental impacts of the transportation sector have been assessed, and the future implications of hybrid vehicles have been determined. The gross domestic product (GDP), population, and the number of vehicles for the period 1994–2018 have been used to develop an auto regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) prediction model for the future number of vehicles. Then, the total traveled kilometers and the total consumed fuels (by diesel and gasoline vehicles) have been predicted. After that, the current and future (2020 and 2030) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄, have been estimated. Finally, the future implications of hybrid vehicles, based on two scenarios (10% and 20% hybrid vehicles) have been estimated. The results have showed that the estimated CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ emissions from the transportation sector in 2020 are 4,842,164.5, 213.8, and 445.8 tons, which are very high, and even much higher than the total national emissions of 2014 (the only officially available data). Moreover, in 2030, replacing 20% of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) by hybrid vehicles would lead to 4.66% and 13.31% reductions in CO₂ and N₂O, respectively, as compared to 100% ICEVs, while the CH₄ emissions will increase. However, the overall CO₂-equivalent will decrease by 5%; therefore, a more sustainable transport system will be achieved. Full article

During the last two decades, problems related to high-energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the transportation sector have arisen. Therefore, several alternatives have been investigated, in order to reduce the dependence on the conventional fuels that are used by land transportation modes. One of these promising alternatives is the electric vehicles (EVs), which seem to be the future replacement for conventional vehicles. Thus, this study aims to quantify the energy and the environmental implications of EVs in Palestine in 2030, considering that the current percentage of EVs is almost 0%. In this study, the needed parameters related to the number of vehicles and energy costs by source in Palestine were collected. Then, several prediction models have been developed in order to determine the energy and environmental implications of EVs in 2030, considering that 10% of conventional vehicles could be replaced by EV during the next 10 years (2020–2030). The results have showed that this could save USD 464.31 million in operating energy costs during 2030 (one year of saving). More specifically, this number is almost equal to 3.18% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Palestine in 2018. Furthermore, significant amounts of GHG emissions could be reduced. The reduction (during 2030) in NH₄, N₂O, and CO₂ emissions could be around 10.51%, 10%, and 6.86%, respectively. Full article

Groundwater is the main source of water in many countries all over the world. Prevention of the pollution of this source is essential for a sustainable utilization. Nitrate pollution of groundwater is a common problem due to the association between intensive agriculture to achieve food security and fertilization. For an efficient management of groundwater pollution from nitrate, the first step would be to quantify the different sources of nitrogen in the aquifer of concern. This paper aims at demonstrating a general approach based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to characterize the spatial distribution of the nitrogen amounts in the area of the Eocene aquifer (Palestine). The aquifer is heavily utilized for agricultural and domestic water supply. Fertilization in the study area is a widespread practice. As a result, the aquifer is undergoing a nitrate pollution problem. The methodology relies mainly on specifying all the sources of nitrogen in the aquifer area using GIS to account for spatiality. Thereafter, GIS attribute tables and Excel spreadsheets were utilized to quantify the magnitudes of nitrogen from the different sources. Maps of the corresponding on-ground nitrate, ammonium, organic nitrogen and total nitrogen were developed for the study area. The results indicate that the total on-ground annual nitrogen loading in the study area is about 3260 tons of which 38% is attributed to fertilizers (chemical and manure) where the dominant form of nitrogen is NH₄ (58.3%). The average total on-ground nitrogen loading is 7028 kg-N/km²·year. The estimated annual nitrate leaching to the aquifer is 1968 kg-N/km². The areas of high sources of nitrogen have long-term impacts on the degradation of the water quality of the aquifer. It is therefore essential to build up on the outcomes of this work and to develop a nitrate fate and transport model for the Eocene aquifer. This model will enable the stakeholders to arrive at the efficient alternatives to manage the nitrate contamination of the aquifer. Full article