Search Results (31)

Maritime safety is a critical concern for the transport sector and remains a key challenge for the international shipping industry. Recognizing that maritime accidents pose significant risks to both safety and operational efficiency, this study explores the application of big data analysis techniques to understand the factors influencing maritime transport accidents (MTA). Specifically, using extensive datasets derived from vessel performance measurements, environmental conditions, and accident reports, it seeks to identify the key intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to maritime accidents. The research examines more than 90 thousand incidents for the period 2014–2022. Leveraging big data analytics and advanced statistical techniques, the findings reveal significant correlations between vessel size, speed, and specific environmental factors. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of big data analytics in enhancing predictive modeling, real-time risk assessment, and decision-making processes for maritime traffic management. The integration of big data with intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) can optimize safety strategies, improve accident prevention mechanisms, and enhance the resilience of ocean-going transportation systems. By bridging the gap between big data applications and maritime safety research, this work contributes to the literature by emphasizing the importance of examining both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in predicting maritime accident risks. Additionally, it underscores the transformative role of big data in shaping safer and more efficient waterway transportation systems. Full article

From an ecological protection perspective, clarifying the spatial and temporal transfer characteristics of embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries and its driving mechanisms is of great significance for the precise formulation of emission reduction policies. This study integrates the multi-regional input–output model with the LMDI decomposition method to quantitatively analyze the bi-directional flow of embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries from 1995 to 2018, along with its spatio-temporal differentiation patterns. The driving mechanisms are decomposed across three dimensions: scale, structure, and intensity. By adopting a dual perspective of time-series and spatial correlation, the study systematically uncovers the cross-regional transfer patterns of embodied carbon emissions in water transport trade and examines the interaction pathways of various effects throughout their dynamic evolution. The study finds that (1) the embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries shows a trend of transnational transfer, with China being the largest net exporter (35.15 Mt in 2018), India and South Africa as net importers (−32.00 Mt and −1.89 Mt in 2018, respectively), and Brazil and Russia shifting from net importers to net exporters; (2) from a temporal perspective, the scale effect drives the growth of embodied carbon emissions (contribution values: 1.23~119.72 Mt for export trade; 4.88~34.36 Mt for import trade), while the intensity effect has a suppressive role (contribution values: −59.08~−1.48 Mt for export trade; −20.56~−5.31 Mt for import trade), and the structural effect is complex in its impact on emissions (contribution values: −17.72~0.45 Mt for export trade; −6.84~13.93 Mt for import trade). Optimizing the trade structure can help reduce carbon emissions; (3) from a spatial perspective, carbon emissions are higher in Southeast Asia and the Northern Hemisphere, and changes in China’s carbon emissions (total effect in 2018: 57.01 Mt in export trade and 7.98 Mt in import trade) significantly affect other BRICS countries. Based on the conclusions of the study, it is suggested that BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation to achieve regional emission reduction targets by optimizing the trade structure of water transport, promoting energy structure reforms, advancing green transport technologies and equipment, and establishing a carbon emission regulatory system. Full article

Maritime regulators are closely monitoring the progression of green shipping, and liner companies are seeking strategies to meet tough ship emission rules. To reduce the operating cost while conforming to the increasingly strict environmental regulations, the study first constructs a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization model. Subsequently, the nonlinear parts in the objective function and constraints are transformed into linear forms. Thereafter, the model is applied to the Asia–Europe route of the CMA CGM Shipping Company to find the planned speeds and bunkering strategies for container liners sailing in expanded emission control areas (ECAs) that will be implemented in the future. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the influence of bunker tank capacity and fuel price difference on the operating cost, carbon dioxide emission, bunkering strategy and planned sailing speed. The study contributes to determining the optimal tank capacity and developing bunkering strategies at different fuel price differences. With stricter policies, operators must strategically choose refueling ports, adjust refueling amounts, and optimize planned sailing speeds based on ship and route data. The proposed approach provides a solution to the contradiction between compliance with environmental regulations and cost-effectiveness of shipping companies and is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of the waterway transportation industry. Full article

Vessel traffic is an important source of global greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon emissions from ships in the canal network are directly linked to the environmental performance of China’s inland waterway transportation, contributing to the achievement of global carbon reduction goals. Therefore, systematically assessing the carbon emission reduction levels of ships in canal networks is essential to provide a robust foundation for developing more scientific and feasible emission reduction strategies. To address the limitations of current evaluations—which often focus on a single dimension and lack an objective, quantitative representation of the mechanisms driving carbon emission and their synergistic effects—this study took a comprehensive approach. First, considering the factors influencing ship carbon emissions and emission reduction strategies, an evaluation index system was developed. This system included 6 first-level indexes and 22 s-level indexes, covering aspects such as energy utilization, technical equipment, and economic benefits. Second, a novel combination of methods was used to construct an evaluation model. Qualitative weights, determined through the interval binary semantic method, were integrated with quantitative weights calculated using the CRITIC method. These were then combined and assigned using a game-theory-based comprehensive assignment method. The resulting evaluation model, built upon the theory of matter-element topology, represents a significant methodological innovation. Finally, the evaluation method was applied to the empirical analysis of ships operating in Jiangsu section of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal. This application demonstrated the model’s specificity and feasibility. The study’s findings provide valuable insights for improving carbon emission reduction levels for inland ships and advancing the sustainable development of the shipping industry. Full article

The waterway transportation industry, recognized for its high capacity, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency, plays a vital role in global freight transport and trade. In China, it serves as a key pillar supporting the national economy and foreign trade. However, its heavy dependence on fossil fuels has intensified carbon emission challenges, creating significant barriers to achieving sustainable development goals. This study employs Input-Output Analysis and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model to examine the changes in carbon emissions and their driving factors in China’s waterway transportation industry from 2002 to 2020, while also exploring potential pathways for emission reduction. The findings reveal the following: (1) From 2002 to 2020, despite a substantial rise in total carbon emissions, the industry has been progressively transitioning towards a low-carbon trajectory through the adoption of clean energy technologies and optimization of its energy structure. (2) Economic scale effects have been the primary drivers of carbon emission growth, with population-scale effects playing a lesser role. Since 2011, the implementation of green technologies and low-carbon management strategies has effectively stabilized emission growth rates. (3) Improvements in energy carbon intensity and transportation energy intensity have significantly reduced carbon emissions. Moreover, the promotion of clean energy technologies and energy-saving measures has substantially lowered the industry’s carbon emission intensity. Full article

The extensive outbreak of Sargassum horneri in China has not merely imposed a severe threat to the ecological environment and human life in coastal waters but also impeded the development of waterway transportation and the local economy. Consequently, we isolated polysaccharides from S. horneri, designated as SHP, and evaluated the antioxidant activity of SHP both in vitro and in vivo by investigating the effect of SHP on H₂O₂-induced African green monkey kidney cells (Vero cells) and zebrafish. The results demonstrated that SHP can enhance the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in zebrafish. It also effectively inhibits micro malondialdehyde and ROS levels in Vero cells and zebrafish to mitigate the oxidative damage caused by H₂O₂, thereby achieving the protective effect of SHP on Vero cells and zebrafish. In conclusion, SHP holds the potential as a natural antioxidant. SHP can be contemplated for utilization as a natural antioxidant in the biomedical, cosmetic, and food industries, thereby alleviating the environmental stress caused by S. horneri and achieving resource utilization. Full article

Population growth exacerbates the pressure on land carrying capacity, affecting the sustainability of agricultural production, and also impacts non-agricultural industries. This paper utilizes grain price data from southern China during the Qing Dynasty (1776–1910) to examine the impact of population and land pressure on the development of the commodity economy under the “involution” of smallholder agriculture. This study finds that under conditions of stagnant technological advancement and limited natural resources, population growth during the Qing Dynasty created significant “Malthusian” population pressure. This pressure on land first resulted in the over-concentration of agricultural labor and saturation of the farming population. Surplus labor, unable to be absorbed by agriculture, shifted to non-agricultural sectors, engaging in the transportation and trade of grain. The pressure on land carrying capacity facilitated the cultivation and processing of cash crops, and product trade was supported by efficient waterway transportation. These activities generated commercial profits that alleviated survival pressures and promoted the prosperity of the commodity economy. However, this prosperity did not accompany significant productivity improvements; instead, it was a product of “involution” agriculture under high population density pressures. Full article

The US produces a large share of global biofuels but is unique in using a relatively inefficient biofuel pathway involving corn (maize) for ethanol production. The Renewable Fuel Standards that enshrine this feedstock were intended as a greenhouse gas emissions reduction measure but have had the effect of coupling the food, energy, and, to a lesser extent, water systems. This paper looks at the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus as exemplified by the growth in corn agriculture for internal combustion engine vehicle fuel and how that will likely change as vehicle electrification proceeds and accelerates. Starting with scenarios in which there is a rapid uptake in electric vehicles by 2030 and beyond, we examine the implications for the switch from liquid fuels for transportation in the United States toward electric vehicles (EVs). We find that scenarios in which EV penetration grows rapidly will clearly decrease demand for corn ethanol. Our analysis shows that, with judicious planning, the decrease in corn ethanol demand can have potential positive co-benefits. These co-benefits include reducing stressors on depleting aquifers and nutrient runoff to waterways. Substituting a small fraction of displaced industrial corn–ethanol cropland with large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity can supply a large fraction of the additional electricity needed for EVs. Finally, solar PV generation can ameliorate or even increase income and create more jobs than those lost to the decreased ethanol demand. Full article

China’s coal industry has long faced challenges due to imbalance between supply and demand divisions and the discrepancies between supply and demand prices. Research on optimizing coal transfer amid fluctuating coal prices is crucial for enhancing coal resource allocation, ensuring a balanced and stable supply of coal resources, and promoting the sustainable development of the coal industry. This paper focuses on optimizing coal transfer schemes within a comprehensive transportation system, considering fixed transportation routes and opening times of railroad transportation and waterway transportation, with road transportation serving as a supplementary network. A three-dimensional spatio-temporal network model is established to represent the spatial and temporal paths and transportation modes of coal logistics. The study uses the coal transportation network from Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi to East China as a case study, analyzing factors such as coal price fluctuation, transportation rates, and the ratio of self-produced to purchased coal at the production end via sensitivity analysis. The findings indicate that the proposed model can effectively guide transportation practices under the integrated production, transportation, and sales framework in the energy industry. Additionally, it shows that enterprises can achieve higher profits and maintain revenue and supply stability despite coal price fluctuations, aligning with the coal industry’s transformation and development in the current context. Full article

This research investigates the crucial role of transportation infrastructure in influencing economic activity, thus employing advanced econometric methods including Moran’s I index, LM, Hausman, and LR tests to ensure analytical accuracy and select the appropriate spatial model. Our findings reveal that freight volumes across road, waterway, and civil aviation significantly enhance economic activity by bolstering domestic trade, industrial production, and supply chains. Conversely, the impact of passenger turnover is comparatively minor, although it still contributes to labor mobility and urban accessibility. This study highlights the need for strategic investment in transportation infrastructure and efficient public transport systems to foster economic growth and sustainable development. We recommend that policymakers focus on optimizing transportation networks and integrating intelligent transport technologies to boost economic competitiveness and societal well-being. This analysis not only sheds light on the direct economic impacts of transportation but also underscores the broader social implications, thus advocating for a holistic approach to transportation planning and policymaking. Full article

Addressing nautical bottlenecks is crucial for optimizing the utilization of inland waterways and maximizing the economic benefits of transports. To maximize economic benefits, a study was conducted to validate a key performance indicator (KPI)-based framework. This framework offers a structured approach to assessing the impact of resolved nautical bottlenecks on the economic benefits of inland waterway transport (IWT). To validate the applicability of the KPI framework, interviews with eleven experts were conducted. The goal was to prioritize each KPI based on their insights. The results of the interviews shed light on the relevance and coherence of both the individual KPIs and the overall KPI framework. The experts confirmed the importance of measures related to transportation efficiency, such as reduced transit times, increased vessel throughput, and enhanced reliability. The validated KPI-based framework serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. It enables the assessment of the effects of resolving nautical bottlenecks in inland waterway systems. Future research should focus on quantifying the multifaceted impacts, making this framework even more useful for decision-making processes concerning investments in infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. Full article

Inland waterway transportation plays a pivotal role in advancing economic development and nurturing sustainable progress. It serves as a vital conduit linking communities, industries, and markets, thereby facilitating the seamless flow of essential commodities and fostering regional integration. However, in today’s era, marked by a resolute commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, inland shipping confronts formidable challenges, particularly pertaining to emission pollution and the escalating costs of fuel. These challenges represent significant impediments to the pursuit of environmentally conscious and sustainable growth by shipping companies. This research endeavor is geared towards the creation of a mathematical model that takes into account various factors, including the types of waterways, temporal constraints, and punctual arrival at the port of discharge. The primary objective is to empower shipping companies to make informed decisions about optimal sailing speeds and the most opportune time windows for entering one-way waterway segments. This, in turn, leads to reductions in fuel costs and waiting times for shipping companies, all while achieving cost minimization and mitigating emissions issues in inland waterway transportation. Ultimately, this research advances the cause of green and sustainable development in the inland waterway shipping sector. Specifically, this study focuses on routes that involve the dynamic transition between one-way and two-way segments. To accomplish this, an integer programming (IP) model is proposed to meticulously analyze the ideal sailing speed for each segment of the route and determine the optimal windows for accessing single-direction channels, thus representing a multistage decision-making process. Meanwhile, the model’s reliability is substantiated through a rigorous comparative assessment against three benchmark strategies (EAS, LAS, and MAS). In our experiments, the optimization model yielded a total cost for the entire inland waterway amounting to $80,626.20. This figure stands below the total costs of $87,118.14 under the EAS strategy and $83,494.70 under the MAS strategy (the LAS strategy failed to meet the port of discharge deadline), thereby conclusively validating its ability to guide vessels to their port of discharge within prescribed schedules, all while reducing overall operational costs and promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. Full article

In this research, the influences of railways, roads, waterways, and civil aviation on the digital economy were analyzed using traffic, urban, and enterprise data in the integrated transport system. Regression was performed through the generalized spatial least square method (GS2SLS) in the empirical section to solve the endogeneity problem. It was verified that transportation infrastructure can promote the digital economy. While the development of railways, waterways, and roads is expected to rise by 1%, the digital economy will be increased by 0.0049, 0.0048, and 0.0031, respectively, and civil aviation’s effect is not significant. The robustness test results were still remarkable. From the industry level of cities, it was found that transportation infrastructure mainly promotes the development of the digital economy by upgrading the industrial structure. At the enterprise level, promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the digital transformation of enterprises have become the main driving forces for the development of the digital economy, and strengthening labor flow is a vital promotion mechanism at the factor level of cities. In addition, a significant single-threshold effect is observed in promoting the digital economy by transportation infrastructure. In the cities that cross the threshold of the economic development level, the progress in the digital economy increases from 0.0027 and 0.0035 to 0.0059 and 0.0061 for 1% development of railways and roads; the promotion of the digital economy by transportation infrastructure is more evident in cities with a permanent-residents population of more than 3 million. Developing the digital economy and transport infrastructure is essential for economic recovery and sustainable development. Full article

In response to the pressing need for transportation decarbonization, this paper examines the often overlooked domain of inland waterway transport and seeks to answer which alternative fuel or power source is the most promising for that sector. As the shipping industry significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, it has been shifting towards alternative fuels and decarbonization measures in the effort to reduce them, whereas the inland waterways, operating predominantly on diesel engines, have not achieved equivalent substantial progress. Employing a systematic literature review and regional analysis, this study identifies notable trends. LNG initially emerged as a favored alternative fuel, but recent studies emphasize a shift towards “greener” solutions like batteries and hydrogen. Europe and Asia lead in these developments. This investigation uncovers critical gaps in research and development, particularly in the Northern European countries that have extensive inland waterway networks. It also calls for future studies to explore the performance of vessels that have adopted LNG compared to other emerging alternatives and emphasizes the importance of considering the time lag between technology development and research publication. Full article

Urban infrastructures serve as the backbone of modern economies, mediating global exchanges and responding to urban demands. Yet, our comprehension of these complex structures, particularly within diverse socio-political terrain, remains fragmented. In bridging this knowledge gap, this study delves into “boundary objects”—entities enabling diverse stakeholders to collaborate without a comprehensive consensus. Central to our investigation is the hypothesis that oceanic infrastructural developments are instrumental in molding the interface of urban, industrial, and energy sectors within marine contexts. Our lens is directed at the Gulf of Mexico, which is distinguished by its industrial depth and expansive marine grid. We highlight the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway’s (GIWW) paramount role in regional movement and the ecological facets of practices such as dredging, which is vital for transport and coastal conservation. A striking revelation of our study is the transformation of offshore structures in the Gulf into vibrant marine habitats. Emphasizing the intertwined nature of marine infrastructures, we denote oceans as pivotal platforms for impending urban expansion, especially as land resources wane. Our research aspires to validate the role played by oceans as a nexus in the urban–industrial–energy fusion. Full article