Purpose This paper aims to propose a novel adaptive Kalman filter (APRKF) designed to accommodate the operational environment of maglev pipeline trains, enhancing positioning accuracy by mitigating the impact of noise and sensor errors. Design/methodology/approach This approach is built upon the Kalman filtering algorithm, using a limited-memory weighted method to derive adaptive factors, while establishing judgment thresholds to constrain the range of their variation. Findings A comparative analysis with the traditional Kalman filter and the Sage-Husa adaptive filter reveals that APRKF offers superior speed estimation performance while effectively mitigating error accumulation caused by speed integration. The results indicate that APRKF excels in both speed and position estimation, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving estimation accuracy. Originality/value This study proposes an innovative method for the velocity and position estimation system of maglev tube-track trains.

Purpose With the rapid development of railway-intelligent video technology, scene understanding is becoming more and more important. Semantic segmentation is a major part of scene understanding. There is an urgent need for an algorithm with high accuracy and real-time to meet the current railway requirements for railway identification. In response to this demand, this paper aims to explore a variety of models, accurately locate and segment important railway signs based on the improved SegNeXt algorithm, supplement the railway safety protection system and improve the intelligent level of railway safety protection. Design/methodology/approach This paper studies the performance of existing models on RailSem19 and explores the defects of each model through performance so as to further explore an algorithm model dedicated to railway semantic segmentation. In this paper, the authors explore the optimal solution of SegNeXt model for railway scenes and achieve the purpose of this paper by improving the encoder and decoder structure. Findings This paper proposes an improved SegNeXt algorithm: first, it explores the performance of various models on railways, studies the problems of semantic segmentation on railways and then analyzes the specific problems. On the basis of retaining the original excellent MSCAN encoder of SegNeXt, multiscale information fusion is used to further extract detailed features such as multihead attention and mask, solving the problem of inaccurate segmentation of current objects by the original SegNeXt algorithm. The improved algorithm is of great significance for the segmentation and recognition of railway signs. Research limitations/implications The model constructed in this paper has advantages in the feature segmentation of distant small objects, but it still has the problem of segmentation fracture for the railway, which is not completely segmented. In addition, in the throat area, due to the complexity of the railway, the segmentation results are not accurate. Social implications The identification and segmentation of railway signs based on the improved SegNeXt algorithm in this paper is of great significance for the understanding of existing railway scenes, which can greatly improve the classification and recognition ability of railway small object features and can greatly improve the degree of railway security. Originality/value This article introduces an enhanced version of the SegNeXt algorithm, which aims to improve the accuracy of semantic segmentation on railways. The study begins by investigating the performance of different models in railway scenarios and identifying the challenges associated with semantic segmentation on this particular domain. To address these challenges, the proposed approach builds upon the strong foundation of the original SegNeXt algorithm, leveraging techniques such as multi-scale information fusion, multi-head attention, and masking to extract finer details and enhance feature representation. By doing so, the improved algorithm effectively resolves the issue of inaccurate object segmentation encountered in the original SegNeXt algorithm. This advancement holds significant importance for the accurate recognition and segmentation of railway signage.

Purpose Increasing demand on rail transport speeds up the introduction of new technical systems to optimize the rail traffic and increase competitiveness. Remote control of trains is seen as a potential layer of resilience in railway operations. It allows for operating and controlling automated trains and communicating and coordinating with other stakeholders of the railway system. This paper aims to present the first results of a multi-phased simulator study on the development and optimization of remote train driving concepts from the operators’ point of view. Design/methodology/approach The presented concept was developed by benchmarking good practices. Two phases of iterative user tests were conducted to evaluate the user experience and preferences of the developed human-machine-interface concept. Basic training requirements were identified and evaluated. Findings Results indicate positive feedback on the overall system as a fallback solution. HMI elicited positive emotions regarding pleasure and dominance, but low arousal levels. Train drivers had more conservative views on the system compared to signalers and students. The training activities achieved increased awareness and understanding of the system for future operators. Inclusion of potential users in the development of future systems has the potential to improve user acceptance. The iterative user experiments were useful in obtaining some of the needs and preferences of different user groups. Originality/value Multi-phase user tests were conducted to identify and to evaluate the requirements and preferences of remote operators using a simplified HMI. Training analysis provides important aspects to consider for the training of future users.

Purpose The expected benefits of newly developed transportation infrastructures are the saving of travel time and further promoted transport economics. There is a need for a methodology of travel time estimation with acceptable robustness and practicability. Macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) represents the overall traffic performance at a network level by linking average flow, speed and density. MFD can be used to estimate network state and to describe various traffic management strategies. This study aims to describe the effect of new infrastructure development on the network performance using the MFD framework. Design/methodology/approach The scenarios of Islamabad Road network before and after the infrastructure construction were simulated, in which the floating car data set (FCD) for multiple modes was extracted. MFD has been formed for the whole region and partitioned region, which was divided on the basis of infrastructural changes. Moreover, this study has been extended to calculate travel time for multiple modes using the MFD results and the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) function at a neighborhood level. Findings MFD results for the whole network showed that the speed of traffic improves after the construction of new infrastructure. The travel time estimates using MFD results were dependent on the speed estimates, whereas the estimates obtained using the BPR function were found to be dependent on the traffic volume variation during different intervals of the day. By using the FCD for multiple modes, travel time estimates for multiple modes were obtained. The BPR function method was found valid for estimating travel time of traffic stream only. Originality/value This paper innovatively investigates the change in network performance for pre-construction and post-construction scenarios using the MFD framework. In practice, the approach presented can be used by transportation agencies to evaluate the effect of different traffic management strategies and infrastructural changes.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to maximize the total demand covered by the established additive manufacturing and distribution centers and maximize the total literal weight assigned to the drones. Design/methodology/approach Disaster management or humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) differ from commercial supply chains in the fact that the aim of HSCs is to minimize the response time to a disaster as compared to the profit maximization goal of commercial supply chains. In this paper, the authors develop a relief chain structure that accommodates emerging technologies in humanitarian logistics into the two phases of disaster management – the preparedness stage and the response stage. Findings Solving the model by the genetic and the cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA) and comparing the results with the ones obtained by The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) clear that genetic algorithm overcomes other options as it has led to objective functions that are 1.6% and 24.1% better comparing to GAMS and COA, respectively. Originality/value Finally, the presented model has been solved with three methods including one exact method and two metaheuristic methods. Results of implementation show that Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) has better performance in finding the optimal solutions.

Purpose This study aims to analyze passenger service quality in Beijing West Railway Station from the perspective of passengers, to better understand the current service quality and obtain the areas of weakness for improvement. Design/methodology/approach The research investigates the passenger experience of service in Beijing West Railway Station by using a questionnaire survey. The service quality (SERVQUAL) evaluation method is used to analyze the survey data, and it divides the passenger service into 5 attributes with 20 indicators. This research uses the Likert five-level scale method to process data and calculates the SERVQUAL value and weight difference of each attribute to evaluate the passenger service. Therefore, the deficiencies have been pointed out, so the station manager can improve the passenger service accordingly. Findings It is indicated that among the five studied attributes, Beijing West Railway Station has the smallest service quality value in terms of timeliness, which means this part needs the largest improvement. To the five attributes, each lacks in station security check, ticketing efficiency, station identification accuracy, emergency processing of train delays and the restroom environment, respectively. Originality/value The research can provide specific suggestions for the optimization of the passenger service of Beijing West Railway Station, and provide reference information for the formulation of policies.

Purpose The quantity of e-taxi in Bangladesh is increasing day by day, especially in the municipality area. With the increase of this e-taxi quantity, it becomes hard to provide parking space for these consequences the illegal parking on road. This parking consequences traffic congestion on the road and obstructs the free flow of traffic. So, this paper aims to investigate the present scenario of this e-taxi parking problem and provides a solution by finding out a suitable location for an e-taxi station by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. Design/methodology/approach For the study, both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data on existing parking points on the road of e-taxi which consequences traffic congestion are collected from the Municipality area. Secondary data on the existing road network of the Pabna Municipality has collected from the MIDP data also from the literature review. For the suitability analysis process for establishing an e-taxi station, six variables were determined. These variables are determined from the previous studies and the expert opinion survey. The six variables are land use of the study area, road network of the study area, proximity to the office area, proximity to the educational facilities, proximity from the market and finally,proximity from the hospital. After the selection of the variables ranking value was determined from the expert opinion. Then using The AHP method final weight value is determined and, finally, with the assist of geographical information system. Findings From the resulting total 4,285 spots were found as optimally suitable spots are found which is almost 21% of the suitable spot. No mostly suitable spots are found from the GIS analysis. The moderately suitable spots were found in the prime number of 14,817 spots, almost 75% of the suitable spot. Likely the most suitable spots no partly suitable spots were found but the number of very few suitable spots was found in the number of 918, 4% of the suitable spot. A total of 20,020 spots was found as suitable for the construction of E-taxi station. Originality/value Finding out a suitable spot for e-taxi stand the traffic congestion can be solved, accident risk can be minimized during loading and unloading of passengers and the municipality authority can find a permanent solution for the traffic congestion problem.