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Publications

Publications by Jorge Pinho de Sousa

2020

A generic mathematical formulation for two-echelon distribution systems based on mobile depots

Authors
Oliveira, B; Ramos, AG; De Sousa, JP;

Publication
Transportation Research Procedia

Abstract
The negative impacts of urban logistics have fostered the search for new distribution systems in inner city deliveries. In this context, interesting solutions can be developed around two-echelon distribution systems based on mobile depots (2E-MD), where loads arriving from the periphery of the city are directly transferred, at intermediate locations, from larger to smaller vehicles more suited to operate in the city centre. Four types of 2E-MD can be identified, according to the degree of mobility of larger vehicles and their accessibility to customers. In this paper, we propose a generic three-index arc-based mixed integer programming model, for a two-echelon vehicle routing problem, with synchronisation at the satellites and multi-trips at the second echelon. This generic base model is formulated for the most restrictive type of problems, where larger vehicles visit a a single transfer location and do not perform direct deliveries to customers, but it can be easily extended to address the other types of 2E-MD. The paper presents how these extensions account for the characteristics of the different types of 2E-MD. The generic model, its extensions and the impact of a set of valid inequalities are tested using problem instances adapted from the VRP literature. Results show that the proposed extensions do adequately address the specific features of the different types of 2E-MD, including multiple visits to satellites, and direct deliveries to customers. Nevertheless, the resulting models can only tackle rather small instances, even if the formulations can be strengthened by adding the valid inequalities proposed in the paper. © 2020 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

2021

Urban travel behavior adaptation of temporary transnational residents

Authors
Monteiro, MM; Silva, JDE; Haustein, S; de Sousa, JP;

Publication
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY

Abstract
Temporary transnational relocation is a growing type of migration. However, travel behavior adaptation of highly skilled temporary residents and its urban impacts have largely been ignored. This study extends the knowledge of mobility biographies, mobility cultures, and mobility of millennials by examining how temporary residents adapt their intra-urban travel behavior in response to a transnational relocation. The data used here comes from semi-structured interviews with students and researchers of nine different nationalities, aged between 19 and 31 years, temporarily living in Portugal (Lisbon or Porto). We found supporting evidence for the occurrence of residential self-selection, although prior information on study/workplace combined with low knowledge on neighborhood-level make it somewhat specific. Given their shortterm perspective, temporary residents are more prone to rely on public transport and non-motorized modes, having a low likelihood of purchasing vehicles. Thus, measures aimed at improving and facilitating the use of active modes can have an immediate effect on this group's travel behavior and contribute to reaching critical mass for these sustainable alternatives. Temporary residents are also a potentially interesting market segment for public transportation operators for increases in revenues, as they tend to display a relatively higher travel intensity and a wider diversity of activities and destinations. Finally, technology usage was found to reduce the stress-related to traveling to unfamiliar places by increasing the perceived spatial orientation, having the downside of generating a feeling of confidence that decreases the internalization of information. Providing timely and persuasive information at the very beginning of temporary residents' stay can help induce their travel behavior decisions.

2021

Defining and Prioritizing Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of Mobility Systems in Emerging Cities

Authors
Medina, JC; Pinho de Sousa, J; Jimenez Perez, E;

Publication
Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing

Abstract
Mobility and urban planning are among the main problems that cities face in order to achieve sustainable development. The significant economic and social changes in emerging cities, as well as the urgency of environment protection, make sustainable urban mobility planning a very critical issue. Although sustainability is difficult to be measured directly, it can be assessed through a system of parameters that attempt to reflect its multiple aspects. The definition of adequate indicators constitutes an essential part of this process, even if the literature is already abundant in available metrics. This research proposes a set of indicators, grouped in different dimensions, as a tool for the assessment of sustainability in mobility systems, for the specific context of emerging cities. These dimensions and indicators are based on a comprehensive literature review on sustainable urban mobility indicators, subsequently subjected to validation with experts through surveys, semi-structured interviews and statistical analysis, in order to identify the indicators significance and their priority within the selected dimensions. © 2021, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

2021

A new Simulation-Based Approach in the Design of Manufacturing Systems and Real-Time Decision

Authors
Santos, R; Toscano, C; de Sousa, JP;

Publication
IFAC PAPERSONLINE

Abstract
The principles and tools made available by the Industry 4.0, smart factories, or the Internet of Things (IoT), along with the adoption of more comprehensive simulation models, can significantly help the industry to face the current, huge external and internal challenges. This paper presents a new simulation-based approach to support decision making in the design and operational management of manufacturing systems. This approach is used to evaluate different layouts and resources allocation, and help managing operations, by integrating a simulation software with real-time data collected from the production assets through an IoT platform. The developed methodology uses a digital representation of the real production system (that may be viewed as a form of a digital twin) to assess different production scenarios. A set of key performance indicators (e.g. productivity) provided by the simulation can be used by the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to generate production schedules. The developed approach was implemented and assessed in a real case study, showing its robustness and application potential. Its extension to other industrial contexts and sectors seems, therefore, quite promising. Copyright (C) 2021 The Authors.

2022

Variable fixing heuristics for the capacitated multicommodity network flow problem with multiple transport lines, a heterogeneous fleet and time windows

Authors
Guimaraes, LR; de Sousa, JP; Prata, BD;

Publication
TRANSPORTATION LETTERS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Abstract
In this paper, we investigate a new variant of the multi-commodity network flow problem, taking into consideration multiple transport lines and time windows. This variant arises in a city logistics environment, more specifically in a long-haul passenger transport system that is also used to transport urban freight. We propose two mixed integer programming models for two objective functions: minimization of network operational costs and minimization of travel times. Since the problems under study are NP-hard, we propose three size reduction heuristics. In order to assess the performance of the proposed algorithms, we carried out computational experiments on a set of synthetic problem instances. We use the relative percentage deviation as performance criterion. For the cost objective function, a LP-and-Fix algorithm outperforms other methods in most tested instances, but for the travel time, a hybrid method (size reduction with LP-and-Fix algorithm) is, in general, better than other approaches.

2001

REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AGENT BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM SUPPORTING VARIABLY COUPLED NETWORKED ENTERPRISES

Authors
Azevedo, AL; Sousa, JP; Soares, AL;

Publication
E-BUSINESS AND VIRTUAL ENTERPRISES: MANAGING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS COOPERATION

Abstract
This paper presents the requirements for an information system supporting the cooperation in networks of enterprises. First, these networks are characterised, focusing on the variable coupling of the participating enterprises and on the consequent needs of co-operation. Departing from those needs, the concept of an information system based on an architecture of agents is presented. A generic infrastructure to implement the system is outlined, including the main interaction scenarios. The next steps of this research work end the paper.

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