<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>TRB Publications Index</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/</link><atom:link href="http://pubsindex.trb.org/common/TRIS Suite/feeds/rss.aspx?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzc0IiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJsb2NhdGlvbiIgdmFsdWU9IjIiIC8%2BPHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8%2BPC9wYXJhbXM%2BPGZpbHRlcnMgLz48cmFuZ2VzIC8%2BPHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM%2BPHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8%2BPC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4%3D" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><description></description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright © 2015. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright><docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs><managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor><webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster><image><title>TRB Publications Index</title><url>http://pubsindex.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle.png</url><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/</link></image><item><title>Consensus Study Report: Novel Materials and Methods in Water Resources Infrastructure</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2775949</link><description><![CDATA[An independent committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviewed the challenges facing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in maintaining and modernizing the nation’s water resources infrastructure and in particular considered the role of  innovative materials. The results of this study are detailed in the consensus study report, Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure: Opportunities for the Corps of Engineers. This article includes recommendations from the report with a particular emphasis on prioritizing innovative material use in inland navigation and flood risk management projects including the maintenance of dams, locks, and levees. Three material types reviewed in the report are: fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials; high-strength concrete (HSC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC); and 3-D-printed materials. The report recommends strategies that USACE can pursue to further the development, demonstration, and deployment of these and other promising materials.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:56:50 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2775949</guid></item><item><title>Comparative Study of Monocular Vision and Vision–Language Models for Vessel Height Estimation in Ship–Bridge Collision Prevention</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2784557</link><description><![CDATA[This study presents a vision-based framework for real time ship height estimation from monocular images, which targets the urgent maritime safety challenge of ship–bridge collision prevention. By integrating deep learning, monocular depth estimation, and reference object scaling, we introduce a lightweight, scalable solution that estimates vessel height using a single Red–Green–Blue (RGB) image and a known-size reference object. In addition to the proposed method, vision–language models (VLMs) are employed to provide comparative ship height predictions directly from image inputs. The proposed system combines pixel-to-meter transformation and depth ratio estimation to resolve the scale ambiguity inherent in monocular vision. Deployed via an interactive web-based tool, the proposed method was tested on 60 case studies involving commercial vessels and achieved an average error of 7.65% (3.87 m), comparable with the 17.71 m (35.51%) average error of VLMs. This approach shows potential as a cost-effective, sensor-light alternative to traditional systems. However, practical deployment requires improved robustness under varying lighting, resolution, and image quality conditions, as well as more reliable reference object selection.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:26:53 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2784557</guid></item><item><title>Discrete-Event Simulation Approach for Evaluating the Transit Capacity of the Istanbul Strait</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2778279</link><description><![CDATA[In this study, a discrete-event simulation model was developed to evaluate the marine transit capacity of the Istanbul Strait, one of the most complex and strategically important waterways in the world. The model was built based on current transit rules, real-world traffic data, and expert insights. Three independent variables were considered in the scenario analyses: annual vessel arrival volume, average vessel entry interval, and the annual proportion of large tankers. The effects of each variable on transit capacity and vessel waiting times were examined. The results show that, based on the threshold criteria and model assumptions adopted in this study, the transit capacity of the Istanbul Strait under the current service level is approximately 42,600 vessels per year. A moderate improvement in service level, examined in an exploratory analysis, produced an estimated transit capacity of around 45,500 vessels. The scenario results indicate that average vessel waiting times are mainly affected by the annual vessel arrival volume and the average vessel entry interval, whereas the proportion of large tankers has the weakest influence. These findings may provide a quantitative basis for marine traffic planning in the Istanbul Strait. The modeling framework can be adapted to other narrow and congested waterways facing similar operational and regulatory constraints.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:30:25 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2778279</guid></item><item><title>Lock Water Level Estimation Using CCTV Imagery</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2761044</link><description><![CDATA[In 2022, 480 million tons of cargo valued at over $186 billion transited U.S. inland waterways through locks maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE uses the Lock Performance Monitoring System (LPMS) to capture data such as water level and lockage configuration. LPMS data are manually entered by staff, who are also responsible for lock operation and ensuring safe transit. This manual data entry process, extraneous to actual lock operation, adds to the cognitive load of operators during safety-critical times. This study is part of a larger effort to evaluate using close circuit video imagery (i.e., CCTV) to automate LPMS entry, starting with water level. For proof of concept, researchers calibrated one CCTV camera at McAlpine Lock and Dam in Louisville, KY and performed water level extraction on 1,131 quarter-hourly images captured 24/7 over a 2-week period. Water levels were detected via the zero-shot Segment Anything Model and projected into geospatial elevations via photogrammetric camera calibration. The results compared well with up/downstream in situ gauges, with a root mean squared error of 7.3 cm after a 15.9-cm constant bias and outliers were removed, comparable to wall staff gauge precision. Future steps include automating outlier (vessel obstruction) removal via vessel detection, and estimating flotilla size, draft, and configuration once detected. This study serves as a successful proof of concept for further operational development. Automated LPMS entry via CCTV has the potential to increase staff efficacy, lockage safety, and provide more accurate data for lock operation optimization across USACE.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:25:55 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2761044</guid></item><item><title>Effects of Ferry Vessel Design on Turnaround Time and Maneuvering</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2736375</link><description><![CDATA[As part of TCRP Project A-47, “Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, Fourth Edition,” the research team conducted a series of small research tasks to develop new content for the manual. This TCRP research results digest (RRD) is one of 12 presenting the results of these research tasks. This RRD summarizes insights gathered from outreach to ferry operators on selecting side- vs. bow-loading vessels, along with data on the two types’ dwell and maneuvering times.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:05:42 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2736375</guid></item><item><title>Reliability-Centered Assessment of Misreporting-Related Accident Risks in Turkish Straits Passages</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2724829</link><description><![CDATA[Ship traffic through the Turkish Straits occurs in a highly constrained navigational environment, where inaccurate prepassage reports can significantly increase the risk of maritime accidents. Vessels are required to submit Sailing Plan declarations (SP-1 and SP-2) before entry, but these reports often fail to reflect the actual technical and operational condition of the ships. Commercial pressure, time constraints, and intentional misreporting can create discrepancies between declared and actual readiness, raising the likelihood of collisions, groundings, or loss of maneuverability in congested waters. This study develops a reliability-centered framework to assess accident risks associated with reporting, contributing to the literature on human reliability and uncertainty management in maritime traffic. Risk criteria were identified by reviewing regulatory requirements, accident records, and relevant literature, and refined through expert input from Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), pilotage, Port State Control (PSC), and ship operations. The framework combines the Fine–Kinney method with an Intuitionistic Fuzzy TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for interactive and multicriteria decision-making). The results indicate that undisclosed propulsion deficiencies, steering problems, and nontransparent withdrawal from passage queues are the most critical accident precursors. These findings highlight the importance of reliable reporting and provide practical and transferable guidance for reducing the risks of maritime accidents and improving risk management for vessel traffic. In particular, the results support the prioritization of propulsion and steering system checks, as well as the closer scrutiny of vessels withdrawing from passage queues, offering actionable insights for VTS operators, PSC authorities and marine pilots.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:12:17 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2724829</guid></item><item><title>Ferries: Electrification and Alternative Fuels</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2724651</link><description><![CDATA[Interest in converting diesel-powered ferries to alternative energy sources has grown worldwide over the past decade, and many alternatively powered vessels are already in service, particularly in Northern Europe. Large U.S. operators such as Washington State Ferries and San Francisco Bay Ferry have started the process of electrifying their fleets.  TCRP Research Results Digest 125: Ferries: Electrification and Alternative Fuels, produced by TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), explores how alternative power sources may affect various ferry capacity and quality-of-service factors, including port turnaround times, terminal infrastructure requirements, and the passenger experience. The digest summarizes one of 12 small research tasks conducted to support the development of new content for the Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, Fourth Edition.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:28:41 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2724651</guid></item><item><title>Digitalization of Maritime Transportation Disputes: Legal Harmonization and Procedural Gains through Online Dispute Resolution</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2706171</link><description><![CDATA[The maritime sector faces increasing pressure to modernize dispute resolution systems as digitalization exposes known gaps in enforceability, procedural consistency, contractual comprehension, and cross-border risk, while also introducing uncertainties linked to emerging technological and legal challenges. This study evaluates the functionality of current maritime resolution systems and the limited uptake of the Rotterdam Rules—despite their objective to provide legal certainty and uniformity for multimodal carriage since 2009—highlighting their relevance to digital processes. It situates online dispute resolution (ODR) within maritime law by examining doctrinal compatibility with admiralty jurisprudence and established arbitration frameworks, including high-court interpretations of party autonomy, fairness, and evidence standards. The research adopts an institutional–organizational perspective to position the proposed political-institutional paradigm within broader public, private, and compliance-governance structures that guide system integrity and mitigate risks of noncompliance and embedded bias. It clarifies jurisdictional limits and liability transitions along end-to-end transport chains to support structured, platform-ready ODR pathways for multimodal disputes. The analysis also notes that existing treaty frameworks do not preclude the use of electronic processes, offering interpretive space for digital adjudication. The model emphasizes coordinated standard-setting by the International Maritime Organization, the Baltic and International Maritime Council, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law to ensure neutral, legally harmonized, and technically reliable ODR protocols. In line with cooperative principles reflected in instruments such as the Law of the Sea Convention, this study affirms ODR as a complementary and forward-looking mechanism. Analysis of 194 maritime cases shows ODR can yield nonarbitrary, efficient, and cost-effective outcomes, complementing the gradual evolution of instruments such as the Rotterdam Rules.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 10:48:02 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2706171</guid></item><item><title>Classification of Commercial Vessel Activity from Automatic Identification System Records</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2704066</link><description><![CDATA[Automatic identification system (AIS) data are used in a myriad of applications related to marine vessel activity, including emissions modeling efforts. The classification of a vessel’s operating mode (i.e., hotelling, anchorage, maneuvering, and transit) is of relevance to such analyses to accurately estimate emissions, but is not reliably provided in the raw data owing to human error and thus must be inferred. Previous works have identified vessel operating mode by using supervised machine learning, applying speed and engine load factor corrections, or incorporating external datasets (i.e., shapefiles) to geospatially designate anchorage and hotelling sites. Rather than relying on external datasets, we propose a method to classify vessel activity into operating modes using only the speed, heading, and position features in AIS data. To accomplish this, we leverage a combination of comparative segment-wise tiered filtering and unsupervised machine learning techniques (i.e., K-means and DBSCAN [density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise] clustering algorithms). The results at the port level for ocean-going vessels displayed clear separation between the behavior characteristics of each operating mode. Furthermore, the method demonstrated improved accuracy for identifying vessel activities over simply using the AIS-supplied fields or shapefile geofences.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 09:09:18 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2704066</guid></item><item><title>Integrated Container Slot Allocation and Automated Stacking Crane Scheduling in Automated Container Terminals with Limited Buffers</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2703736</link><description><![CDATA[This paper investigates the integrated scheduling of automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and container slot allocation in automated container terminals (ACTs) with limited buffer capacity. A hybrid stacking strategy based on time windows is proposed, and a bi-objective mixed-integer programming model is developed, considering automated guided vehicles and truck buffer capacities, ASC safety distances, and handshake area operations. An enhanced non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II with tabu search (NSGA-II-TS) is designed, with parameters optimized via sensitivity analysis. Experiment results show that comparisons with an exact mixed-integer linear programming solver validate the solution quality of the proposed approach, and that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms benchmark heuristic methods in generating high-quality Pareto-optimal solutions. Case studies reveal that dynamically adjusting handshake area locations and setting buffer capacity to six units effectively balance container flow and operational costs. The proposed approach is also validated against two alternative scheduling strategies, demonstrating superior effectiveness. This research provides new strategies and a robust method for improving the operational efficiency of ACTs under buffer constraints.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 12:15:36 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2703736</guid></item><item><title>Dry Bulk Freight Rate Prediction and Interpretive Analysis: Transformer-Based Hybrid Model with Domain Adaptation</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2701382</link><description><![CDATA[Shipping is vital to global trade but the dry bulk market faces high volatility because of complex factors like economic conditions and geopolitics. Traditional models struggle to capture nonlinear rate fluctuations and offer interpretability. To overcome this, our study integrates shipping, financial, and commodity data. Using the Maximal Information Coefficient (MIC) algorithm, 4,281 time series (over 4.53 million points) were selected to pre-train a general maritime time series model (MTS) based on the Transformer. A fine-tuning dataset of 248 high-MIC series (&gt;0.2) and five binary event indicators (over 0.073 million points) was then used for domain adaptation, creating DA-MTS. To better model short-term changes, a long short-term memory (LSTM) network with Grey Wolf Optimization was applied to DA-MTS residuals, yielding a hybrid DA-MTS+LSTM model. Empirical results show DA-MTS+LSTM achieves high accuracy in forecasting the Baltic Dry Index (MAE = 0.16, RMSE = 0.21, MAPE = 5.26%), the Baltic Capesize Index (MAE = 0.21, RMSE = 0.27, MAPE = 6.67%), and the Baltic Panamax Index (MAE = 0.16, RMSE = 0.20, MAPE = 5.12%). The study also analyzes the short- and long-term impacts of exogenous variables and sudden events. This work enhances prediction accuracy and stability while extending Transformer applications to time series analysis, offering robust theoretical and practical decision-making support.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 17:01:53 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2701382</guid></item><item><title>Optimizing Terminal and Vessel Selection for Shore Power Deployment: Case Study at the Port of Houston</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2694547</link><description><![CDATA[The maritime industry has a substantial impact on the environment and public health, particularly through ship operations and port-related activities. Shore power (SP) offers a promising solution by allowing docked ships to connect to local electrical grids, thereby reducing auxiliary engine usage during hotelling. One of the key challenges to SP adoption is the substantial amount of investment required from both port authorities and ship owners or operators. In this study, an optimization framework is developed to allocate a limited budget for SP deployment at terminals and subsidies, to encourage commercial ship retrofitting to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of SP. The framework takes account of the perspectives of ship owners and operators, port authorities, and the government to reflect the interactions in their decision-making. The framework is applied to the Port of Houston, based on commercial ship hotelling activities at its public terminals in 2022. The results demonstrate that, with an annualized budget of $5.5 million, up to 50% of SP-eligible hotelling activities can be powered by SP; this can generate substantial environmental and economic benefits. Additionally, the results indicate that the cost of SP electricity to ship operators plays a critical role in balancing economic incentives between ports and ship owners in the adoption of SP. Sensitivity analysis confirms the framework’s robustness to several key environmental and economic factors and assumptions. The proposed framework can serve as a practical decision-support tool for coordinate between stakeholders and ensure that limited resources generate the greatest possible environmental and economic benefit.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:10:01 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2694547</guid></item><item><title>Business Ethics in Ship Agencies</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2688831</link><description><![CDATA[Increasing operational pressures and demands for corporate transparency in the maritime sector highlight the need to reassess the dynamics shaping business ethics in ship agencies. This study aims to systematically identify the factors shaping the ethical structure in ship agencies and their mechanisms of influence by analyzing these dynamics using a multidimensional approach. In the research, eight fundamental ethical factors identified through a literature review were quantitatively analyzed using the DEMATEL method in line with expert opinions; the causal structures obtained with DEMATEL were compared with the findings of the thematic content analysis conducted on 80 keywords using MAXQDA. DEMATEL findings indicate that Work Pressure, Corporate Trust, and Social Responsibility are positioned as influencing factors with high causal power within the system; while Corporate Values and Company Image emerge as affected outcome variables with high levels of dependence and centrality. There was a notable overlap between the findings of the thematic content analysis conducted using DEMATEL and MAXQDA. In particular, a bidirectional, intense, and stable network of interactions was identified between Corporate Values and Company Image. However, for example, while the Work Pressure factor had high directive power in the DEMATEL analysis, it showed relatively lower conceptual visibility in the MAXQDA content analysis, indicating a mismatch between the emphases of the two methods. The findings reveal that, in addition to corporate values and reputation management, reducing operational pressures and strengthening corporate trust mechanisms should be addressed as fundamental strategic priorities for an ethical and sustainable business model in ship agencies.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:52:04 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2688831</guid></item><item><title>The Effect of Pilotage on Navigational Accidents: Time Series Analysis of Cointegration for the İstanbul Strait</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2684232</link><description><![CDATA[The İstanbul Strait, which plays an important role in maritime transportation in Türkiye and worldwide, is one of the busiest waterways with its dense traffic, handling approximately 3.5%–4.0% of global seaborne trade volume. Because of this dense ship and cargo traffic, it is of great importance to prevent accidents that may occur in the Strait. Most accidents occur when the pilotage service is not used. In this study, the aim is to determine how effective passage with a pilot in the İstanbul Strait is in reducing accidents by analyzing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration method. Therefore, data on the number of accidents and the number of ships receiving pilotage services in the İstanbul Strait between 1996 and 2023 are analyzed, and the statistical relationship between them is investigated. This study found a significant long-term relationship between pilotage services and the number of accidents. It is concluded that the pilotage service has a negative effect on the number of accidents: a one-unit increase in the number of passages with a pilot is associated with a −0.0036 decrease in the number of accidents.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:34:21 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2684232</guid></item><item><title>Reforming the Coast Guard's Certificate of Compliance Program for Liquefied Gas Carriers: Promoting Efficient Implementation and Safety Effectiveness</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2672508</link><description><![CDATA[As liquefied gas exports from U.S. ports have grown rapidly in recent years, reforms are needed to a U.S. Coast Guard program that examines liquefied gas carriers (LGCs). Going forward, this growth in LGC exports and arrivals is likely to increase the demand for gas carrier exams by Coast Guard marine inspectors, of which there is a chronic shortage. This Special Report was requested by Congress out of concern for the Coast Guard's ability to examine the increasing number of foreign tank ships that load liquefied gas for transport overseas. The National Academies' committee concluded that the time is right for Congress to revisit the Certificate of Compliance program's requirements mandating the frequency of exams and to allow the Coast Guard greater flexibility to decide when and how to examine individual LGCs using indicators of risk.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:15:16 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2672508</guid></item></channel></rss>