Decision Support Systems for Real-World High-Speed Rail Planning
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 5
Abstract
The selection of the macrolocation of new high-speed rail (HSR) systems during the planning stage affects the associated infrastructure costs. The process is influenced by the complex interaction between the HSR alignment, the technical solutions, and the characteristics of the deployment site, subject to layout restrictions. Decision support systems for the optimization of the HSR alignment are developed for addressing the requirements of large and complex real projects. The formulation includes costs, geometric constraints, connection requirements, and consideration of natural barriers such as protected land use and bodies of water, ubiquitous in real projects. The simulated annealing algorithm is implemented to address challenges of real problems and solve the optimization model. The approach is applied to a Portuguese HSR case. The solution obtained optimizes its alignment by minimizing the construction costs, consistent with existing projects worldwide, and complying with location, geometry, and land-use restrictions. The approach is not case specific and can be used to systematically study trade-off opportunities and support decision making in similar planning problems. Alternative solutions can be generated based on different judgments on the trade-offs.
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Acknowledgments
The research was carried out at the University of Coimbra and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the financial support of the Government of Portugal through the MIT|Portugal Program and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) doctoral grant (Grant No. SFRH/BD/43012/2008), cofinanced by the European Social Fund (ESF) through Programa Operacional Potencial Humano (POPH). The authors also acknowledge the access to preliminary studies provided by former Rede Ferroviária de Alta Velocidade, S.A. (RAVE).
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Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 5 • May 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 10, 2015
Accepted: Nov 4, 2015
Published online: Feb 2, 2016
Published in print: May 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jul 2, 2016
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