Lau, Sin Heng. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 17). / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Efficient passenger flow is a crucial objective at both small and larger airports. One central part of this is the handling of checked luggage which is influenced by necessary security screening. Within this thesis, these processes are studied at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. The underlying problem of the airport is its outbound luggage system which was already suffering from delays prior to Covid-19. Delays were never measured and the bottleneck responsible for them was never identified. However, expected growth in passenger and flight volume necessitates to predict when customer dissatisfaction and extensive luggage delays are inevitable, given that the airport does not plan to change the baggage screening system in the near future. In order to understand the dependencies within said system, process flowcharts for baggage-related activities are defined and translated into a simulation model. After model verification and validation, scenarios of expanding the flight schedule during different times of the day are tested while monitoring the number of bags failing to be loaded into the respective aircraft in time. Further scenarios of model adjustments are used to monitor how the number of missed bags changes while maintaining an expanded flight schedule. Model adjustments were made by changing single parameters such as the scan time or single resources each. Simulation experiments have shown that the number of additional flights that can be added to the flight schedule of February 2020 depend on the time of the day. For instance, the current outbound luggage conveyor system’s capacity is sufficient to cover 1 additional early morning flight, and up to 3 afternoon flights. Experiments with model parameter adjustments led to identifying the luggage scanner as the bottleneck of the luggage system, whereas other tested parameter adjustments showed to have minimal impact on the number of missed bags. Since the model’s flight plan can be conveniently adjusted in the connected Excel database, the model could be used as a tactical decision tool for capacity analysis.

published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Master / Master of Philosophy

In the first study, we formulate the passenger and cargo allocation problem as a variant of the price-dependent multi-item newsvendor model with capacity constraints. The effects of baggage weight, pricing, and costing on the number of passengers and amount of cargo carried are studied. Based on the model and the existing practice of carriers, we develop several illustrative cases and fend that to maximize profit, large aircraft may need to reduce their baggage limits significantly from the current policy. / In the second study, we propose the dynamic partnership concept, which assures a feasible partnership in an online logistics community. After identifying the platform requirements, a preliminary knowledge framework which describes the collaborative knowledge and new knowledge managing approaches is suggested. / In the third study, we provide a two-phase framework for an airfreight forwarder's resource planning. In each timed phase, an optimization model first determines the aggregates and a simulation model then examines the disaggregated situations evaluating whether the aggregate estimates are viable under disaggregation and uncertainties. Here, a set of measurements are established to evaluate the performance of a resource plan. For the inadequate plans, areas of possible improvements are identified for revision. / Three studies in air cargo logistics are conducted respectively, covering the following three areas: carrier's passenger and cargo management, logistics service provider's partnership strategy, and an airfreight forwarder's resource planning. / study 1. Optimal baggage limit policy: airline passenger and cargo allocation -- study 2. Dynamic partnership in online logistics community: concepts and a knowledge framework -- study 3. An airfreight forwarder's aggregate resource planning: booking of cargo space and disaggregation viability. / Wong, Wai Hung. / Adviser: Lawrence C. Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: 2121. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-175). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

The purpose of this study was to describe perceived psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal complaints among baggage handlers, and to evaluate whether there is any linear relationship between them. The study is a questionnaire based cross-sectional study, and part of an ongoing larger project. Therefore, the number of forms has been limited to those that were collected in the project by 2010-11-25 (N=117). The questions analyzed in the study come from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire and “Nordiska Ministerrådets formulär om besvär i rörelseorganen”, respectively. In addition, ratings of pain intensity according to Borg CR-scale have been used. Linear correlations were assessed by Spearman’s rank correlation. The results showed that the baggage handlers rated good sense of Community and low Emotional demands, but poor Influence and Feedback at the workplace. Their ratings of pain frequency and intensity were relatively low, but the regions where they had most complaints were shoulders and low back. The highest correlation was -0.36 between Meaning and pain frequency in the Shoulders. No particular psychosocial factor or body region appeared highly correlated with all or most of the other variables. For the psychosocial environment factors investigated in this study no extremely good or extremely bad values were discovered. Musculoskeletal complaints were low. No strong correlations between baggage handlers ratings of psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal complaints were found in this study.

This research investigated both cognitive and affective influences of alternative color combinations in a search task paradigm. The effects of re-mapping the existing, comparatively arbitrarily color codes of baggage X-ray images, were explored. Alternative color-codes were evaluated for improving the economy of visual search in X-ray baggage screening. Using a 2 x 2 between-groups design, the perceptual aspects of color-codes varying in degree of visual agreeability (accordant or discordant) and color contrast (high or low) were examined in terms of effectiveness (detection accuracy) and efficiency (reaction time). Three hypotheses were put forth; two postulated main effects for color contrast and for visual agreeability, and a third postulated an interaction. Additionally, for comparison purposes, a fifth group of participants was presented with a stimulus condition that represented the current industry standard for colorizing X-ray images. Out of 100 volunteers, data were usable for 95 participants who had been randomly assigned to one of five conditions. All participants were exposed to the same screening task. The screening task required participants to view 153 X-ray images in random order. Of these images, 36 contained a single threat item (knife, scissor, gun) among clutter. Analyses of variance revealed significant differences between conditions with respect to detection accuracy. Implications are that high-color contrast improves detection accuracy; specifically with respect to correct rejections, and that this effect on performance can be moderated by psycho-emotional mechanisms. Specifically, the impact of color-contrast was significantly more pronounced under conditions of accordant color combinations. Theoretical underpinnings and applications to other domains are discussed.

Yes / This article presented a novel compact multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) hexagonal monopole antenna with a uniplanar compact frequency-selective-surface (FSS) array for microwave imaging (MWI). The ultra-wideband (UWB) dual-element linear MIMO antenna was designed on the FR4 substrate with 50 Ω coplanar waveguide feed, T-strip isolation, novel numerical calculation, and equivalent circuit analyses. The main issues of realising high-resolution images based on planer UWB antenna for MWI are the low gain, omnidirectional pattern, design size, and mutual coupling of MIMO design. A novel technique was proposed to solve a hybrid issue (mutual coupling) of the MIMO reflected-waves from the FSS array and direct-wave. The uniplanar UWB-FSS unit cell was compacted by combining a square-loop and cross-dipole with a size of 0.095λ×0.095λ. The novel isolated UWB-MIMO antenna and UWB-FSS array (IMAF) were integrated, after investigating the distance between the antenna and FSS. The fabricated IMAF with a stable gain improvement of 4.5 dBi higher than the antenna without FSS, directional radiation pattern, size of 30×73.8×21.6 mm3 observed that a low mutual coupling of -27 dB, and operation bandwidth of 3.0-11.7 GHz. Moreover, a handbag was scanned experimentally via the bi-static approach to detect a small concealed object. The MWI system based on the MIMO antenna with FSS was displayed image resolution of 55% higher than that of MIMO antenna without FSS. The new baggage-scanner approach confirmed that the proposed MIMO antenna with FSS array can lead the humanity for healthy MWI applications.

Over the past nine years, the number of travelers traveling through Swedavia’s airports has increased significantly. The increase has placed a high demand on Stockholm Arlanda Airport’s infrastructural capacity. In order to avoid major expenses on the development of the terminal buildings Swedavia has developed a project called “Off Airport Bagdrop”, which gives the travelers the opportunity to leave their luggage at a location outside the airport. This way the number of passengers and luggage in the departure hall at Terminal 5 can be reduced. The thesis examines how the service can be developed, what is needed for it to work as well as which problems must be solved. A process map and a timeline have been created to visualize the luggage handling process and its lead times. With data gathered through interviews and observations, three solutions have been identified. The best solution, with Swedavia’s perspective in mind, has then been selected. The solutions identified in the report are as follows: • A permanent “Off Airport Bagdrop” at Stockholm Central station where travelers in the vicinity of central Stockholm have the possibility to check in their luggage and get it transferred to the airport to then be able to tour the city or run errands. • The long-term parking Alfa and Beta at Arlanda where the travelers who arrive with their cars have the possibility to check in their luggage at the parking lot. This way they can begin their journey more comfortably • A “Pop Up”-service targeting group bookings, events and sport holiday travelers by providing temporary “Drop Off Points” at selected locations. We conclude that the latter alternative, the “Pop Up”-service, solves the capacity problem in the best way. This alternative is also the easiest to implement and captures the large number of passengers and luggage that create the capacity problem at Arlanda.

ABSTRACT DESIGN OF A MECHANISM FOR OPENING HACTHBACK CAR BAGGAGE DOOR Duran, Yusuf M.S., Department of Mechanical Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Eres S&ouml / ylemez September 2009, 65 Pages In this thesis, a new mechanism design for opening hatchback-car baggage door is introduced. Unlike the classical hinged doors used, this new design will include a mechanism so that the door will be opened vertically and thus occupy less space behind the car during the opening. In this fashion even the hatchback doors of closely parked cars may be opened. First, considering type synthesis, different mechanism types are investigated. In dimensional synthesis, with the help of Burmester theory, motion generation is applied. Using the circle and center point curves, considering link dimensions, transmission angle characteristics, branching and some order issues possible solutions that satisfy the position requirements are found. To actuate the mechanism, an appropriate gas-spring is sought. As a case study a prototype is manufactured and mounted on a sample hatchback car to check the mechanism performance.

published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Master / Master of Philosophy