Study on Arrival Aircraft Sequencing Based on Optimization of Point Merge Procedure

With the air transport industry developing dramatically, the problem of flight congestion in the terminal area (TMA) has been aggravated. Particularly for arrival aircraft, the extraholding and delay not only increase the workload of air traffic controllers and aircrew but also reduce the operational efficiency. To struggle with this issue, it is crucial to study how to improve the operational efficiency of arrival aircraft. Under the background of the rapid promotion of Point Merge (PM) procedure program in the busy TMAs in the world, this paper firstly combines the optimization of PM procedure and arrival aircraft sequencing, aiming to maximize the operational benefits of arrival aircraft in TMA. Firstly, the framework of the PM procedure is set up to replace the traditional approach route known as Standard Instrument Arrival (STAR). After that, the PM procedure optimization model is established to provide a better approach route for each arrival aircraft. Then for a flow of arrival traffic, an aircraft sequencing model is established to readjust the landing sequence of arrival aircraft, thus further improving the operational benefits of arrival aircraft. Finally, taking the TMA of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport as the case, we compare the impact of different flight procedures and different landing sequences on the operational benefits of arrival aircraft. The experimental results show that the application of the PM procedure optimization model and sequencing model can effectively improve the operational benefits on the premise of ensuring safety, thus realizing the safe and orderly approach in TMA.

A Proposed Algorithm for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Rendezvous Technique in Failed Biliary Cannulation

Background: The selection of an approach route in endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous (EUS-RV) for failed biliary cannulation is complicated. We proposed an algorithm for EUS-RV. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated consecutive EUS-RV cases between April 2017 and July 2020. Puncturing the distal extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) from the duodenal second part (D2) (DEHBD/D2 route) was attempted first. If necessary, puncturing the proximal EHBD from the duodenal bulb (D1) (PEHBD/D1 route), puncturing the left intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) from the stomach (LIHBD/S route), or puncturing the right IHBD from the D1 (RIHBD/D1 route) were attempted in this order. Results: A total of 16 patients were included. The DEHBD/D2 route was used in 10 (62.5%) patients. The PEHBD/D1 route was attempted in five (31.3%) patients, and the biliary puncture failed in one patient in whom the RIHBD/D1 route was used because of tumor invasion to the left hepatic lobe. The LIHBD/S route was applied in one (6.3%) patient. Successful biliary cannulation was achieved in all patients eventually. The time from the puncture to the guidewire placement in the DEHBD/D2 route (3.5 min) was shorter than that in other methods (14.0 min) (p = 0.014). Adverse events occurred in one (6.3%) patient with moderate pancreatitis. Conclusions: The proposed algorithm might be useful for the selection of an appropriate approach route in EUS-RV.

A Data Driven Approach for Safe Route Planning

The rate of road accident fatalities depends on many factors including vehicle, roadway, environmental and driver characteristics. This research aims at reducing accidents using a data driven approach. Route planning applications such as Google Maps consider shortest time from a start point to a given destination. However, there are roads with design issues or high-risk roads that can result in fatal accidents and should be avoided. Although there are existing accident risk maps to help drivers to avoid such roads, these maps can be confusing and must be manually interpreted by drivers to find the safest path. The manual interpretation of the map is a time consuming and difficult task which results in ignoring the risk maps by drivers, due to complexity. This research aims at developing a novel tool to find the safest route. The resulting safe route is then compared to the path suggested by Google Maps.

Analysis on the Approach Route of Overall Planning from the Visual Angle of “Figure-Ground Relation”

The approach route for formulating overall planning could be analyzed by means of the theory of “Figure-Ground Relation” belonging to iconology. From old Measures to new Measures, the approach routes have been changed to “ground-figure” from “figure-ground”, namely, former “construction” first and “protection” secondary is changed to “protection” first and “construction” secondary, and the planning of “city” primary and “countryside” secondary is changed to overall planning for “city” and “countryside”. Attaching importance to the approach routes for formulating overall planning of “Figure-Ground Relation” makes up the controlled thinking tradition, which is one of two great thinking traditions for city planning, as well as a deficiency of overall planning formulation all the time in our country, so as to promote self-examination on overall planning based on garden city theory standing for modern city planning, accordingly make the measures for formulating overall planning regressed to value harmonious relationship of city and countryside.