Matching theory based travel plan aware charging algorithms in V2G smart grid networks

The frequency, time and places of charging have large impact on the Quality of Experience (QoE) of EV drivers. It is critical to design effective EV charging scheduling system to improve the QoE of EV drivers. In order to improve EV charging QoE and utilization of CSs, we develop an innovative travel plan aware charging scheduling scheme for moving EVs to be charged at Charging Stations (CS). In the design of the proposed charging scheduling scheme for moving EVs, the travel routes of EVs and the utility of CSs are taken into consideration. The assignment of EVs to CSs is modeled as a two-sided many-to-one matching game with the objective of maximizing the system utility which reflects the satisfactory degrees of EVs and the profits of CSs. A Stable Matching Algorithm (SMA) is proposed to seek stable matching between charging EVs and CSs. Furthermore, an improved Learning based On-LiNe scheduling Algorithm (LONA) is proposed to be executed by each CS in a distributed manner. The performance gain of the average system utility by the SMA is up to 38.2% comparing to the Random Charging Scheduling (RCS) algorithm, and 4.67% comparing to Only utility of Electric Vehicle Concerned (OEVC) scheme. The effectiveness of the proposed SMA and LONA is also demonstrated by simulations in terms of the satisfactory ratio of charging EVs and the the convergence speed of iteration.

Relatório de estágio agência de viagens GlobalSea Travel

O presente relatório de estágio apresenta a experiencia de nove meses de estágio na Agência de Viagens GlobalSea Travel. Este inicia-se através de uma introdução e, de seguida, uma revisão literária com alguns dos mais importantes conceitos trabalhados ao longo do estágio. Nesse capítulo são definidos alguns conceitos sobre o Turismo de Cruzeiros, sendo apresentada uma definição do que é este tipo de Turismo e uma explicação sobre a evolução que este sofreu ao longo dos tempos e como a sua importância tem crescido em Portugal. É também referenciado o porquê da realização de um Plano de Marketing e as suas vantagens e objetivos para uma empresa, além disso a importância que a internet tem vindo a ter ao longo dos anos para as empresas e consequentemente para o turismo. Por fim, é realizada uma abordagem às redes sociais, uma definição das mesmas, a sua importância para o turismo e, mais importante ainda, para o turista. No segundo capítulo será caracterizada a Agência de Viagens GlobalSea Travel, assim como a sua evolução ao longo dos anos. É realizada uma caracterização do perfil dos clientes da agência e feita uma abordagem dos principais produtos vendidos. Sendo esses produtos os cruzeiros e as excursões de cruzeiro, são definidos os diferentes tipos de cruzeiros que existem, as vantagens da realização de uma viagem de cruzeiro, as principais companhias de cruzeiros e itinerários procurados e vendidas na GlobalSea Travel. Relativamente às excursões de cruzeiro é feita uma definição destas, de como a parceria entre a GlobalSea Travel e a Shore2Shore se iniciou, até à criação da marca Shore2Shore Portugal. Por fim, é feita uma abordagem sobre as estratégias de marketing aplicadas pela empresa a nível da presença da GlobalSea Travel na Web e redes sociais e, além disso, a promoção e publicidade realizada. O último capítulo faz referência a todos os projetos que foram desenvolvidos durante os nove meses de estágio, as razões que levaram à sua realização e os seus principais objetivos. Foram realizados três projetos principais, sendo estes referentes às excursões de cruzeiros Shore2Shore Portugal, ao desenvolvimento das redes sociais e, por fim, ao desenvolvimento e atualização do website GlobalSea Travel.

Travellers’ intention to purchase travel online: integrating trust and risk to the theory of planned behaviour

This study aims to determine which factors influence travellers’ intentions to purchase travel online by proposing and empirically testing a new model grounded on the theory of planned behaviour. In order to validate the model, a web-based questionnaire was applied and a total of 1732 valid responses were obtained. The findings show that attitudes, perceived risk, and perceived behavioural control have significant effects on intentions to purchase travel online. However, contrary to what was expected, neither trust nor the influence of others seems to directly affect intentions to purchase travel online. Finally, the paper discusses the findings with the implicationsfor theory and practice and makes several suggestions for future research.

Travellers’ intention to purchase travel online: integrating trust and risk to the theory of planned behaviour

This study aims to determine which factors influence travellers’ intentions to purchase travel online by proposing and empirically testing a new model grounded on the theory of planned behaviour. In order to validate the model, a web-based questionnaire was applied and a total of 1732 valid responses were obtained. The findings show that attitudes, perceived risk, and perceived behavioural control have significant effects on intentions to purchase travel online. However, contrary to what was expected, neither trust nor the influence of others seems to directly affect intentions to purchase travel online. Finally, the paper discusses the findings with the implications for theory and practice and makes several suggestions for future research.

Personal notions of time travel: reflections on love, loss, and growth through autoethnography

Using the concept of time travel as a contextual and narrative tool, the author explores themes of love, loss and growth after trauma. Reflections relate primarily to the experience of conducting the qualitative research method of autoethnography. Opening with consideration of existing work (Yoga and Loss: An Autoethnographical Exploration of Grief, Mind, and Body), discussion moves on to academic thought on mental time travel, and personal transformation, culminating in the construction of a new memory combining past, present, and future.

Plan de mejoramiento a la Supply Chain de BCD TRAVEL Colombia

Mediante el acercamiento que se hizo al área corporativa de BCD TRAVEL COLOMBIA y considerando el importante crecimiento actual del Sector Turismo y más precisamente de los viajes con motivo corporativo en el país, surge la necesidad del presente trabajo. Al hacer un análisis interno en la organización y de su entorno, se evidenció que la compañía tiene carencia en procesos y establecimiento de nuevas estrategias que le permitan identificar y potencializar oportunidades en su mercado objetivo y en torno a sus clientes y proveedores, lo cual, puede amenazar y comprometer la estabilidad y prestigio de empresa y así mismo su perdurabilidad. Se elaborará un propuesta de mejora en torno a el área de mercadeo y de logística con el fin de estructurar herramientas que le permitan a la compañía tener un horizonte definido, conocer su posición estratégica en el mercado actual, a donde quiere llegar y que debe hacer para lograr los objetivos establecidos en su unidad de negocio corporativa, la cual representa el mayor porcentaje de ingresos para la compañía. . Se espera que los planes de mejora y estrategias establecidas generen servicios de valor agregado e impacten positivamente a lo largo de la cadena de suministro logrando mayor rentabilidad, competitividad y seguimiento de todos los procesos de esta unidad de negocio.

An R package for simulating metapopulation dynamics and range expansion under environmental change

The metapopulation paradigm is central in ecology and conservation biology to understand the dynamics of spatially-structured populations in fragmented landscapes. Metapopulations are often studied using simulation modelling, and there is an increasing demand of user-friendly software tools to simulate metapopulation responses to environmental change. Here we describe the MetaLandSim R package, mwhich integrates ideas from metapopulation and graph theories to simulate the dynamics of real and virtual metapopulations. The package offers tools to (i) estimate metapopulation parameters from empirical data, (ii) to predict variation in patch occupancy over time in static and dynamic landscapes, either real or virtual, and (iii) to quantify the patterns and speed of metapopulation expansion into empty landscapes. MetaLandSim thus provides detailed information on metapopulation processes, which can be easily combined with land use and climate change scenarios to predict metapopulation dynamics and range expansion for a variety of taxa and ecological systems.