Welcome to the third issue of 2025 for Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Transport. I am happy to organize this issue related on different studies on transportation area. This issue brings different insights for global transport studies from all over the world who highlight both successes and ongoing challenges in their respective regions.
As is well-known, transportation studies encompass numerous sub-themes and areas of specialization. Advancements in technology, evolving transportation requirements, and the ongoing pursuit of solutions to existing challenges significantly contribute to the advancement of innovative research. This issue presents a variety of articles aimed at developing innovative methodological approaches and practical solutions to contemporary problems in transportation. Notably, the 2025 third issue of our journal holds special significance, featuring diverse sub-themes within transportation engineering. Readers will find cutting-edge studies covering traffic engineering, transport planning, road safety and pavement engineering. A brief overview of all included papers is provided below.
In the first paper of the issue, Zhang et al. (2025) investigates how varying traffic conditions influence carbon dioxide emissions, emphasizing the role of traffic congestion and vehicle fuel types. Utilizing actual traffic data and statistical methods in confluence areas, it develops quantitative indicators for traffic states and congestion. The study introduces macro-control strategies, including speed limit controls tailored to traffic conditions and the proportion of different fuel-type vehicles. Findings highlight that better managing traffic states and congestion can significantly reduce emissions, especially through adjustments in gasoline and diesel vehicle ratios.
The second paper by Pehlivanli and Özsoy (2025) evaluates the performance of Turkish airports using two-phase data envelopment analysis (DEA) models, addressing limitations of conventional DEA methods. By employing a minimax two-phase DEA model based on common weights, the research offers more consistent and realistic efficiency scores across 42 Turkish airports from 2014 to 2019. The analysis emphasizes the advantages of using advanced DEA models in strategic performance management and provides practical insights for policymakers and airport operators aiming at infrastructure investments and efficiency improvements.
In another paper by Labbo et al. (2025) focuses on the performance of long short-term memory (LSTM) and multivariate LSTM (MLSTM) models in forecasting total crash count data in Kano state, Nigeria. This paper compares traditional statistical models (ARIMAX) and advanced deep learning approaches (Multivariate Long Short-Term Memory–MLSTM) to forecast traffic crash occurrences. Incorporating human and vehicle-related factors such as speed violations and phone usage while driving, the MLSTM model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy. The study advocates for a comprehensive multivariate method, highlighting practical applications in traffic safety enhancement through targeted policies and infrastructure improvements.
In their paper, Wang et al. (2025) addresses bridge vulnerability under explosive vehicle threats by performing numerical simulations on a prestressed concrete small box-girder bridge. The analysis explores various explosive scenarios, showing that bridge damage predominantly occurs longitudinally, significantly affecting deck integrity. Results reveal that box girders endure greater damage compared to bridge decks, emphasizing the localized nature of structural failure under vehicle-based explosions. These insights assist in developing targeted strategies for bridge design and terrorist threat mitigation.
In the Zheng et al. (2025)’s study, the paper introduces a dual-layer optimization model for cargo allocation and stowage, tailored for logistics scenarios involving heterogeneous vehicles. Employing a space-inspired heuristic algorithm, the study demonstrates increased loading efficiency and reduced transportation costs by accommodating variations in cargo characteristics and urgency levels. The proposed model significantly outperforms traditional single-vehicle methods, highlighting practical implications for logistics management to improve operational efficiency and adapt to complex cargo demands.
In the final paper by Wu et al. (2025), they investigate the properties of cement paste modified with nano carbon black (CB) on the properties of cement paste. This study examines the effects on pore structure, mechanical strength, and electromagnetic properties. It finds that optimal dispersibility of CB, facilitated by chemical dispersants, substantially improves compressive strength and reduces agglomeration issues. The research also shows enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties with properly dispersed CB, offering valuable insights for developing multifunctional cement-based materials for advanced construction applications.
In summary, a total of six papers are presented in this issue. The published papers presented in the third issue of 2025 are highly significant for advancing research in different areas of transportation studies. It also covers many studies all around the world related on transportation engineering. Moreover, the findings offer valuable contributions to transport authorities and planners in addressing practical challenges. I am happy to share that the results of the conducted studies in the published papers will have great contributions for the future studies.
On behalf of the editorial panel, I hope you find this issue of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Transport insightful and engaging. I would also like to express my gratitude to the authors for sharing their valuable research findings and to the reviewers whose rigorous peer-review processes have ensured the quality of the publications in this issue. If you wish you can discuss the papers or send your comments to support@emerald.com related on this issue. As a last remind, I also strongly recommend all readers and researchers to see the call for papers in our website titled as “Railways as the Backbone of Transportation: Advancing Sustainable and Intelligent Systems” and “Digitally enabled and intelligent technologies for a sustainable transport”. You may also see the Ahead of Print on Transport Virtual Library home page to see our latest and new transport related articles. If you have any questions or comments about this issue, please do not hesitate to email me.
