scholarly journals A Cyclist-Domain-Based Method for Evaluating the Level of Service of a Bicycle Lane

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Sheng Zhang ◽  
Jun Liang ◽  
Zhongxiang Huang

Evaluating the level of service (LOS) of bicycle lanes is essential in planning, designing, and maintaining bicycle infrastructure. This study presents a new concept—the cyclist domain—for characterizing interactions between cyclists and proposes a cyclist-domain-based method for evaluating the LOS of bicycle lanes. Unlike conventional bicycle lane LOS evaluation method, which counts the weighted events numbers and may generate inaccurate results and even misleading decisions, we specified four types of overlapping cyclist domains to characterize potential impacts in various riding events. The cyclist domain influence ratio (CDIR) derived from cycling trajectories is used to measure the negative impact between cyclists. We then propose an LOS evaluation method for bicycle lanes based on CDIRs. The user comfort is defined as the sum of products of CDIRs and respective durations. The bicycle lane LOS is then evaluated by the average comfort of all users. The case study shows that the proposed method can efficiently and effectively evaluate the bicycle lane LOS.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Elena Blagoeva

The impact of the last global economic crisis (2008) on the European economy put a strain on higher education (HE), yet it also pushed the sector towards intensive reforms and improvements. This paper focuses on the “Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in the Republic of Bulgaria 2014-2020”. With a case study methodology, we explore the strategic endeavours of the Bulgarian government to comply with the European directions and to secure sustainable growth for the HE sector. Our research question is ‘How capable is the Bulgarian HE Strategy to overcome the economic and systemic restraints of Bulgarian higher education?’. Because the development of strategies for HE within the EU is highly contextual, a single qualitative case study was chosen as the research approach. HE institutions are not ivory towers, but subjects to a variety of external and internal forces. Within the EU, this is obviated by the fact that Universities obtain their funds from institutions such as governments, students and their families, donors, as well as EU-level programmes. Therefore, to explore how these pressures interact to affect strategic action on national level, the case method is well suited as it enabled us to study the phenomena thoroughly and deeply. The paper suggests the actions proposed within the Strategy have the potential to overcome the delay, the regional isolation and the negative impact of the economic crisis on the country. Nevertheless, the key elements on which the success or failure of this Strategy hinges are the control mechanisms and the approach to implementation. Shortcomings in these two aspects of strategic actions in HE seem to mark the difference between gaining long-term benefits and merely saving face in front of international institutions.


Author(s):  
Yunliang Meng ◽  
Sulaimon Giwa ◽  
Uzo Anucha

Our study investigated racial profiling of Black youth in Toronto and linked this racial profiling to urban disadvantage theory, which highlights neighbourhood-level processes. Our findings provide empirical evidence suggesting that because of racial profiling, Black youth are subject to disproportionately more stops for gun-, traffic-, drug-, and suspicious activity-related reasons. Moreover, they show that drug-related stop-and-searches of Black youth occur most excessively in neighbourhoods where more White people reside and are less disadvantaged, demonstrating that race-and-place profiling of Black youth exists in police stop-and-search practices. This study shows that the theoretical literature in sociology on neighbourhood characteristics can contribute to an understanding of the relationship between race and police stops in the context of neighbourhood. It also discusses the negative impact of racial profiling on Black youth.


2020 ◽  
pp. 607-612
Author(s):  
Bernard Coûteaux

This paper elaborates on the key solutions offered by De Smet Engineers & Contractors (DSEC) to optimize the efficiency of cane sugar producing and processing facilities. In order to meet customer needs, DSEC offers proprietary predictive models built using the latest versions of specialized software. These models allow factory managers to envision the whole picture of increased operational and capital efficiency before it becomes reality. An integrated energy model and the CAPEX/OPEX evaluation method are discussed as ways to estimate and optimize costs, both for new greenfield projects and revamping of existing factories. The models demonstrate that factory capacities can be successfully increased using equipment that is already available. Special attention is paid to crystallization and centrifugation process simulations and the potential improvement of the global energy balance. One case study shows the transformation of a beet sugar factory into a refinery to process raw cane sugar after beet crop season and the second case shows the integration of a refinery into a cane sugar factory. The primary focus of the article is optimization of the technological process through predictive modelling. DSEC’s suggested solutions, which lead to great improvements in a plant’s efficiency and its ability to obtain very low energy consumption, are discussed.


Author(s):  
Michael C. Medlock

This chapter begins with a discussion of the philosophy and then definition of the RITE method. It then delves into the benefits of this method and provides practical notes on running RITE tests effectively. The chapter concludes with an overview of the original case study behind the 2002 article documenting this method.


2012 ◽  
Vol 253-255 ◽  
pp. 1913-1917
Author(s):  
Ze Bin Zhao

In order to reduce the negative impact of urban traffic air pollution, this paper firstly analyzes the relationship between urban traffic air pollution and vehicle speed, after providing the relationship model, the paper establishes a comprehensive pricing model of urban traffic air pollution based on bi-level programming, the model considers the traffic air pollution pricing, and includes the factors of congestion pricing, bus fee, pricing revenue redistribution on improvement of public transport services and the expansion of road capacity. The case study shows that the implementation of comprehensive pricing of urban traffic air pollution can reduce traffic pollution and unreasonable traffic flow, which is conducive to the sustainable development of the city.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 462-470
Author(s):  
Marta Bożym ◽  
Beata Klojzy-Karczmarczyk

Abstract Environmental pollution by mercury is a local problem in Poland and concerns mainly industrial sites. Foundry waste are usually characterized by low mercury content compared to other heavy metals. Spent foundry sands with low content of Hg are the main component of foundry waste. However, Hg may be present in foundry dust, which may also be landfilled. Due to Hg toxicity, even a minimal content may have a negative impact on biota. This study focuses on assessing the mercury content of landfilled foundry waste (LFW), to assess its toxicity. Currently tested waste is recovered and reused as a road aggregate. The results were compared with the mercury content of local soils as the reference level. Waste samples were taken from foundry landfill. The mercury content, fractional composition, organic matter (OM) and total organic carbon content, pH and elementary composition of waste were analysed. It was found that the mercury content in LFW was very low, at the level of natural content in soils and did not pose a threat to the environment. The statistical analysis shows that mercury was not associated with OM of the waste, in contrast to soils, probably due to different types of OM in both materials.


Author(s):  
Rade M. Ciric ◽  
Sasa N. Mandic

AbstractThe Republic of Serbia must make significant efforts to promote and exploit renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency in all energy sectors to ensure energy security and economic competitiveness, reduce the negative impact on the environment from energy production and use, and contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Within the paper several issues of integration of recently realized CHP plant are introduced and discussed. Firstly, the legal and energy policy issues in the Republic of Serbia regarding connecting CHP to the grid are presented. The challenges and technical solutions for CHP connection to the grid, as well as power quality issues and the role of the CHP plant during the restoration of power supply during the maintenance of the substation and unplanned loss of high voltage supply, are presented and discussed. Finally, the impact of prospective massive integration of CHP on the energy balance and CO2 emission reduction in the province of Vojvodina in Serbia is investigated and discussed. Since it is the first CHP plant realized in Serbia, it is crucial that experience be shared to all potential stakeholders in the future energy efficiency projects.


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