scholarly journals Birds crossing over roads: species, flight heights and infrastructure use

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Betleja Jacek ◽  
Łukasz Jankowiak ◽  
Tim H. Sparks ◽  
Piotr Tryjanowski
Keyword(s):  
Road Ecology ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Road ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Risky Business ◽  
Bird Collisions

How high do birds fly above roads, and how do they use the road infrastructure (bridges, lampposts etc.)? These questions are rarely explored in ecological studies but were addressed by us during research in 2016–2018 in southern Poland. In total, 1665 individual birds belonging to 24 species were recorded. Species differed significantly in the height at which they crossed over roads, but about 30% of all crossings were at heights below 12 m, hence at potential collision heights. The proportion of birds perching on lampposts in the central reservation between carriageways also differed significantly between species. The surrounding landscape and road infrastructure, especially lampposts, modified the species composition associated with roads. This knowledge has practical importance, not only in regard to collisions, but also to much less studied aspects such as plant seed dispersal and/or corrosion of the infrastructure. Lampposts, as a taller component of the infrastructure, may not directly affect vehicle-bird collisions, but a flight to them may be a risky business, and we recommended higher lampposts to discourage low-level flights. This information may need to be incorporated into future studies on road ecology, as well as in mitigation programs.

scholarly journals European primary forest database v2.0

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Maria Sabatini ◽  
Hendrik Bluhm ◽  
Zoltan Kun ◽  
Dmitry Aksenov ◽  
José A. Atauri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Potential Natural Vegetation ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Landsat Satellite ◽  
Primary Forests

AbstractPrimary forests, defined here as forests where the signs of human impacts, if any, are strongly blurred due to decades without forest management, are scarce in Europe and continue to disappear. Despite these losses, we know little about where these forests occur. Here, we present a comprehensive geodatabase and map of Europe’s known primary forests. Our geodatabase harmonizes 48 different, mostly field-based datasets of primary forests, and contains 18,411 individual patches (41.1 Mha) spread across 33 countries. When available, we provide information on each patch (name, location, naturalness, extent and dominant tree species) and the surrounding landscape (biogeographical regions, protection status, potential natural vegetation, current forest extent). Using Landsat satellite-image time series (1985–2018) we checked each patch for possible disturbance events since primary forests were identified, resulting in 94% of patches free of significant disturbances in the last 30 years. Although knowledge gaps remain, ours is the most comprehensive dataset on primary forests in Europe, and will be useful for ecological studies, and conservation planning to safeguard these unique forests.

scholarly journals The implications of vehicle collisions for the Endangered endemic Zanzibar red colobus Piliocolobus kirkii

Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Harry Olgun ◽  
Mzee Khamis Mohammed ◽  
Abbas Juma Mzee ◽  
M. E. Landry Green ◽  
Tim R. B. Davenport ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Road Ecology ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Red Colobus ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
The Road ◽  
Life History Data ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Historical Accounts ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Roads affect wildlife in a variety of negative ways. Road ecology studies have mostly concentrated on areas in the northern hemisphere despite the potentially greater impact of roads on biodiversity in tropical habitats. Here, we examine 4 years (January 2016–December 2019) of opportunistic observations of mammalian roadkill along a road intersecting Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, Unguja, Zanzibar. In particular, we assess the impact of collisions on the population of an endemic primate, the Endangered Zanzibar red colobus Piliocolobus kirkii. Primates accounted for the majority of roadkill in this dataset. Monthly rainfall was not associated with roadkill frequency for mammals generally, nor for the Zanzibar red colobus. No single age–sex class of colobus was found dead more often than expected given their occurrence in the local population. The overall effect of roadkill on colobus populations in habitats fragmented by roads is unknown given the lack of accurate, long-term life history data for this species. Our findings suggest that mortality from collisions with vehicles in some groups of colobus is within the range of mortality rates other primates experience under natural predation. Unlike natural predators, however, vehicles do not kill selectively, so their impact on populations may differ. Although a comparison with historical accounts suggests that the installation of speedbumps along the road near the Park's entrance has led to a significant decrease in colobus roadkill, further actions to mitigate the impact of the road could bring substantial conservation benefits.

scholarly journals OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCEPT "SMART ROADS" IN THE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE OF RUSSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-113
Author(s):  
Marina Loseva ◽  
Lyudmila Nikanorova
Keyword(s):  
Design Development ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
The Road ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Intensive Development

At present, the road sector is experiencing a period of intensive development. The latest achievement was the design, development and implementation of a new generation of roads, the so-called «Smart Roads».

Ambientalismo costruttivo. Il miglioramento della Tangenziale sud di Bergamo

TERRITORIO ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 126-203
Author(s):  
Marco Adriano Perletti
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Area ◽  
Master Plan ◽  
The South ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
Ring Road ◽  
The Road ◽  
Del Rio ◽  
The Impact

- The project for the south of the Bergamo motorway ring road is the result of a commitment to problems of mobility which Wwf Italy has intensified in recent years. As a result of an initiative taken by the Bergamo Wwf, a master plan was studied for the area in 2007 to identify possible measures to lessen the impact of the road infrastructure by means of forestation and redevelopment with vegetation. The proposal has involved municipal and provincial administrations so that they can learn the contents and concretely implement this green project. As a result of further study of the project conducted by one of the municipalities concerned, the Region of Lombardy granted funding for a contract tender entitled ‘10,000 hectares of new woodland and multi-functional parkland', to be used to implement an initial lot of the project. The work planned and recently started will be completed by the end of 2010 and will constitute the start of a long process of environmental and landscape redevelopment which should be followed by other intervention in the agricultural area of Plis del rio Morla and Rogge.

Business Innovation Capabilities in the Road Infrastructure Sector in the Caribbean Region of Colombia

2022 ◽  
pp. 61-72
Author(s):  
Romel Ramón González-Díaz ◽  
Santos Lucio Guanilo-Gómez ◽  
Elena Cachicatari-Vargas ◽  
Angel Acevedo-Duque ◽  
Katiusca Cruz-Ayala
Keyword(s):  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
Business Innovation ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Caribbean

scholarly journals Technical and Economic Analysis of the Implementation of Selected Variants of Road Investment

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Marcin Szczepański ◽  
Beata Grzyl
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
Technical Parameters ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Technical Modifications ◽  
Long Term Prognosis ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Road System

The aim of the article is to analyze three variants of modernization and reconstruction of a road intersection, which in practice is the cause of numerous collisions and accidents. Detailed design solutions are presented for them. The aim of the analyses is to indicate an effective solution that, taking into account technical modifications of the road system elements, will ensure the functionality of the road system to the highest degree and significantly reduce the number of road incidents. To indicate the optimal solution, quantitative data (cost and duration of activities for three options) and qualitative data (determined based on the own experience and knowledge of road industry experts) is analyzed. The authors refer to many criteria of various natures (e.g., economic, technical, functional, environmental, social), which allow for comprehensive consideration of the current requirements of road users and changing circumstances, among others a steady increase in the number of vehicles and growing social expectations in terms of road parameters. Considering the presented analyses and arguments, the authors recommend option 1 as optimal. This is the most expensive solution among those analyzed and with the longest implementation time, however, taking into account the long-term prognosis of the direction and scope of changes to the existing standards and requirements for road infrastructure, it can be stated that option 1 meets them to the highest degree, and also has the greatest potential. The envisaged solution ensures high standards of the quality of road infrastructure use in terms of functionality, capacity, technical parameters, as well as the safety of traffic participants related to the smoothness of the journey, reduction of the number of collisions and accidents.

scholarly journals Researches on the separation of impurities from a seed flow based on the aerodynamic principle

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 03011
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Stroescu ◽  
Anişoara Păun ◽  
Gheorghe Voicu ◽  
Carmen Brăcăcescu ◽  
Radu Popa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Bodies ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Leguminous Plant ◽  
Leguminous Plants ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Air Passage

Ensuring for production the necessary quantities of biological material of valuable varieties and hybrids to maintain their initial characteristics requires the permanent application of measures to be carried out on a scientific basis, depending on the biological particularities of the variety or hybrid. The production of seeds for leguminous plants is of great importance because the vast majority of species propagate that way. Due to the fact the yield obtained depends on the quality of the seeds, it is necessary to use seeds of varieties and hybrids with superior qualities and from higher biological categories without foreign bodies (impurities). Knowing the particularities of leguminous plant seed is of special practical importance because the conditioning technologies and machinery are based on it and also the culture technologies that are applied both in the field and in protected areas. The paper presents some theoretical aspects regarding the separation of seed mixtures based on the aerodynamic principle (resistance of the seed mass layer to the air passage, seed floating capacity, air flow working rates, total air flow, physical characteristics of seeds, etc.) which were the basis for designing a conditioning module for vegetable, flower and cereal seeds.

scholarly journals Examining the Walking Accessibility, Willingness, and Travel Conditions of Residents in Saudi Cities

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Rahman ◽  
Kh. Nahiduzzaman
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Past ◽  
Climate And Health ◽  
Hot Weather ◽  
Community Facilities

Rapid urban expansion and population growth in Saudi cities over the past four decades have increased vehicular accidents and traffic congestion and have impacted the daily walking conditions of the residents. Walking has various health and environmental benefits. In North American and European countries, three factors have been found to motivate a resident to walk within their community: their accessibility to community social and business facilities, their perception and willingness, and the safety conditions of the roads and sidewalks within their community for walking. This study examined these factors and their role in the walking habits of the residents in the neighborhoods of Doha and Dana districts in Saudi Arabia’s eastern city of Dhahran. Data were collected through field observations and by randomly sampling and interviewing 200 residents. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and SPSS statistical software were used for data analysis. The results show that most of the community facilities are randomly placed in the districts. Mosques are the closest facility to each resident with an average accessibility distance of 242m. Almost 43% of the respondents prefer daily walking while the rest are hesitant due to hot weather during summer and narrow and poorly designed sidewalks. The sidewalks were also found to be blocked by trees, street signals, and illegally parked vehicles. Future studies should explore the accessibility to facilities, willingness, climate, and health conditions of the residents, and the road and sidewalk conditions for walking in other cities of the Kingdom.

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