scholarly journals Performances of Limited Area Models for the WORKLIMATE Heat–Health Warning System to Protect Worker’s Health and Productivity in Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9940
Author(s):  
Daniele Grifoni ◽  
Alessandro Messeri ◽  
Alfonso Crisci ◽  
Michela Bonafede ◽  
Francesco Pasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Stress Indicators ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
Globe Temperature ◽  
Meteorological Models

Outdoor workers are particularly exposed to climate conditions, and in particular, the increase of environmental temperature directly affects their health and productivity. For these reasons, in recent years, heat-health warning systems have been developed for workers generally using heat stress indicators obtained by the combination of meteorological parameters to describe the thermal stress induced by the outdoor environment on the human body. There are several studies on the verification of the parameters predicted by meteorological models, but very few relating to the validation of heat stress indicators. This study aims to verify the performance of two limited area models, with different spatial resolution, potentially applicable in the occupational heat health warning system developed within the WORKLIMATE project for the Italian territory. A comparison between the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature predicted by the models and that obtained by data from 28 weather stations was carried out over about three summer seasons in different daily time slots, using the most common skill of performance. The two meteorological models were overall comparable for much of the Italian explored territory, while major limits have emerged in areas with complex topography. This study demonstrated the applicability of limited area models in occupational heat health warning systems.

scholarly journals Overview of Existing Heat-Health Warning Systems in Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 2657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Casanueva ◽  
Annkatrin Burgstall ◽  
Sven Kotlarski ◽  
Alessandro Messeri ◽  
Marco Morabito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Search ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
The Impact

The frequency of extreme heat events, such as the summer of 2003 in Europe, and their corresponding consequences for human beings are expected to increase under a warmer climate. The joint collaboration of institutional agencies and multidisciplinary approaches is essential for a successful development of heat-health warning systems and action plans which can reduce the impacts of extreme heat on the population. The present work constitutes a state-of-the-art review of 16 European heat-health warning systems and heat-health action plans, based on the existing literature, web search (over the National Meteorological Services websites) and questionnaires. The aim of this study is to pave the way for future heat-health warning systems, such as the one currently under development in the framework of the Horizon 2020 HEAT-SHIELD project. Some aspects are highlighted among the variety of examined European warning systems. The meteorological variables that trigger the warnings should present a clear link with the impact under consideration and should be chosen depending on the purpose and target of the warnings. Setting long-term planning actions as well as pre-alert levels might prevent and reduce damages due to heat. Finally, education and communication are key elements of the success of a warning system.

scholarly journals Steps Towards Comprehensive Heat Communication in the Frame of a Heat Health Warning System in Slovenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5829
Author(s):  
Tjaša Pogačar ◽  
Zala Žnidaršič ◽  
Lučka Kajfež Bogataj ◽  
Zalika Črepinšek
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
Health Measures

Occupational heat stress has an important negative impact on the well-being, health and productivity of workers and should; therefore, be recognized as a public health issue in Europe. There is no comprehensive heat health warning system in Slovenia combining public health measures with meteorological forecasts. The aim of this research was to provide insight into the development of such a system in Slovenia, turning the communication from the current meteoalarm into a broader system that has more information for different social groups. To achieve this goal, the following steps were used: Analysis of summer temperatures and issued meteoalarms, a survey of the general knowledge about heat among the public, organization and management of two stakeholder symposia, and a final survey on workers’ opinions on heat stress and measures, supplemented by interviews with employers. Summer average daily temperature distributions in Slovenia changed during the investigated period (1961–2019) and the mean values increased over time by 2–3 °C. Additionally, the number of days with fulfilled yellow (potentially dangerous) and especially orange (dangerous) meteoalarm conditions increased significantly after 1990. The survey of the general public about heat stress and warnings showed that efforts to raise awareness of heat issues need to be intensified and that public health measures should effectively target vulnerable groups. Stakeholder symposia and further surveys have shown that awareness and understanding of the negative effects of heat stress on health and productivity are still quite low, so effective ways of disseminating information to different sectors while striking the best balance between efficiency, feasibility and economic cost have to be found.

scholarly journals An Occupational Heat–Health Warning System for Europe: The HEAT-SHIELD Platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 2890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Morabito ◽  
Alessandro Messeri ◽  
Pascal Noti ◽  
Ana Casanueva ◽  
Alfonso Crisci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Heat Shield ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Heat Acclimatization ◽  
Maximum Probability ◽  
Maximum Heat ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
The Impact

Existing heat–health warning systems focus on warning vulnerable groups in order to reduce mortality. However, human health and performance are affected at much lower environmental heat strain levels than those directly associated with higher mortality. Moreover, workers are at elevated health risks when exposed to prolonged heat. This study describes the multilingual “HEAT-SHIELD occupational warning system” platform (https://heatshield.zonalab.it/) operating for Europe and developed within the framework of the HEAT-SHIELD project. This system is based on probabilistic medium-range forecasts calibrated on approximately 1800 meteorological stations in Europe and provides the ensemble forecast of the daily maximum heat stress. The platform provides a non-customized output represented by a map showing the weekly maximum probability of exceeding a specific heat stress condition, for each of the four upcoming weeks. Customized output allows the forecast of the personalized local heat-stress-risk based on workers’ physical, clothing and behavioral characteristics and the work environment (outdoors in the sun or shade), also taking into account heat acclimatization. Personal daily heat stress risk levels and behavioral suggestions (hydration and work breaks recommended) to be taken into consideration in the short term (5 days) are provided together with long-term heat risk forecasts (up to 46 days), all which are useful for planning work activities. The HEAT-SHIELD platform provides adaptation strategies for “managing” the impact of global warming.

scholarly journals Towards a Generic Residential Building Model for Heat–Health Warning Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13050
Author(s):  
Jens Pfafferott ◽  
Sascha Rißmann ◽  
Guido Halbig ◽  
Franz Schröder ◽  
Sascha Saad
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
Building Model

A strong heat load in buildings and cities during the summer is not a new phenomenon. However, prolonged heat waves and increasing urbanization are intensifying the heat island effect in our cities; hence, the heat exposure in residential buildings. The thermophysiological load in the interior and exterior environments can be reduced in the medium and long term, through urban planning and building physics measures. In the short term, an increasingly vulnerable population must be effectively informed of an impending heat wave. Building simulation models can be favorably used to evaluate indoor heat stress. This study presents a generic simulation model, developed from monitoring data in urban multi-unit residential buildings during a summer period and using statistical methods. The model determines both the average room temperature and its deviations and, thus, consists of three sub-models: cool, average, and warm building types. The simulation model is based on the same mathematical algorithm, whereas each building type is described by a specific data set, concerning its building physical parameters and user behavior, respectively. The generic building model may be used in urban climate analyses with many individual buildings distributed across the city or in heat–health warning systems, with different building and user types distributed across a region. An urban climate analysis (with weather data from a database) may evaluate local differences in urban and indoor climate, whereas heat–health warning systems (driven by a weather forecast) obtain additional information on indoor heat stress and its expected deviations.

EFFECTS OF INONIZING RADIATION CAUSED HEAT STRESS ON THE HUMAN BODY FOR STANDARD ISO 7243

2013 ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Van Trong Le ◽  
Thi Tuyet Mai Nguyen ◽  
Thi Xuan Duyen Nguyen ◽  
Ba Luan Nguyen ◽  
Tuyen Pham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Temperature Index ◽  
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature ◽  
Simple Index ◽  
Simple Tool ◽  
Results Management ◽  
Globe Temperature ◽  
Hot Environments

Objectives: Presents heat stress Standard ISO 7243, which is based upon the wet bulb globe temperature index (WBGT), and considers its suitability for use worldwide. Materials and Methods: The WBGT index are considered and how it is used in ISO 7243 and across the world as a simple index for monitoring and assessing hot environments. Results: Management systems, involving risk assessments, that take account of context and culture, are required to ensure successful use of the standard and global applicability. For use outdoors, a WBGT equation that includes solar absorptivity is recommended. A ‘clothed WBGT’ is proposed to account for the effects of clothing. Conclusion: ISO 7243 is a simple tool to assess the heat stress and may be applicated worldwide.

scholarly journals Using ADAS to Future-Proof Roads—Comparison of Fog Line Detection from an In-Vehicle Camera and Mobile Retroreflectometer

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1737
Author(s):  
Ane Dalsnes Storsæter ◽  
Kelly Pitera ◽  
Edward McCormack
Keyword(s):  
Warning System ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Lane Departure Warning ◽  
Automated Driving ◽  
Pavement Markings ◽  
Lighting Conditions ◽  
Lane Marking ◽  
Lane Departure ◽  
Pavement Marking

Pavement markings are used to convey positioning information to both humans and automated driving systems. As automated driving is increasingly being adopted to support safety, it is important to understand how successfully sensor systems can interpret these markings. In this effort, an in-vehicle lane departure warning system was compared to data collected simultaneously from an externally mounted mobile retroreflectometer. The test, performed over 200 km of driving on three different routes in variable lighting conditions and road classes found that, depending on conditions, the retroreflectometer could predict whether the car’s lane departure systems would detect markings in 92% to 98% of cases. The test demonstrated that automated driving systems can be used to monitor the state of pavement markings and can provide input on how to design and maintain road infrastructure to support automated driving features. Since data about the condition of lane marking from multiple lane departure warning systems (crowd-sourced data) can provide input into the pavement marking management systems operated by many road owners, these findings also indicate that these automated driving sensors have an important role in enhancing the maintenance of pavement markings.

scholarly journals Machine learning approaches to identify thresholds in a heat‐health warning system context

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Masselot ◽  
Fateh Chebana ◽  
Céline Campagna ◽  
Éric Lavigne ◽  
Taha B.M.J. Ouarda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
System Context

scholarly journals An Augmented Warning System for Pedestrians: User Interface Design and Algorithm Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7197
Author(s):  
Yourui Tong ◽  
Bochen Jia ◽  
Shan Bao
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Warning System ◽  
User Interface Design ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Projection Algorithms ◽  
Time Projection ◽  
Timely Warning

Warning pedestrians of oncoming vehicles is critical to improving pedestrian safety. Due to the limitations of a pedestrian’s carrying capacity, it is crucial to find an effective solution to provide warnings to pedestrians in real-time. Limited numbers of studies focused on warning pedestrians of oncoming vehicles. Few studies focused on developing visual warning systems for pedestrians through wearable devices. In this study, various real-time projection algorithms were developed to provide accurate warning information in a timely way. A pilot study was completed to test the algorithm and the user interface design. The projection algorithms can update the warning information and correctly fit it into an easy-to-understand interface. By using this system, timely warning information can be sent to those pedestrians who have lower situational awareness or obstructed view to protect them from potential collisions. It can work well when the sightline is blocked by obstructions.

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