scholarly journals Mitigating the effects of a road on amphibian migrations: a Scottish case study of road tunnels

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.D.C. Hill ◽  
C.A. Rossi ◽  
S.O. Petrovan ◽  
M. Hartup ◽  
F. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
The Road ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Road Tunnels

The ever-growing pace of road construction worldwide has become a serious concern for wildlife and natural habitats, resulting in habitat fragmentation and increasing wildlife road fatalities. For amphibians, which are undergoing population declines worldwide, mitigation measures such as road under-passages linked to amphibian-proof fencing may be an effective conservation tool, aiming to reconnect natural habitats and reduce wildlife fatalities. This study assessed the efficacy of road tunnels in a recently developed area by Frankfield Loch, Stepps, North Lanarkshire. Three amphibian tunnels, plus fencing, were put in place during 2010 following the construction of a road in 2006 which separated the loch from a substantial area of marshland, including ponds. In 2015 and 2016, we used custom-made time-lapse cameras within the tunnels to automatically monitor amphibian movements and conducted frog spawn surveys. Numbers of common frogs (Rana temporaria), common toads (Bufo bufo) and newts (Lissotriton spp.) using the tunnels were substantial in both years, though the number of toads decreased significantly between years. We found many frog spawn clumps in the marsh ponds, but rather fewer in the loch. A period of road repair in 2015 was linked with both road mortalities and a change in the pattern of tunnel usage. Additionally, amphibians showed a daily cycle of activity, with nocturnal movements most common. These results indicate important connectivity and usage of both the marsh and the loch, and suggest that this can be effectively sustained through the proper maintenance of tunnels and fencing, which also minimises road mortalities. It remains unknown, however, what proportion of the population crosses the road via the tunnels and how that compares with movements prior to road construction.

Exploring critical road project delay factors in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Teye Amoatey ◽  
Alfred Nii Okanta Ankrah
Keyword(s):  
Road Construction ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Cost Overrun ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Road ◽  
Integrated Risk ◽  
Road Project ◽  
Road Projects ◽  
Project Delays

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of road construction delays in Ghana and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Design/methodology/approach The initial approach involved an empirical analysis of 48 road projects to quantify the extent of time. This was followed by a survey of the perception of road agency and donor partner officials of the critical causes of road project delays. Findings About 70 per cent of road projects experience delays and 52 per cent experience cost overruns. The average time overrun and cost overruns of road projects in Ghana was 17 months and US$1.15m (or 22.5 per cent), respectively. The five most critical causes of road construction delays were delay in finance and payment of completed work by owner (client-related); inadequate contractor experience (contractor-related); changes in scope by the owner during construction (client-related); delay to furnish and deliver the site to the contractor (client-related); and inflexible funding allocation for project items (donor-related). Research limitations/implications The most critical constraint of this study is the fact that findings are based on only the views of industry professional experts. It may be assumed that despite using broadly used terminology to refer to the causes of project delays, the interpretations by respondents may have differed from those intended. Further research could look at the correlation between time overrun and cost overrun using principle component analysis. Practical implications The identified delay factors are not unique to the road sector. From both academic and practical perspectives, the results emphasizes on the need for a holistic and integrated risk management model for the entire construction industry in Ghana. Originality/value The paper examined the causes of road project delays in the Ghanaian context and recommended remedial measures.

scholarly journals Mortality of Amphibians on the Roads of Lviv Region (Ukraine): Trend for the Last Decade

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Reshetylo ◽  
V. Stakh ◽  
A.-A. Osiyeva ◽  
I. Dykyy ◽  
B. Andriyishyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Quantitative Composition ◽  
Rana Arvalis ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Triturus Cristatus ◽  
The Road ◽  
Bombina Bombina ◽  
On The Road

Abstract 69 road sections with amphibian mortality known from 2006 in Lviv Region (Western Ukraine) were repeatedly surveyed in 2017. 2078 dead individuals of nine amphibian species were detected and identified on the road surface (Triturus cristatus, Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, Bufo bufo, Hyla orientalis, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax esculentus). The most numerous victims appeared to be B. bufo (72.8 %) and R. temporaria (22.6 %) which is almost the same as in 2006 (90.5 % together). However, the qualitative and quantitative composition has decreased in a decade (compare 3555 individuals of 13 amphibian species in 2006). As we suppose, the main reasons for amphibian population decline in the region are contamination, degradation and disappearance of the breeding ponds as well as the increased traffic intensity. According to the estimation of our research four B. bufo populations are under the excessive influence of roads and transportation, and need to be protected. One of these road sections was fenced up by temporary amphibian fences during the breeding migration (April 2018). Amphibian mortality on the fenced road section dropped down instantly: over thousand individuals of B. bufo and R. temporaria were caught alive into the bucket-traps and safely moved across the road.

scholarly journals Biodiversity Conservation in Road Projects: Lessons from World Bank Experience in Latin America

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Ledec ◽  
Paula J. Posas
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Road Projects

The unprecedented and irreversible loss of biodiversity in modern times is caused primarily by the elimination or degradation of natural habitats. Because the construction and improvement of roads sometimes lead, directly or indirectly, to the loss and degradation of natural habitats, road construction and biodiversity aims are often at odds. However, many potentially serious conflicts between road projects and biodiversity conservation can be avoided. Induced negative impacts can be minimized by careful project siting. Where some natural habitat loss is inevitable, appropriate mitigation may include establishment of strict protection zones alongside the road or compensatory protected areas elsewhere. Such mitigation requires effective collaboration, for example, between the agencies responsible for roads and protected areas. Direct adverse impacts of road works on biodiversity also can be significant but are generally simpler to avoid or mitigate because they are more fully under the control of road construction agencies, contractors, and concessionaires. Biodiversity loss and environmental damage can be considerably reduced when planners and road construction agencies site roads adjacent to existing railways, pipelines, or transmission lines; practice sound road engineering; maintain good drainage and natural water flows; minimize roadside habitat loss; and exercise care in the siting and design of borrow pits, construction camps, and other complementary facilities. Environmental rules for contractors, including transparent penalties for noncompliance, need to be incorporated in bidding documents and contracts. Ideally, road projects are designed and implemented so as to avoid or compensate adequately for any adverse impacts on natural habitats and biodiversity. Through mitigation measures, potentially controversial projects can even produce significant net environmental benefits—a win-win outcome.

scholarly journals Impact of Forest Roads on Hydrological Processes

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1201
Author(s):  
Aristeidis Kastridis
Keyword(s):  
Overland Flow ◽  
Road Networks ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Forest Roads ◽  
Forest Road ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Impact

The current review summarizes the knowledge generated by the recently published studies of the last twenty years, in the field of forest road networks, concerning the impact of forest road construction on hydrological processes. The currently applied methodology techniques/practices are discussed, the findings are highlighted and effective mitigation measures to mitigate the impact of forest roads are proposed. Critical for the minimization of the impact of forest roads on overland flow is the significant decrease in road surface runoff and overland flow velocity. The decrease in runoff energy reduces the detachment of soil particles and transportation in streams. The disturbances of forest roads in logging areas should be limited to decrease soil erosion. Additionally, aiming to minimize sediment transportation into the streams, it is very important to reduce the connectivity between the forest roads (or skid trails) and streams. The positive role of vegetation and organic matter on the road prism, naturally/technically established riparian buffers along the streams, and the use of appropriate bioengineering designs for each area significantly decrease the runoff generation and sedimentation. From a construction point of view, the decrease in short and long-term forest road-related impact could be achieved by reducing the depth of excavations and the use of soil compaction limiting technology during forest works. The road network design should be more efficient, avoiding hydrologically active zero-order basins. Techniques that minimize the length and connectivity among skid trails, unpaved roads and streams are highly crucial. Broad-based dips, immediate revegetation and outsloping of the road base are considered good road construction practices. Research should be focused on the hydrologic behavior of forest road networks and on the impact at the watershed scale, the degree of connectivity, utilizing plenty of qualitative field data, especially during intense rainfall events, which has been proven to exacerbate the runoff and sediment generation and transportation into the stream networks.

scholarly journals Determinants of the Performance of Bat Gantries Installed to Carry Bat Commuting Routes over the S3 Expressway in Poland

Symmetry ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Sołowczuk
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Network Expansion ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
The Road ◽  
Experimental Stage ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Significant Bearing

In road construction, environmental protection issues often become a challenge, both in the case of new routes and the existing network expansion projects. A number of specific issues are involved in severing of bat commuting routes and the relevant mitigation measures are still in the experimental stage. One of the measures are bat gantries installed on the established bat flyways aligned with the linear features of the landscape used by bats for echolocation calls, which is an example of the structures installed near Szczecin in Poland. The bat activity surveys revealed different levels of acceptance of the respective structures. The available studies identify the following factors as being relevant to relocated or modified commuting routes: road traffic volume, traffic noise, and light pollution. The article discusses which factors are the most likely to have a significant bearing on accepting specific structures by bats. The analyses show that a gantry structure can turn out to be acceptable to bats even on a completely new route if the landscape features are symmetrical and friendly to bats on both sides of the road and on both sides of their flyway as well. Conversely, without such a symmetry along the approach section, the structure may fail to perform.

Engineering geological investigation for landslide hazard zonation in the Sino-Nepal Road corridors.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basanta Raj Adhikari ◽  
Bingwei Tian ◽  
Feiyu Chen ◽  
Xiaoyun Gou ◽  
Suraj Gautam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Mass Movement ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Landslide Hazard ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Main Central Thrust ◽  
Geological Investigation ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Corridors ◽  
The Himalaya

<p>Road construction in the Trans-Himalaya is always challenging task because of having fragile and rugged topography with the strong influence of monsoon. Three different road corridors namely Kaligandaki (Pokhara-Jomsoom-Zhongba), Trishuali (Kathamndu-Trishuli-Gyirong) and Bhotekoshi rivers (Kathmandu-Tatopani-Nyalam) cross the Himalaya with different geological discontinuities i.e. South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS), Main Central Thrust (MCT). The Himalayan range is acting a topographic barrier resulting different climate in the southern and northern part. These three roads are very strategic for the connectivity between Trans-Himalaya and midland. People have been living in these valleys for a long time. After the road construction, people have started to build houses along this road. However, people have are often forgetting the influence of these large scale mass movement that occurred in the past. Therefore, an attempt has been done to analyze these past events and their impacts. Preparation of engineering geological map, landslide inventories and investigation of large scale past mass movement have been done in detailed field investigations in 2018 and 2019 supported by remote sensing. Slope stability analysis has been done in different critical sections for the landslide hazard assessment. It is clearly seen that the road passes some of these large scale paleo-landslides and responsible for toe cutting. The road sections are critical in all three roads but more vulnerable in the southern slope of the Himalaya. The road between Beni to Larjung of the Kaligandaki has critical slope and susceptible for landslide occurrences. Therefore, proper mitigation measures have to be implemented for the stabilization of these mountain slope.</p>

scholarly journals Impact of secondary roads on wildlife of coastal center region Portugal and differences between before and post fire.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Miguel Regateiro Cruz ◽  
Joana Lima ◽  
Ulisses Azeiteiro
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Catastrophic Event ◽  
The Road ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Salamandra Salamandra ◽  
On The Road

Abstract • Context: Anthropogenic activities affect ecosystems creating stress regimes and new disturbances. Among these anthropogenic activities, we highlight roads that are main cause of habitat segmentation. On the other hand, as roads were built to accommodate traffic in rural areas, rate of vehicle-wildlife collisions has significantly expanded, thereby causing a direct decrease in population size. • Objectives: This study was conducted in Portugal (country's western central coast) and assessed impact of secondary roads on wildlife, as well as the influence that a catastrophic event, like a great fire, has on this wildlife. • Methods: Practical work was carried out during 15 months (from October 2016 to December 2017), two consecutive days per week, first day being used for "road cleaning", that is, collection of all animals found on road, followed of their identification, and second day for morning and afternoon collection and identification of dead animals found on same tracks. • Results: In Agricultural Zone, vertebrate deaths on the road covered 17 species. Birds were the most affected , followed by amphibians, mammals and reptiles. The most fragile species were Passer domesticus and Salamandra salamandra. Two hotspots were recognized, one on each road. In Forestral Zone, vertebrate deaths on road included 26 species. Mammals were most vulnerable in this area followed by birds, amphibians and reptiles. Bufo bufo and Salamandra salamandra were the most vulnerable species. • Conclusions: On the contrary, differences between roads composition were clear: there were only deaths on asphalted roads. Differences between before and after fire are evident. Mitigation measures were suggested.

scholarly journals Roads and macropods: interactions and implications

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy R. F. Bond ◽  
Darryl N. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Journal ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
The Road ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Road Mitigation ◽  
Road Crossing

Understanding the impacts of roads on wildlife and the natural environment is of increasing importance. Macropods (mostly kangaroos and wallabies) are a diverse and widespread taxon in Australia that has been significantly affected by the presence of roads in various ways. We reviewed the available literature on macropods and roads, assessing 60 scientific journal articles, reports and theses. Studies on road mortalities were the most prevalent (n = 29, with 12 on macropods only), revealing both spatial and temporal patterns in occurrence. Behavioural studies in relation to the road environment are limited (n = 2) yet could help our understanding of patterns of road-kill and other impacts. Some macropod populations are critically affected by the presence of roads (e.g. brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata) due to either proportionately high road mortalities and/or population fragmentation, and may face continued decline unless effective road-mitigation measures are implemented. Investigations of various types of road mitigation focussed on wildlife-exclusion fencing and road crossing structures as the most effective option, although the high cost of these measures appears to limit their implementation. Further research into several areas was identified, particularly on species where severe road impacts are likely to result in population declines.

The Political Economy of Power: Approaches to the Analysis of Relationships between the State and Business in Russia

2011 ◽  
pp. 19-33
Author(s):  
A. Oleinik
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Retail Trade ◽  
Business Community ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Power ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Road ◽  
Ruling Elites

The article deals with the issues of political and economic power as well as their constellation on the market. The theory of public choice and the theory of public contract are confronted with an approach centered on the power triad. If structured in the power triad, interactions among states representatives, businesses with structural advantages and businesses without structural advantages allow capturing administrative rents. The political power of the ruling elites coexists with economic power of certain members of the business community. The situation in the oil and gas industry, the retail trade and the road construction and operation industry in Russia illustrates key moments in the proposed analysis.

ABOUT THE METHOD OF THE OPTIMISATION OF STUDENTS’LEARNING ENGLISH TERMINOLOGY

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-82
Author(s):  
Л.Н. Крячко
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
National Language ◽  
The Road ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
Technical University ◽  
Training Exercises ◽  
Animal World

Постановка задачи. Изучение предмета «Иностранный язык» в техническом университете предполагает усвоение обучающимися терминологической лексики в соответствии с выбранной специальностью. Опыт преподавания показывает, что студенты испытывают трудности, связанные с запоминанием терминологических единиц и употреблением их в речи. Использование на занятиях по иностранному языку приема обучения терминологической лексике посредством опоры на внутреннюю форму данных лексических единиц позволяет оптимизировать процесс усвоения обучающимися специальных терминов. Результаты. Проведенное исследование дает основание утверждать, что анализ внутренней формы образованных семантическим способом англоязычных терминов специальности «Автомобильные дороги» позволяет выявить деривационно-ассоциативную связь терминологических единиц с лексикой общенационального языка, послужившей основой для вторичной номинации. Данные лексические единицы в большинстве случаев представляют собой хорошо знакомые студентам слова, обозначающие части тела человека и объекты, находящиеся в его близком окружении : одежду, посуду, инструменты, явления природы, представителей животного мира и т.д. Выводы. Ознакомление студентов дорожно-строительной специальности с внутренней формой изучаемых англоязычных терминов, выявление ассоциативных связей терминологических единиц со знакомыми студентам и широкоупотребительными словами общенационального языка, а также выполнение в аудитории специально разработанных тренировочных упражнений помогают снять трудности усвоения обучающимися терминологической лексики и облегчают ее запоминание. Statement of the problem. The study of the “Foreign Language” subject at a technical university involves students’ learning the terminology in accordance with the chosen specialty. The teaching practice shows that students experience the difficulties associated with memorising terminological units and using them in the speech. Applying the method of teaching the terminology based on the internal form of these lexical units at foreign language classes makes it possible to optimise the process of learning special terms by students. Results. The research that has been carried out gives reason to argue that the analysis of the internal form of the English “Automobile roads” specialty terms created in the semantic way makes it possible to reveal the derivational and associative relations of the terminological units with the national language words which served as the basis for the secondary nomination. In most cases, these lexical units are the words that are well known by the students and indicate the parts of man’s body and the objects that are present in man’s immediate environment: clothing, dishes, tools, phenomena of the nature, representatives of the animal world, etc. Conclusion. Introducing the internal form of the studied English terms to the road construction specialty students, identifying the associative relations of the terminological units with the well known to the students and widely used words of the national language, fulfilling the specially developed training exercises in the classroom help the students to overcome the difficulties of learning the terminology and to facilitate its memorization.

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