The Association of Trail Features With Self-Report Trail Use by Neighborhood Residents

Background: Urban trails are a useful resource to promote physical activity. This study identified features of urban trails that correlated with trail use. Methods: Multiuse urban trails were selected in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. An audit of each trail was completed using the Systematic Pedestrian and Cyclist Environmental Scan for Trails instrument, identifying built environmental features. A self-report of trail use was obtained from trailside residents (N = 331) living within 1 mile of each trail. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions controlled for trail time from home and motivation for physical activity. Results: Positive associations with the past month’s hours on the trail were observed for the presence of distance signs, vegetation height, vegetation maintenance, and trail crowding, and a negative association was observed for the presence of crossings on the trail. Positive associations with dichotomous trail use were observed for the presence of distance signs, vegetation height, and vegetation maintenance, and a negative association was observed for the presence of crossings on the trail. Conclusions: These correlates should be confirmed in other studies and, if supported, should be considered in the promotion and design of urban trails.

Optimal management of vegetation maintenance and the associated costs of its implementation in overhead power distribution systems

Network operators work constantly to maintain an appropriate level of reliability in their power supply and to preserve the integrity of the vegetation growing underneath overhead power distribution systems. Accordingly, this article proposes and adopts different approaches to optimally manage vegetation maintenance in such field. Mathematical modeling is used to represent the problem in terms of several aspects involved in vegetation management, based on the technical capacity of the utility company and the reliability goals established by governmental regulatory entities. The solution is a vegetation maintenance schedule in terms of when, where, and which crews must perform the pruning activities along the distribution network. As a result, the Non-Served Energy Level NSEL is minimized and the financial resources earmarked for this type of maintenance tasks are optimized.