Operating Safety Evaluation of Battery-Electric Taxi Based on Spatio-Temporal Speed Parameters

The battery-electric taxis have the features of larger mass, low operating noise, and great speed, and the drivers of battery-electric taxis have various driving behaviors and low safety awareness, which leads to higher safety risks. In the paper, the driving and speed characteristics of battery-electric taxis, conventional taxis, and private cars are compared and analyzed through conducting a GPS trajectory survey and a cross-section traffic flow parameter survey. An evaluation index system that is based on the spatio-temporal speed parameters is proposed, and a MEW-VIKOR method is developed for the operatiing safety evaluation of the battery-electric taxi. The results show that the operating speed of battery-electric taxis is significantly higher than that of conventional taxis on weekdays and weekends, and there is a relatively common speeding phenomenon on urban local roads. The proposed safety evaluation index system that is based on the spatio-temporal speed parameters and the MEW-VIKOR evaluation method can effectively evaluate the operatiing safety of battery-electric taxis. In addition, the ranking results show that, according to the spatio-temporal speed parameters, the operating safety of battery-electric taxis is lower than that of conventional taxis and private cars. The research provides theoretical insights for strategies and policies making to reduce the unsafe driving behaviors of battery-electric taxis.

Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers

We studied the impact of the new fenced and accident-safe motorway on the mortality of European badgers Meles meles on local roads in western Poland in 2010–2015. We monitored the badgers mortality on local roads of three categories: main roads, secondary roads and county roads. The study was conducted before and after the opening of the motorway in 2012. We hypothesized that the mortality of badgers is lower due to traffic concentration on motorway. Ninety two badgers were killed in collisions with vehicles on all monitored roads. Mean number of killed badgers was lowest in 2010 before the motorway opening and the highest in 2012. The mortality of badgers on regional roads was highest after the opening of the motorway due to the changes in traffic on the access roads. Within the road network, the mortality of badgers was 5.8 individuals/10 km of road per whole study period with the highest rate on main roads 8.5 individuals/10 km. The badgers mortality was highest on county roads but it was lower than expected in relation to the road network density. The highest vehicle collision risk for badgers of both sexes occurred in June. Distance to human settlements was the only environmental factor that was positively related to badger mortality on roads. We conclude that the new motorway did not reduce the mortality rate of badgers on the adjacent roads because the status of local roads has changed and now they mainly function as access roads to the motorway.

Parametric Definition of Slow Tourism Itineraries for Experiencing Seasonal Landscapes. Application of Sentinel-2 Imagery to the Rural Paddy-Rice Landscape in Northern Italy

Slow tourism is a growing phenomenon in Italy; it is assuming a key role in the definition of new strategies for sustainable tourism for the enhancement of landscape and cultural heritage, but also as a driver for the revitalization of marginalized and inner areas of the country. In this framework, the aesthetical phenomena related to seasonal landscape changes (e.g., autumn coloring foliage, spring blooming, controlled paddy-rice fields flooding) that occur in specific environments are emerging as new tourist destinations and are of major interest for the experiential tourism sector. This research shows a GIS-based method to draw up parametric slow tourism itineraries, which are defined according to seasonal landscape changes, by exploiting the high frequency of Sentinel-2 data acquisition. The algorithm defines parametric itineraries within the network of existing local roads by detecting the current landscape conditions through NDVI. The algorithm has been tested in the study area, within the historical agricultural landscape of paddy-rice fields in between Turin and Milan, where high scenic conditions related to the flooding occur over the spring season. This tool can support a range of end users’ decisions for the creation of a widespread tourist destination offer year-round, with the aim to promote more sustainable and balanced use of the places and reduce overpressures in the most frequented places.

Quantification and Characterization of Metals in Ultrafine Road Dust Particles

Road dust is an important source of resuspended particulate matter (PM) but information is lacking on the chemical composition of the ultrafine particle fraction (UFP; <0.1 µm). This study investigated metal concentrations in UFP isolated from the “dust box” of sweepings collected by the City of Toronto, Canada, using regenerative-air-street sweepers. Dust box samples from expressway, arterial and local roads were aerosolized in the laboratory and were separated into thirteen particle size fractions ranging from 10 nm to 10 µm (PM10). The UFP fraction accounted for about 2% of the total mass of resuspended PM10 (range 0.23–8.36%). Elemental analysis using ICP-MS and ICP-OES revealed a marked enrichment in Cd, Cr, Zn and V concentration in UFP compared to the dust box material (nano to dust box ratio ≥ 2). UFP from arterial roads contained two times more Cd, Zn and V and nine times more Cr than UFP from local roads. The highest median concentration of Zn was observed for the municipal expressway, attributed to greater volumes of traffic, including light to heavy duty vehicles, and higher speeds. The observed elevated concentrations of transition metals in UFP are a human health concern, given their potential to cause oxidative stress in lung cells.

Assessment of the quality of the repair process of local roads in the rural areas of the Częstochowa and Kłobuck poviats in the context of road safety

In recent years, numerous measures to modernize local roads in rural areas have been undertaken. Unfortunately, during renovations, especially at the poviat and commune level, errors are often made as a consequence of irregularities arising at the design stage. The article presents an assessment of the quality of local road renovations carried out in the last fifteen years, in the context of maintaining operational parameters over time, using a visual method based on the term “risk”. The research was carried out for twenty-six sections of roads that were renovated or rebuilt in the Kłobuck and Częstochowa poviats. The categories of the most common errors were identified and actions were proposed to correct them and prevent new ones. Among the negative trends, the improper placement of road technical devices and the lack of appropriate marking of integral areas were distinguished. It was found that a positive aspect in the aspect of traffic safety, recently, is the widespread use of modern road marking systems and road signs, as well as greater care for proper maintenance of drainage devices. The use of modern solutions during the modernization of roads, despite co-financing from the Government Fund, is still limited by the financial deficit of local governments.

Associations between Personal Attitudes towards COVID-19 and Public Space Soundscape Assessment: An Example from Antwerp, Belgium

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown events and policies that followed, led to significant changes in the built environment and how it is experienced by people and communities. Among those, variations in the acoustic environments were some of the most noticeable in cities. This study investigated the relationships between the perception of the acoustic environment (i.e., soundscape) and different personal factors such as attitudes towards the pandemic and noise sensitivity, by performing a survey with 109 participants in an urban green public space in Antwerp (Belgium), shortly after most restrictions issued by the government were lifted in September 2020 when the first contamination wave ended. While preliminary in nature, the results of this data collection campaign show that people actively changing their behaviors (using less public transport or cycling more) assessed the soundscapes as less vibrant/exciting. People who were more concerned about the pandemic tended to notice more natural sounds and noise from traffic on nearby local roads. This same subset also put a bigger importance on the environmental quality of the public space than in the pre-pandemic period. Noise sensitivity also played a role, as an association was found between more-than-average noise sensitive persons and those more worried regarding the pandemic. Overall, the findings of this study confirm that at least part of the people have started to perceive the public space, including its soundscape, differently since the start of the pandemic.

The first churches in Warmia and their influence on the development of local roads

W pierwszej części publikacji podjęto się analizy lokalizacji pierwszych kościołów odbudowanych przez Prusów w 1249 r. na obszarze Warmii w następujących miejscowościach: Jedun, Surimes, Bandadis, Slinia, Wuntenowe, Brusebergue. Następnie zwrócono uwagę na rozwój sieci parafialnej na obszarze dominium warmińskiego. Pierwszy kościół został wybudowany w Braniewie w 1280 r., następnie we Fromborku w 1288 powstał kościół katedralny. Rozwój sieci parafialnej w średniowiecznej Warmii prowadził także do powstania nowych dróg, zwanych zazwyczaj "drogami kościelnymi". Szlaki komunikacyjne były powiązane z powstawaniem nowych ośrodków, w których koncentrowało się życie gospodarcze czy religijne. Drogi do kościoła najczęściej stanowiły utarte już szlaki. Jednak należy zwrócić uwagę na fakt, że zakładanie nowych parafii i lokacje nowych wsi łączyło się z powstawaniem sieci komunikacyjnej, której lokalnym ośrodkiem stawał się kościół parafialny.

Search for requirements for the width of pedestrian roads in the context of the classification of public space

Walking has long been the primary means of human transport. Nevertheless, in recent decades, the insufficient emphasis has been placed on it in the creation and renewal of public space. It focuses mainly on the needs of road transport, the volume of which is constantly growing enormously. It is only in recent years that the view begins to be re-evaluated and trends in the organization of public space gradually changed, as it is true that a larger supply generates a greater demand. Therefore, leading architects are gradually changing their approaches to the organization of public space and put humans, pedestrian transport, and its requirements first. In the Czech Republic, the trend is gradually changing, as it is worldwide. Walking again plays an important role in the creation of sustainable mobility plans for the cities of the Czech Republic. The main problems arise in the actual implementation of these ideas, as the legislative requirements are formulated only in general, unlike the requirements for road transport, which sets out the requirements for minimum road profiles in the context of design speed and traffic intensity in a given cross-section. These requirements are set out in Decree No. 501/2006 Coll. on general requirements for land use and also in CSN 73 6110 Design of local roads (CSN is Czech technical norm). However, such a categorization of requirements for pedestrian roads is not yet solved uniformly for the entire territory of the Czech Republic, even though CSN 73 6110 deals with sidewalks (functional group D roads). ). So far, this categorization is replaced only by seldom locally valid methodologies, manuals, or requirements and regulations in the town plans of individual cities. This paper aims to search for current approaches, legislative requirements, and approaches to addressing the width requirements for pedestrian roads in public space in the context of the classification of this area.

Construction Of Express Roads In Latvian State Main Road Network

Latvian State Road Development Strategy for 2020 – 2040 was approved in the year 2020. It is a vision that includes long-term perspectives, strategic goals, tasks and priorities for road network development, and it is created for more efficient planning of state road network development, as well as, attracting additional funding for state owned roads. The aim of the Strategy 2040 is to create an efficient road network ensuring that the bypass of the Riga City is accessible within two hours from every national and regional development centre in Latvia. Development centres would be accessible within 45 minutes from every Latvian urban settlement along state regional and local roads. The strategic task is to create sections of express roads in the total length of 1000 kilometres thus improving traffic safety and reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. When creating the Strategy 2040 both the changes in traffic and road use and the changes in the location of population were studied. The Strategy foresees that high-speed express road sections would connect the Riga City with the biggest cities. The proposed plan of road network development is created with the aim to cover as large a population as possible. Special attention is paid to the Riga City, as it serves as the central hub for Latvian and Baltic transportation. After the implementation of the Strategy 2040, the Riga City would be reached within 30 minutes from the nearest development centres.

REUSE OF BRIDGE GIRDERS AS BRIDGE SPAN STRUCTURES OF TEMPORARY BRIDGES

Introduction. This article presents the results of study of the quality of girders that were used for the construction of temporary road bridge. In the bridge construction practice there is a need to use girders in the construction of road bridges on local roads that can be reused in temporary bridges construction. It is important when using such structures to determine their reliability for long-term operation. The cost of bridge girders is up to 60% of the cost of a new bridge, so the reuse of utilizedsed girders is economically feasible. Utilized girders can be reused on local roads and temporary bridges. Problem statement. To determine the usability of utilized girders in temporary bridges construction and provide recommendations for the girders reuse and possible bridge design structures. Materials and methods. The following works were performed during the inspection: visual inspection of the girders at places of their storage after dismounting; measurement of the basic sizes of girders; determination of concrete strength by non-destructive test method; determination of the number of working reinforcement and the protective layer thickness; measurements of pH of concrete of a protective layer were performed; registration of existing defects was performed. The following measurements were performed during the tests: general displacements and deformations of structural elements of the structures; relative deformations of cross sections; local deformations (displacements in joints). Results. According to the results of tests and calculations, the bearing capacity of the bridge span structure was determined. After analyzing the results of experimental and theoretical studies, conclusions were made regarding the operational performance of the girders of the bridge span structure. Conclusions. Girders in the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd technical state can be considered suitable for bridge span structures unreservedly. Girders in the 4th technical state, need repairing and reinforcement for reuse in bridge span structures. They cannot be used without repairing. Girders in the 5th technical state cannot be used in the span structures of road bridges. They can be used, for example, as transition slabs, or for pedestrian bridges and crossings, or can be used for testing the technology of bridge structures repairing. Thus, tests of bridge girders and full-size joints testify that the accepted design decision provides the needed bearing capacity of girders and of the bridge span structure as a whole. This confirms the sufficient reliability of utilized girders in the further work. Practice shows that it is also needed to pay great attention to the following: firstly- to the methods of dismantling the girders without damage; secondly — to the proper storage of girders after dismantling.