Search results for "Transportation"
showing 10 items of 860 documents
A model for evaluating the environmental and functional benefits of “innovative” roundabouts
2015
This study looks at the singling out of a multi-parameter criterion for choosing conventional or innovative roundabout layouts, by taking functional, environmental and economic aspects into consideration. The performances of three conventional roundabouts (with different lane number at entries and through the ring), turbo-roundabouts and roundabouts with right-turn bypass lane on all the arms (flower roundabouts) have been compared in terms of vehicle delays and pollutant (carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particle pollution (PM10 and PM2.5)) emissions. By means of closed-form capacity models and with the help of COPERT IV© software, several traffic simulations have been carried out, referre…
Influence of coordinated traffic lights parameters on roadside pollutant concentrations
2009
Abstract The paper examines the effects of coordinated traffic lights on CO and C 6 H 6 roadside concentrations in an urban area of Palermo in Southern Italy. Traffic loop detectors and one pollution-monitoring are used to collect data for use in DRACULA traffic microsimulator software. CO and C 6 H 6 roadside concentrations associated with varying cycle and offset times of the coordinated traffic lights are estimated using a neural network. Two functions were set up describing the relations of pollutant concentrations in term of cycle and offset time.
Enhanced transport-related air pollution prediction through a novel metamodel approach
2017
Abstract This research proposes a novel approach to improve the ability to forecast low frequency extreme events of transport-related pollution in urban areas using a limited input data set. The approach is based on the idea of a self-managing model, able to adapt to unexpected changes in pollution level. In more detail, for a given combination of variables, it selects the most suitable prediction model within a set of alternative air quality models, estimated for a wider range of locations and conditions. In this study, the new approach is tested for the prediction of nitrogen dioxide concentration in the United Kingdom (UK), specifically in an air quality monitoring site of the Greater Ma…
A questionnaire to assess parental perception of barriers towards active commuting to school (PABACS): Reliability and validity
2019
Abstract Introduction Parental barriers are a key factor to determine physical activity behaviors, such as active commuting to school in young people. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of a questionnaire which addresses parental barriers towards active commuting to school. Methods This paper describes the development, following the Delphi method, and the validation of a Likert-scale questionnaire of 23 items (Parental Perception of Barriers towards Active Commuting to School (PABACS)) designed to determine the main parental barriers. These barriers are categorized into 3 scales (general, walking, and cycling barriers) and the overall questionnaire. A total o…
The impact on port competition of the integration of port and inland transport services
2015
The performance of the transport chain is important for the efficiency and competitiveness of an economy. In the context of port competition, there has been an increasing cooperation between firms involved in the intermodal transport chain including seaport services. This paper examines the economic incentives and welfare implications to the integration of port activities with inland transport services under inter-ports competition. Although ports find it advantageous to engage in such integration process it may be detrimental to welfare, since shippers’ aggregate surplus decreases – noting that farther away users benefit at the expense of those closer to the ports. Several scenarios not le…
Knowledge, perceived effectiveness and qualification of traffic rules, police supervision, sanctions and justice
2017
Road safety is a complex process that not only depends on technical and environmental improvements, but in a major part from human factors. In this sense, recent empirical studies have remarked the need to study the interaction between subject and laws, at the glance of several elements preceding road behavior. This is the case of attitudes, opinions and perceptions in the field of road safety, factors that influence the interaction with issues such as traffic rules, police supervision, penalties and justice in traffic. The objective of this study was to describe the self-rated knowledge and perceptions regarding traffic norms and its interaction with road safety among drivers. For this stu…
Silent, Unsafe...and Underestimated?. Exploring the relationships between life stress and safety issues among spanish drivers
2022
Almost all the recent studies addressing road safety from the approach of human factors agree that stress is one of the most considerable (but underestimated) threats for safe driving. However, evidence on the relationship between stressful life events and driver performance remains scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess life stress-related perceptions of Spanish drivers, as well as exploring their relationships with self-reported driving performance, decision-making and other road safety-related issues. Methods: This cross-sectional research analysed the information gathered from a nationwide sample of n=840 Spanish drivers responding to an electronic survey on psychosocial issues, …
Working conditions, job strain, and traffic safety among three groups of public transport drivers
2018
Background: Working conditions and psychosocial work factors have acquired an important role explaining the well-being and performance of professional drivers, including those working in the field of public transport. This study aimed to examine the association between job strain and the operational performance of public transport drivers and to compare the expositions with psychosocial risk at work of three different types of transport workers: taxi drivers, city bus drivers, and interurban bus drivers. Method: A sample of 780 professional drivers was drawn from three transport companies in Bogota (Colombia). The participants answered the Job Content Questionnaire and a set of sociodemogra…
Supporting public decision process in buildings energy retrofitting operations: the application of a Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding model to a cas…
2020
Abstract The challenge of promoting sustainable cities and reaching the objectives developed by the European Green Deal includes the renovation of the building sector, as it is responsible for 40% of energy consumption in Europe. Regional or local public administrations have to allocate their financial resources for improving the energy performances of their building stock and to face a multidimensional problem, where different aspects – such as energy efficiency, financial-economic feasibility and environmental protection – have to be harmonized. The present study proposes a Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding model, which includes the ELECTRE TRI-nC method, for supporting the public decisio…