Highway Area Research Articles

Ecological – hygienic soil assessment of the federal highway roadside areas

Over a half (about 54 %) of all types of anthropogenic pollution belongs to transport. Soils at roadside areas experience active pollution with heavy metals, which are the most hazardous contaminants penetrating into the soil with the exhaust gases due to the increased traffic intensity of vehicles. Hygienic assessment of heavy metals content in the roadside area soils of the Federal highway “R-22” with a total length of 798 km has been carried out in this research. The results based on soil sampling at 11 points along the entire length of the highway at the distance of 20 and 50 m from the roadbed have been assessed. Soil sampling was done in compliance with the State Standard of GOST 17.4.4.02-2017 by the envelope method from the soil horizon at the depth of 0-20 cm. HM content in soil samples was determined by the X-ray fluorescence method applying spectrometer “Spectroscan MAX-G” in compliance with the Environmental State Standards PND F 16.1.42-04. The greatest HM content was detected in the roadside area located on the black soils of spodzol, typical, southern, dark chestnut and chestnut saline soils. It testifies of the considerable soil contamination by the passing vehicles and of a real ecological harm to public health and environment. In order to reveal harmful contaminants for the population living at the roadside areas, it is recommended to organize sanitary and hygienic monitoring of soil, surface and groundwater of the roadside areas which are subject to constant HM exposure and accumulation exceeding maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) and approximate permissible amounts (APA) set by sanitary and hygienic standards.

METHODOLOGY FOR THE CALCULATION OF EMISSIONS FOR NON-STATIONARY TRANSPORT FLOW

Introduction.Two methods among five in regulatory documents of the Russian Federation can be interested for assessing the quality of traffic management by environmental indicators. Only such methods take into account the parameters of the traffic flow that affect the volume of emissions. The parameter influencing the results of calculations in both methods is an average motion speed. Moreover, there are areas on urban highways, where traffic moves unevenly (braking, dispersal, stopping). Therefore, such factor entails an increase in the volume of emissions from vehicles. At the same time, this uneven movement is largely due to the existing organization of traffic (TO) on certain elements of the street-road network (SRN). Accordingly, the method for calculating pollutant emissions to assess the quality of TO, which take into account the unevenness of traffic flow, should be developed.Materials and methods. The paper proposes to take into account the average speed of traffic in those parts, where the traffic flow moves stationary, and on the elements of the main traffic line, where the traffic flow is non-stationary, and to take into account additional emissions. Moreover, the additional emission from the traffic flow should be considered separately in the following cases: if the cars stop (there are deceleration modes, idling and acceleration) and in the situation, when cars decrease their speed (slowdown and acceleration).Results.As a result, the difference between calculations of carbon monoxide emissions by the proposed method and by the GOST methodology is 57%, and for emissions of nitrogen oxides is 94%.Discussion and conclusion. The proposed methodology allows accurately assessing the quality of the TO on the section of the urban highway and its individual elements on environmental indicators. In addition, the proposed methodology would allow carrying out calculations for the evaluation of road traffic projects and activities, which aim to reduce the harmful impact of traffic on the environment of the highway areas.

Rockfall Hazard Rating System(s) in Saudi Arabia – A Review

Slope instability along highways in mountainous areas is not only a major hazard for lives and passing vehicles but also may hinder traffic for long period and thus create significant economic loss. The most common type of slope instability failures in such areas is rockfalls. Many qualitative rockfall hazard rating systems (RHRSs) have been developed across the world. However, the Middle East almost lacks to such systems. For instance, in Saudi Arabia, which has the largest economy in the region, only one system of rockfall hazard rating system (RHRS-SA) has been developed up to now. This paper aimed to critically review this system. Some drawbacks were found in the RHRS-SA. However, the main disadvantage was that the final rating score of risk is not consistent with risk definition. In sum, the remarkable findings of this review can be accounted either for any future modifications for the RHRS-SA or to develop a new rockfall hazard rating system but for a specific area(s) in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of road geometry on driver fatigue in monotonous environments: A simulator study

Driver fatigue, induced by task monotony can increase the risk of road accidents. Highways are usually designed with few geometric changes so that high-speed traveling would be possible. Such conditions when combined with repetitive and stimulus-free environments, create a monotonous driving experience that can lead to mind wandering and task disengagement, and subsequently affect driver’s performance. This paper focuses on the relationship between road geometry and driver’s vigilance level in monotonous environments. Therefore a driving simulator experiment with three different scenarios, which were originated from three existing highways in rural areas of Iran, with low, moderate, and high levels of geometric variety was developed. Participants drove for 45 min in each scenario and their steering wheel movements (SWM), standard deviation of steering wheel movements (SDSWM), and lane positioning ability (indexed by the area between trajectory and road’s centerline (ABTC)) was analyzed. The results indicated a significant effect of road design on lane positioning (P < .001). The mean value of total ABTCs showed 11.3 and 20.6 percent of performance improvement for scenarios with moderate and high geometric variety respectively. Also, a significant effect of time on task was observed on SWM and SDSWM (P < .001). However, the deterioration rate was considerably lower in scenarios with higher geometric variety. This work can help to develop more efficient monotony countermeasures with regards to road’s geometric design characteristics. It also provides useful information for more optimized road designs in such environments from driver’s mental workload perspective.

Analysis the Sources of Water Pollution in Construction Area of Expressway around Shaoqing reservoir

Highway is an important national infrastructure and plays an important role in the development of national economy. Owing to the long construction period of the highway, across the surface water and other characteristics, many kinds of harmful substances are very easy to pollute the water and exert great disturbance to the environment and ecology. In order to further improve the “ecological civilization” of expressway construction and fully implement the requirements for the construction of low-carbon highway, this paper combines the changes of water quality in the construction stages of the Shaoqing reservoir in Kunming City, analyses the change of pollution sources on the water quality and gives the corresponding preventive measures for the construction of environmental protection.

Study on Construction Safety Risk Assessment of Mountainous Area Highway through Karst Roadbed

In combination of construction safety status of a certain mountainous area highway through karst roadbed in Zhejiang Province, investigation and analysis on influencing factors for karst roadbed construction safety are conducted from the aspects of hydrogeologic condition, blanket condition, inducing factor and construction environment. Reasonable risk assessment indexes are selected on this basis. Establishment of construction safety risk assessment system on basis of analytic hierarchy process realizes quantitative analysis and evaluation of risk source of karst roadbed construction. Research findings are of important reference value and guiding significance to perfection of construction safety risk assessment of mountainous area highway.

Visual scale and Naturalness of Roadside Vegetation Landscape. An exploratory study at Pargua Highway, Puerto Montt – Chile

Over the last few decades, the Chilean Government has constantly promoted the construction of private highways in order to increase the effectiveness in terms of transportation of goods and people all along the country. In this way, heavy road infrastructures, landscape fragmentation, loss of endangered animals’ habitat, loss of visual quality, and a decrease of biodiversity patches have emerged. Despite this, some greenery – native and introduced flora/fauna, natural elements, colors, lines, patterns, among others- can be partly seen in certain areas of Chilean highways. In particular, this paper focuses on the main route connecting Puerto Montt and Pargua cities in Los Lagos region.The objectives of this qualitative research are threefold. Firstly, to measure main Landscape attributes and Visual scale characteristics through a fieldwork by the roadside of Pargua highway (Alto Bonito Area) using a scale of attributes adapted from Tveit et al. (2007). Secondly, to measure the type of vegetation through an environmental inventory (phytosociological analysis). Thirdly, to measure the degree of management of the highway considering its maintenance and human intervention.Wilderness and Naturalness are scarcely observed on the roadside due to a concentrated presence of human interventions such as landfills and overpasses. The visual scale is checked in fieldwork from several scopes. On the southeast side of the road, Las Canchas Area is covered by high trees, houses, and industries which hinder the view of the natural surrounding landscape. On the right side of the road, it presents a clear skyline of Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes. Finally, any management of high quality of the visual scenery of this type of landscape from the route concessionaire is is randomly done. However, the vegetation surface itself has been working out a way to protect the land from erosion and desertification.

A Review of the Factors That Determine Whether Stormwater Ponds Are Ecological Traps And/or High-Quality Breeding Sites for Amphibians

Stormwater ponds were originally constructed to control the quantity and quality of runoff on urban roads and highways before it was released to the environment. Often, stormwater ponds were designed in a technical feat of civil engineering, with no particular ecological or landscape objective in mind. Nevertheless, they are colonized spontaneously by diverse species, including amphibians. Through an initial review of the scientific literature, the objective of this study was to understand which factors determine that a pond can be considered as an ecological trap or a valuable breeding site fort amphibian. The first step was to question the role of the pond environment as a major factor in its colonization by amphibians, demonstrating that not all ponds are colonized by the same variety of species. The internal factors in the ponds that define them as ecological traps or sustainable breeding sites for amphibians was also considered. After confirming the functional and structural similarity between highway and urban stormwater ponds, 25 publications were compared, with study sites mostly located in Europe and North America, and concerning the colonization of stormwater ponds by amphibians in urban or highway areas. Several factors were identified that may affect the ecological viability of these basins: 1) the factors related to the shape of the ponds (inclination of the banks, materials used, etc.); 2) the biotic factors (aquatic vegetation, presence of predators, etc.); 3) the abiotic factors (luminosity, water level in the ponds, etc.); and 4) pollutants. The low number of publications on this subject, as well as the law variety in the location of study sites, only allows for cautious conclusions be drawn. In particular, stormwater ponds located in highly anthropogenic landscapes can be both ecological traps and suitable habitats for amphibian breeding. This depends on the species that colonize each pond, many internal factors, and the environmental context in which it is embedded. Additional research is therefore needed in other parts of the world - particularly in amphibian biodiversity hotspots - as well as other impact factors such as the effects of different maintenance practices.

Assessing Roadway Contributions to Stormwater Flows, Concentrations, and Loads with the StreamStats Application

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and other state departments of transportation need quantitative information about the percentages of different land cover categories above any given stream crossing in the state to assess and address roadway contributions to water-quality impairments and resulting total maximum daily loads. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with ODOT and the FHWA, added roadway and land cover information to the online StreamStats application to facilitate analysis of stormwater runoff contributions from different land covers. Analysis of 25 delineated basins with drainage areas of about 100 mi2 indicates the diversity of land covers in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. On average, agricultural, developed, and undeveloped land covers comprise 15%, 2.3%, and 82% of these basin areas. On average, these basins contained about 10 mi of state highways and 222 mi of non-state roads. The Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model was used with available water-quality data to simulate long-term yields of total phosphorus from highways, non-highway roadways, and agricultural, developed, and undeveloped areas. These yields were applied to land cover areas obtained from StreamStats for the Willamette River above Wilsonville, Oregon. This analysis indicated that highway yields were larger than yields from other land covers because highway runoff concentrations were higher than other land covers and the highway is fully impervious. However, the total highway area was a fraction of the other land covers. Accordingly, highway runoff mitigation measures can be effective for managing water quality locally, they may have limited effect on achieving basin-wide stormwater reduction goals.

The Application of Three-Dimensional Integrated Protection Technology in High Slope Control of Mountainous Highway

In the process of China's national economy construction, the role of highway traffic is unquestionable. And with the continuous development of society and the continuous improvement of highway grade, the work of the highway slope governance become a top priority, especially for some mountainous area highway, strengthen management of slope is very critical. The emergence of three-dimensional comprehensive protection technology has created great convenience for the management of the slope of the mountainous highway, and the safety of the mountain highway has been improved effectively. In view of this, the paper focuses on the application of three-dimensional integrated protection technology in the treatment of highway high slope in mountainous areas for reference and reference.

Optimization Twist Angle of Darrius Wind Turbine with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation for Highway Area Application

The research conducted to analyze and optimization of Darrius wind turbine based on air velocity and twist angle blade which can influence of turbine torque, turbine rotation speed and turbine power capacity. The method of research uses three steps that is the air velocity observation, wind turbine design, and simulation of wind turbine design. The twist angle as a variable parameter has degree angle of 0° and 30°. The result showed that the Darrius wind turbine with the twist angle of 30° which has chosen has the torque value is 0.285 N m that capable to increase the rotation speed is 6.42 rpm, and generate the turbine power capacity is 0.221 W. The research will be continuing to data validation with the result of pilot scale experiment.

Performance and Cost Perspective in Selecting BMPs for Linear Projects

Roads and developed land can alter hydrologic pathways, cause erosion, and increase pollution to nearby waters. Best management practices (BMPs) are commonly used to reduce adverse effects of post-construction runoff. This study is focused on providing performance and cost information for optimally selecting the BMPs for retaining post-construction stormwater on site. The performance of BMPs was simulated numerically using an idealized catchment in an urban setting environment. The cost of construction and maintenance of these BMPs were based on unit price. The considered BMPs were bioswale, infiltration trench, and vegetated filter strip. The effects of vegetated covers such as turf or prairie grass on stormwater runoff reduction of linear projects with and without BMPs were also evaluated. Finally, based on construction cost, maintenance costs, and performance of BMPs, recommendations are made to help decision makers in implementing the optimal BMP to control stormwater runoff for highways in urban areas.

REDESAIN TERMINAL SERUNI DENGAN PENEKANAN SISTEM WAYFINDING DI CILEGON, BANTEN

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Bus terminal in its role to help facilitating transportation activities especially in the distribution process of passengers in a city currently is not functioning optimally, as happened in Terminal Seruni Cilegon, Banten. Terminal which has supported regional scale transportation services (categorized as B type) with additional operating for AKAP, it’s still categorized as C-type terminal with an area of &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;+&lt;/span&gt; 2 hectares, so that, both of main and supporting facilities have not been able to accommodate the functions of the current terminal activities. The function of this terminal which is still lacking, stimulate a behavior of public transportation, buses and passengers were reluctant to enter the terminal, instead they are moving to an area outside the Terminal, especially at area of Cilegon highway, which cause traffic jams in the area. The design issue is how to make a redesign concept of Terminal Seruni in Cilegon, Banten with the emphasis of wayfinding systems in facilitating user’s mobility to provide efficient orientation. The objective is to improve the quality of the buildings and restore the function and activity of area of East Cilegon highway into the area of Terminal Seruni. The method used is a method of designing architecture with the emphasis of wayfinding system. The results obtained are re-design with the emphasis of wayfinding system in Terminal Seruni which is applied in the space program based on zoning and spatial layout to determine the user's movement; lane separation for pedestrians and vehicles which can be supported with tools to help the orientation; circulation that provides comfort and ease of movement for the user, both circulation of vehicles and humans so that it will increase the efficiency of circulation in Terminal Seruni; as well as the design of the building that representative through the presence of a landmark combined with a sign or other additional sensors to strengthen the identity of Terminal Seruni.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keywords&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;: R&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;e-design, Bus Terminal, Wayfinding Systems, Efficiency Of Circulation&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of tire inclination (turning traffic) and dynamic loading on the pavement stress–strain responses using 3-D finite element modeling

In this study, ABAQUS finite element (FE) modeling in three-dimensional (3-D) loading mode was utilized to analytically investigate and quantify the effects of tire inclination and dynamic loading on the stress–strain responses of a pavement structure under varying loading and environmental conditions. The input variables for modeling consisted of actual laboratory and field data obtained from an in-service highway US 59 and included the in-situ pavement structure, material properties (i.e., modulus and shear strength), traffic, and climatic (i.e., temperature) data. Computational modeling and sensitivity analyses were conducted through variation of the following two input variables with a focus on the top surfacing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer: a) tire inclination angle to simulate turning traffic, and, b) dynamic loading to simulate accelerating, steady rolling, and decelerating (braking) traffic. The generated maximum shear stress and vertical strain responses were then analyzed and correlated to the HMA material strength and the actual measured/observed field rutting performance data. The corresponding results indicated that inclined tires (simulating turning traffic) and decelerating (braking) vehicles induced the most severe shear stresses and vertical strains on the pavement structure in terms of magnitude (i.e., increased); exceeding the HMA material strength in some cases. Thus, for pavement design and structural analysis purposes, the following critical highway areas that may be subjected to extreme stresses and strains due to turning and stopping (braking) traffic, particularly in high temperature environments, should be given more attention with respect to material strength characterization to mitigate potential shear/rutting failures: intersections, junctions; urban stop–go sections, and curves.

Екологічні особливості поширення лишайників антропогенно трансформованих територій Криворіжжя

&lt;p&gt;We observed the diversity of lichens at different levels of aerotechnogenic pollution of industrial mining – metallurgical complex of Krivyi Rig Basin. We registered the reduction of vegetation cover and reducing of the size of thallus in the highway area with undesirable living conditions to lichens&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;We suggested&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;that specific composition and distribution patterns of cladinas is subject of the industrial loading. Most of lichen species are tolerant to urbanization and widely distributed in the built-up area of industrial mining, whereas only a few lichens sensitive to urbanization were recorded. We registered the domination of crustaceous cladinas with insignificant participation of fissile cladinas and complete absence of bushy forms that could be possible consequence of industrial influence.&lt;/p&gt;

Whole Blood Cytokine Response to Local Traffic-Related Particulate Matter in Peruvian Children With and Without Asthma.

This study sought to investigate if acute phase immune responses of whole blood from Peruvian children with controlled and uncontrolled asthma differed from children without asthma, following exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (TRPM). TRPM, including particulate matter from diesel combustion, has been shown to stimulate acute airway inflammation in individuals with and without asthma. For this study, a whole blood assay (WBA) was used to test peripheral whole blood samples from 27 children with asthma, and 12 without asthma. Participant blood samples were stimulated, ex vivo, for 24-h with an aqueous extract of TRPM that was collected near study area highways in Lima, Peru. All participant blood samples were tested against the same TRPM extract, in addition to purified bacterial endotoxin and pyrogen-free water, which served as positive and negative WBA controls, respectively. The innate and adaptive cytokine responses were evaluated in cell-free supernatants of the whole blood incubations. Comparatively similar levels were recorded for nine out of the 10 cytokines measured [e.g., – Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10], regardless of study participant asthma status. However, IL-8 levels in TRPM-stimulated blood from children with uncontrolled asthma were diminished, compared to subjects without asthma (633 pg/ml vs. 1,023 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.01); IL-8 responses for subjects with controlled asthma were also reduced, but to a lesser degree (799 pg/ml vs. 1,023 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.10). These relationships were present before, and after, adjusting for age, sex, obesity/overweight status, C-reactive protein levels, and residential proximity to the study area’s major roadway. For tests conducted with endotoxin, there were no discernible differences in cytokine response between groups, for all cytokines measured. The WBA testing conducted for this study highlighted the capacity of the TRPM extract to potently elicit the release of IL-8 from the human whole blood system. Although the small sample size of the study limits the capacity to draw definitive conclusions, the IL-8 responses suggest that that asthma control may be associated with the regulation of a key mediator in neutrophil chemotaxis, at a systemic level, following exposure to PM derived from traffic-related sources.

Stability Analysis on Cataclastic Rock High Slope of Highway Reconstruction in Eastern Yunnan Province

This study on right side roadbed slope (No.2 Zhu-gen mountain) project relies on K33+020~K33+240 of Xiao-Long highway in mountain areas of eastern Yunnan province. Research focus on cataclastic rock slope stability of highway reconstruction project and strength degradation of saturated cataclastic rock. With sandstone sampling by ultrasonic-rebound combined method, mechanical and deformation behavior of natural samples and saturated samples were tested by the dynamic tri-axial instrument of MTS815.04. On the factors of experimented data, field data and field condition, numerical simulation analysis on slope stability by MIDAS was took. Results shows that factors of saturated samples as compressive strength decreased 31.12%, cohesion decreased 22.47%, angle of internal friction decreased 28.57% and elastic module decreased 28.98%, for which is water-sensitive rock. Slope safe factor on natural state was 1.7625 and on saturated state was 0.5125 after excavating, which demonstrates that slope was stable on natural state and unstable on saturated state. The results provide guidance for slope protection and construction.

Single-vehicle crashes along rural mountainous highways in Malaysia: An application of random parameters negative binomial model

Mountainous highways generally associate with complex driving environment because of constrained road geometries, limited cross-section elements, inappropriate roadside features, and adverse weather conditions. As a result, single-vehicle (SV) crashes are overrepresented along mountainous roads, particularly in developing countries, but little attention is known about the roadway geometric, traffic and weather factors contributing to these SV crashes. As such, the main objective of the present study is to investigate SV crashes using detailed data obtained from a rigorous site survey and existing databases. The final dataset included a total of 56 variables representing road geometries including horizontal and vertical alignment, traffic characteristics, real-time weather condition, cross-sectional elements, roadside features, and spatial characteristics. To account for structured heterogeneities resulting from multiple observations within a site and other unobserved heterogeneities, the study applied a random parameters negative binomial model. Results suggest that rainfall during the crash is positively associated with SV crashes, but real-time visibility is negatively associated. The presence of a road shoulder, particularly a bitumen shoulder or wider shoulders, along mountainous highways is associated with less SV crashes. While speeding along downgrade slopes increases the likelihood of SV crashes, proper delineation decreases the likelihood. Findings of this study have significant implications for designing safer highways in mountainous areas, particularly in the context of a developing country.

Research on Xinjiang Mountainous Area Highway Pavement Construction Technology in Low Temperature

Since low temperature environment is one of the major problems encountered in the construction of asphalt pavement in northern XinJiang, this paper analyzes the solutions of Saiguo highway asphalt pavement construction technology in low temperature. It is the first time to use Chinese domestic warm mix agent (WMA) to study asphalt mixture performance. The relevant test roads are carried out on this basis. According to road effect of test roads, WMA has certain practical engineering value.

Highway Traffic Accident Influence Area Based on Vehicle Bypass Decision-Making Index

In order to reduce the impact of highway traffic accidents on surrounding road networks, accident influence area should be determined reasonably. According to the relationship between vehicle bypass decision-making index and threshold under accident condition, the vehicles’ route choice behavior at upstream of the accident spot can be divided into two types: bypass and nonbypass. Under nonbypass condition, the method of using traffic wave theory was put forward to determine the upstream influence area. Under bypass condition, the total number of bypass vehicles is determined based on bypass decision-making index being greater than bypass threshold. Assignment algorithms based on routes were proposed. Using improved Logit model to get the selection probability and the traffic flow of each route, then traffic flow of surrounding links could be obtained. At last, the road network influenced by the accident could be determined by comparing with the level of service of each link under normal condition. The paper takes Beijing-Kunming highway as an example, and the results show that the road network formed by the influenced links was highway traffic accident influence area. Comparing with the actual survey results, correctness of the calculation method is verified. Therefore, the analytical method based on bypass decision-making is applicable to determining highway accident influence area.