Interurban Road Research Articles

An advanced approach for estimation of PCU values on undivided urban roads under heterogeneous traffic conditions

ABSTRACTMajority of the existing studies on passenger car unit (PCU) estimation are limited to inter-urban and divided urban roads. The characteristics of traffic on undivided urban roads are completely different from those on divided roads. This study aims to estimate the PCU values on undivided urban roads with varying traffic conditions. Estimation of PCU requires speed information for individual vehicle categories. Hence, a universal Kriging-based speed prediction model was developed and utilized for PCU estimation. The model was constructed based on the classified traffic volume and speed data that were collected by videography method on undivided urban road segments in different cities in India. The proposed model was utilized to study the effects of traffic volume, traffic composition, and carriageway width on PCU. An alternative approach of ‘Stream Equivalency Factor’ has also been suggested in this paper. Use of this approach can simplify the process of determining the homogeneous equivalent of a mixed traffic flow.

Towards Low-Carbon Interurban Road Strategies: Identifying Hot Spots Road Corridors in Spain

Reducing traffic emissions is key in transport planning and infrastructure management in order to achieve a sustainable transport system. This paper contributes to this topic in two ways. The first step describes a comprehensive methodology for identifying hot spots road segments and corridors with problems of GHG emissions to enable low-carbon actions. The Highway Energy Assessment (HERA) methodology is applied to the national road network of Spain in order to estimate interurban traffic emissions and calculate the emissions index to assess strategies. The results are shown graphically on a GIS, allowing to identify seven corridors with emissions problems comprising 25% of the network and being responsible for 51% of the total GHG emissions in 2012. Inefficient corridors were those with high rates of heavy vehicles, high speeds and steep gradients. The second step consists of the application of a set of strategies to reduce their emissions and their comparison to the reference scenario. The Mediterranean corridor—the most inefficient corridor—was selected to apply a set of abatement strategies. The most effective strategy was speed enforcement for light vehicles. A speed reduction of 10 km/h could produce a 3.5% savings in emissions compared to the reference scenarios, and decrease emissions intensity from 254 gCO2eq/veh-km to 246 gCO2eq/veh-km.

Double Magnetic Loop and Methods for Calculating Its Inductance

Due to their simplicity and operating mode, magnetic loops are one of the most used traffic sensors in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). However, at this moment, their potential is not being fully exploited, as neither the speed nor the length of the vehicles can be surely ascertained with the use of a single magnetic loop. In this way, the vast majority of them are only being used to count vehicles on urban and interurban roads. For this reason, in order to contribute to the development of new traffic sensors and make roads safer, this paper introduces a theoretical study to explain the design and peculiarities of the innovative double loops, how to calculate their magnetic field and three different methods to calculate their inductance. Finally, the different inductance values obtained by these three methods will be analyzed and compared with experimental measurements carried out by our research group in order to know which method is more accurate and if all of them are equally reliable.

Methodology and trends for an intelligent transport system in developing countries

Increasingly, the technologies that are used in telecommunications contribute to improve intelligent transport systems. These technologies are systems that offer several concepts like vehicular ad hoc networks, which allow reduction of traffic accidents, traffic congestion and consequently increase road safety and the comfort of road users. Developing countries in general and those of sub-Sahara in particular do not have telecommunication infrastructures, even road infrastructures for the implementation of an intelligent transport system. Moreover, with the serious increase in vehicles in these countries, the problem of traffic regulation arise especially in the inter-urban context. One of the consequences of this problem is the high rate of road traffic accidents. Several models of traffic regulation as well as modeling systems of urban transport networks are presented in the literature. Unfortunately these models are intended for developed countries. The aim of this paper is to present, firstly the problems of the implementation of intelligent transport systems in developing countries like sub-Saharan Africa. Secondly, we present a survey of a road traffic model and an urban transport network models. Finally, we propose solutions, which provide methodologies for the modeling of a system and monitor traffic on inter-urban road transport networks in developing countries.

A Survey of Non-Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Babol, Northern Iran

Background: Every year, millions of people die or are injured due to road traffic accidents worldwide. Investigating the epidemiology of these accidents could help reduce their frequency. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of non-fatal traffic accidents in Babol, northern Iran, over a seven-year period. Methods: Between 2010 and 2016, all of the orthopedic patients with road traffic accidents hospitalized at Shahid Beheshti hospital of Babol were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients’ information, including details of the accidents and demographic characteristics, was collected using predesigned checklists. Results: The majority of 3649 subjects (2748, 75.3%) were male. The age range was from 1 to 86 years old, with an average of 30.5±15.4 years. Traffic accidents were mostly seen in the age group of 19 - 40 years (58.7%) and in those who were drivers (52.7%). The accidents were highest in 2016 (19.9%), and on interurban roads (32.9%), on sunny days (73.4%), asphalt roads (74.3%), and in the morning (42.8%). November (12.7%) was associated with the highest monthly rate, followed by August (11.9%) and March (11.2%). Fractures were observed mostly in the leg (n = 960), followed by the forearm (n = 773). Conclusions: The results showed that road traffic accidents have increased in recent years. It is recommended to improve the traffic safety with the improvement of the geometric design of the roads, especially in roads with a high probability of accident risk.

Exploring relationships between driving events identified by in-vehicle data recorders, infrastructure characteristics and road crashes

There is an increasing interest in technology-based solutions that can assist drivers in reducing their risk of involvement in road crashes. Previous studies showed that driving events produced by in-vehicle data recorders (IVDR) are applicable for identification of unsafe driving patterns, while combined examinations of driving events and road infrastructure characteristics are rare. This study explored the relationship between the IVDR-driving events, road characteristics and crashes, to examine a potential of the events for predicting crashes and identification of high-risk locations on the road network. The study database included 3500 segments of the interurban roads in Israel, for which the automatically produced IVDR events were matched with road infrastructure characteristics and crashes. Negative-binomial regression models were adjusted for the relationships between road characteristics and driving events, and subsequently, between events and crashes, given the exposure. Significant impacts were found, yet various event types showed different relations to the infrastructure characteristics and different effects on crashes, on various road types. Better road conditions were associated with a decrease in “braking” events and an increase in the “speed alert” events, where road layout constraints and junction proximity were associated with an opposite effect on events. “Braking” and total events showed better potential for predicting crashes on single-carriageway roads, with a positive link to crashes, where for other road types the “speed alert” events were stronger related to crashes, but with a negative link. The heterogeneity of findings indicates a need in further research of the above relationship, with a particular focus on definitions of driving events produced by the IVDR or other technologies.

Impact of provincial characteristics on the number of traffic accident victims on interurban roads in Spain

This study has two aims. The first is to determine how various factors impact on the number of fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries adjusted for the level of traffic on interurban roads in Spain. The second is to establish the number of victims per million vehicle-kilometres (veh-km) travelled on interurban roads in each province resulting from the effect of its specific characteristics. To this end, we developed six fixed effect panel data models with panel corrected standard errors for the 1999–2015 period. Our results show that while the proportion of high capacity roads, the unemployment rate and the motorization rate contribute to a reduction in the number of fatalities, serious injuries and slight injuries adjusted for level of traffic, the penalty-points licence system is effective in reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries but not the number of slight injuries. Furthermore, the specific conditions in Ávila, Toledo, Madrid, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Balearic Islands, Lleida and all the provinces on the Mediterranean coast cause a higher number of victims per million veh-km travelled than in the remaining provinces. Thus, greater public investment and more socially responsible behaviour are essential tools for reducing the number of traffic accident victims on Spanish interurban roads. Moreover, the provincial institutions emerge as key agents in improving road safety, due to their greater knowledge of the specific conditions and factors affecting each province.

A practical framework to facilitate the presence of operation and maintenance contractors in the pre-occupancy phases: a case study

With population growth, demand for constructing infrastructures increases, as well as the costs associated with their operation and maintenance (O&M). One of the major measures in this regard is absence of O&M contractors in the early project phases. This project aims to present a framework to facilitate the presence of O&M knowledge in the early stages of design and implementation. In this qualitative study, data are collected from a case study. First, the researcher identifies barriers and solutions to the presence of O&M contractors using meta-synthesis approach. Then semi-structured interviews with a population of ten different stakeholders of inter-urban Iranian road infrastructures are used to match the literature data with the conditions governing real projects. This study concludes in a framework having processes that O&M contractors can apply which by taking their advantage, many duplications due to lack of knowledge are reduced and chance of success in project is increased.

A practical framework to facilitate the presence of operation and maintenance contractors in the pre-occupancy phases: a case study

With population growth, demand for constructing infrastructures increases, as well as the costs associated with their operation and maintenance (O&M). One of the major measures in this regard is absence of O&M contractors in the early project phases. This project aims to present a framework to facilitate the presence of O&M knowledge in the early stages of design and implementation. In this qualitative study, data are collected from a case study. First, the researcher identifies barriers and solutions to the presence of O&M contractors using meta-synthesis approach. Then semi-structured interviews with a population of ten different stakeholders of inter-urban Iranian road infrastructures are used to match the literature data with the conditions governing real projects. This study concludes in a framework having processes that O&M contractors can apply which by taking their advantage, many duplications due to lack of knowledge are reduced and chance of success in project is increased.

Analysis of the level of satisfaction of road network users - case review of road section Koprivna – Modriča (r-465)

The paper conducts a survey of satisfaction level of users of two lane road in regards to constructional-geometrical factors influencing unimpeded traffic and influence of human element during its maintenance. Establishing the satisfaction level of users of existing road network is the primary goal of the paper, through the definition of Level of Service of relevance for the analysis of traffic of interurban road network. The survey was conducted on the road section Koprivna – Modriča, regional road R-465 (Bušletić - Modriča). Using a questionnaire, the values of influence to the level of users’ satisfaction were established. Traffic infrastructure and elements of horizontal road signs have been identified as two main indicators giving negative grade to the level of satisfaction. The end of paper gives a review of measures for the improvement of existing conditions.

Drivers’ adoption of electronic payment in the Spanish toll road network

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems are based on tags, on-board units associated to personal bank accounts, used for paying tolls electronically. Despite the benefits associated to their use, acknowledged by public authorities among other stakeholders, these systems are relentlessly penetrating as a means for paying the use of roads worldwide. However, governments and infrastructure operators still have a great potential to increase the effectiveness and expediency of these mechanisms. Previous literature in this field has focused on analyzing users’ perceptions and willingness to pay to use toll roads. However, there is still room for addressing additional aspects such as drivers’ adoption of ETC systems in these road networks allowing the payment of tolls electronically. The aim of this paper is to identify the explanatory factors influencing the adoption of ETC technologies by toll road drivers. To that end, we exploit a nationwide survey conducted to road users in interurban toll roads in Spain, and develop a multilevel logit framework to explore users’ adoption and position towards the use of electronic tolling. The research concludes that drivers’ tag ownership is mainly related to trip-related attributes, while personal socioeconomic characteristics play a minor role. Then, it is not possible to establish specific socioeconomic user market segments to direct policy efforts aimed at increasing the penetration of ETC. Furthermore, according to the results, delivering tag devices for free would be an effective policy measure to encourage individuals adopting electronic tolling and making additional use of toll roads, due to the benefits provided by ETC systems.

Pemeriksaan Kesesuaian Kriteria Fungsi Jalan Dan Kondisi Geometrik Simpang Akibat Perubahan Dimensi Kendaraan Rencana

Arterial, collector, and local are the hierarchy of road function in urban areas. Each of them is composed by primary and secondary road network. Certain road functions have certain criterion. Those criterion help in determining the type of design vehicle. Dimensionals and turning radius of the design vehicle are related to road geometric, i.e. the lane width and the widening of horizontal curve and intersection. The aim of this research is to check the suitability of road function criterion with the intersection geometric condition at Dipatiukur and Hasanuddin streets in Bandung. Those streets are chosen because they experience a change of the design vehicle dimension. Dipatiukur street has a secondary collector function, while Hasanuddin street has a secondary local function. Pd.T-18-2004-B, the guideline about a determination of road function classification in urban areas, stated that bus is not permitted to get through a local secondary road. In fact, DAMRI bus line 7 can get through Hasanuddin street. The result of checking the suitability of road function criterion can be seen from both design speed and the width of the road. If the vehicle designed is a car, it can be concluded that those two streets meet the requirements. Meanwhile, the result of checking the intersection geometric condition shows that the turning radius, entering sight distance, and the path for a bus are not appropriate with Pt.T 02-2002-B guideline about a Geometric Intersection Designing Procedure and a Geometric Designing Procedure for Inter-Urban Road Numb. 038/TBM/1997.

Analyzing truck accident data on the interurban road Ankara–Aksaray–Eregli in Turkey: Comparing the performances of negative binomial regression and the artificial neural networks models

ABSTRACTStatistical methods such as Poisson distribution, negative binomial regression (NB), and zero inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) have generally been used in road safety studies to establish the complex relationships between variables. Over the last few years, the artificial neural networks (ANN) model has also been used. The ANN model does not have any prior limitations such as the equality condition of mean and variance observed in Poisson regression. However, though the ANN model has been used in the analysis of different accident types, to the best of our knowledge, no study has used the ANN model for establishing this relationship with truck accident data on divided multilane interurban roads. In this study, the road sections D750/07–D750/15 in Ankara–Aksaray–Eregli, Turkey, were considered and truck accident data from 2008 to 2011 were analyzed using NB and ANN. The analysis show that the ANN model has lower errors and higher R2 values than NB and performs slightly better than NB for predicting the number of trucks involved in accidents. Based on a comparison of performances the study concludes, that ANN could be used as an alternative model for analyzing truck accident data on divided multilane interurban roads in Turkey.

Statistical Analysis of Truck Accidents for Divided Multilane Interurban Roads in Turkey

Freight transportation is an important factor in Turkish economic growth, and the high volume of truck traffic has increased traffic accidents on Turkish roads. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have investigated the factors that contribute to truck accidents. This study aims to reduce truck accident involvement and quantify the effect of variables on the occurrence of truck accidents on divided multilane interurban roads in Turkey. This study documents the performance of Poisson, Negative Binomial (NB), and Zero-inflated Negative Binomial Regression (ZINB) models to establish the relation between truck accidents and traffic and geometric road characteristics on a 282 km section of the Ankara–Aksaray–Eregli divided multilane interurban road. Model coefficients were estimated by the maximum likelihood method, and deviance and the Akaike information criterion were considered as goodness of fit statistics. The Vuong test was used to determine the appropriateness of using the ZINB model rather than the NB model. The results show that the NB model fitted the data very well. The proposed model for Turkish divided multilane interurban roads with a high percentage of truck traffic might be useful to detect critical factors and reduce truck accident involvement.

IMPLEMENTATION OF BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON INTERURBAN BRIDGE IN MALUKU PROVINCE

Bridges as transport infrastructures play a vital role in smoothing traffic flows. The success of a bridge in playing its role and serving its function depends on its management. The Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Public Work has used a system to manage bridges known as the Bridge Management System (BMS). The system allows a systematic plan and provides a uniform procedure for all bridge operation activities on the national and provincial level. Data from Implementation Agency of National Inter-Urban Roads of Area IX, Northern Maluku in 2011 indicates that the total length of national roads in Maluku Province is 15,238.01 M, with a total of 562 bridges. In Ambon Island, especially, there are 52 bridges totaling 1,176.25 m in length. The study was conducted at several inter-urban bridges in Maluku Province of Ambon Island: Wai Batu Merah, Wai Ruhu, Wai Lawa, Wai Yari and Wai Tua bridges. Assessment of bridge structure conditions was conducted visually to determine the conditions of the existing bridges comprehensively by referring to the Bridge Management System (BMS) complemented with a computer-based Bridge Management Information System (BMIS). Condition scores for the five bridges—Wai Batu Merah, Wai Ruhu, Wai Lawa, Wai Yari, and Wai Tua, according to Bridge Management System, are 2, 1, 2, 1, and 2 respectively. The scores of the five bridges indicate that their physical condition can be categorized as good or with minor defects. Based on technical screening, the proposed treatment for Wai Batu Merah, Wai Ruhu, Wai Lawa, dan Wai Tua bridges is the rehabilitation of their sub-elements. As for the Wai Yari Bridge, the treatment will be maintained regularly. The defect repair costs are IDR 149,138,238.00, IDR 81,048,000.00, IDR 174,579,106.10, IDR 79,233,324.01 and IDR 238,323,258.60 for Wai Batu, Wai Ruhu, Wai Lawa, Wai Yari, and Wai Tua Bridges, respectively.

Amphibian and reptile road-kills on tertiary roads in relation to landscape structure: using a citizen science approach with open-access land cover data

BackgroundAmphibians and reptiles are among the most endangered vertebrate species worldwide. However, little is known how they are affected by road-kills on tertiary roads and whether the surrounding landscape structure can explain road-kill patterns. The aim of our study was to examine the applicability of open-access remote sensing data for a large-scale citizen science approach to describe spatial patterns of road-killed amphibians and reptiles on tertiary roads. Using a citizen science app we monitored road-kills of amphibians and reptiles along 97.5 km of tertiary roads covering agricultural, municipal and interurban roads as well as cycling paths in eastern Austria over two seasons. Surrounding landscape was assessed using open access land cover classes for the region (Coordination of Information on the Environment, CORINE). Hotspot analysis was performed using kernel density estimation (KDE+). Relations between land cover classes and amphibian and reptile road-kills were analysed with conditional probabilities and general linear models (GLM). We also estimated the potential cost-efficiency of a large scale citizen science monitoring project.ResultsWe recorded 180 amphibian and 72 reptile road-kills comprising eight species mainly occurring on agricultural roads. KDE+ analyses revealed a significant clustering of road-killed amphibians and reptiles, which is an important information for authorities aiming to mitigate road-kills. Overall, hotspots of amphibian and reptile road-kills were next to the land cover classes arable land, suburban areas and vineyards. Conditional probabilities and GLMs identified road-kills especially next to preferred habitats of green toad, common toad and grass snake, the most often found road-killed species. A citizen science approach appeared to be more cost-efficient than monitoring by professional researchers only when more than 400 km of road are monitored.ConclusionsOur findings showed that freely available remote sensing data in combination with a citizen science approach would be a cost-efficient method aiming to identify and monitor road-kill hotspots of amphibians and reptiles on a larger scale.

Conurbations and resilience. When growth makes us fragile

This paper is focused on the conurbations, extensive urban areas resulting from the expansion and coalescence of several neighbouring cities. Two theses underlay the research. The first is that, in the development of a conurbation, traffic has actually a role of ‘ maker and breaker of cities’ , just to paraphrase the title of a well-known article by Colin Clark, focusing on the double role of roads and traffic in urban development (Clark, 1958): on a one hand, the making of a unique road network, encompassing the whole grid, actually allows movement and interaction all over the settlement, making possible the working of the conurbation as a wide urban system; on the other hand, the resulting pattern of movement concentrates its major flows on few roads connecting the original nuclei and the new development areas, actually bypassing the pre-existing urban fabric and diverting a significant amount of local traffic from the streets of the urban grid, what involves the loss of the fertilisation benefit the irrigation of through movement provides. The second thesis, complementary to the former, is that the merging of the nuclei and their embedding into a conurbation reduces the resilience of the whole settlement, in that it affects the capability of the system to adsorb accidental events and transformations without significantly changing its global behaviour. The phenomenon of conurbations and the diachronic analysis of their resilience will here be observed from a configurational point of view, analysing by means of space syntax techniques the urban settlement of Florence, here assumed as an ideal case study. The results are expected to objectively describe the role of inter-urban roads in the making of a conurbation, and to appraise the extent to which their entanglement within the whole concur in transforming its inner geography and enhancing its global vulnerability. More in general, the configurational approach, suitable for appraising the urban grid as the interface between the physical city and the phenomena that occur along its paths, once again proves its usefulness in linking spatial issues and traffic questions, so as to bridge the traditional gap between urban design, focused on the morphologic features of blocks and buildings, and transport analysis, strictly concerned with the distribution of movement flows on the streets network.

GPS-Based Study on an Interurban Road Connection

The paper presents an extensive theoretical background related to the travel time and the studies that were conducted during the recent years on the subject. As a concept, travel time is related to the period of time spent in travelling between two different points in space. The analysis focuses on several aspects related to the travel time concept such as its usefulness, its influencing factors, and data collection methods for its determination. In order to also provide a practical outcome, the main interurban road connection between Cluj-Napoca and Tîrgu-Mureş was studied. The road trespasses both urban and rural localities in the North-Western of Romania. For the data collection process, a GPS-based equipment was placed on a test vehicle to run the route for multiple times, at different days and hours. The collected data were studied by means of statistical analysis in order to establish the most relevant aspects of the travel time. The research goal of the paper was to evaluate the influence exerted by demographics and type of locality on travel time by means of eventual delays. The main findings were employed to analyze the traffic conditions as well as the parameters that have a major impact on them. According to the results of the analysis, the traffic flow on the interurban route is best described by the travel time and consequently the delays registered due to multiple obstructive elements such as railway level crossings, pedestrian crossings within the localities, and level intersections between different roads category. However, according to the study, it can also be concluded that travel time and therefore the eventual delays are not influenced to a great extent by neither the type of transited localities - urban or rural, nor the demographics.

Matching Funding, Mobility, and Spatial Equity Objectives in a Networkwide Road Pricing Model

A review of the pricing and funding model for interurban roads in Catalonia, Spain, is timely because of the forthcoming finalization of toll concessions and the decrease in road taxes. This paper proposes a comprehensive policy approach for a new networkwide road pricing model to simultaneously deal with financial sustainability, mobility management, and spatial equity. A multiobjective perspective involving multiple trade-offs is required. The rationale for these trade-offs is analyzed and a diagnosis of the Catalan road network is performed on the basis of a revenues–costs matrix, which is built on a deep study of revenues and costs for the interurban network disaggregated by type of vehicle and class of road. From this matrix, a consistent road pricing model for the complete interurban road network is drawn and feasible implementation paths are defined. The resulting pricing scheme is focused on the road operation. Charges cover maintenance, operation, and external costs of the whole interurban road network, whereas the fixed costs of road development would be financed by the public budget. In this way, road charges and fuel taxes are complementary and simultaneously cover the full social costs of road transport. Then a two-part tariff is set such that a lump sum charge covers the costs related to second-class roads and a unit tariff per distance is charged on motorways. Alternative implementation paths from the status quo to the proposed model are then set by considering technological feasibility and other social and juridical constraints.

Measuring Drivers’ Attitudes Toward Use of Electronic Toll Collection Systems in Spain

Electronic payment is increasing inexorably as a means of paying for the use of toll roads worldwide. However, it is necessary to increase the effectiveness and expediency of this mechanism, as well as improve policy issues such as privacy or data management. The state of the art in this field typically analyzes users’ perceptions and willingness to pay to use toll roads. However, research addressing drivers’ attitudes toward the use of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems is not sufficiently developed. The aim of this paper is to identify the explanatory variables influencing toll road users’ use of ETC technologies. For that purpose, based on a nationwide survey directed toward road users of interurban toll roads in Spain, a binomial logit model was developed to explore users’ attitudes toward the use of ETC systems. The research concludes that drivers’ tag ownership is related mainly to trip-related attributes, while personal socioeconomic characteristics play a minor role. In addition, free tags would be an effective policy measure to increase toll road use, given that a majority of respondents show a positive response.