Major Transportation Facilities Research Articles

Spatial uncertainty and environment-health association: An empirical study of osteoporosis among “old residents” in public housing estates across a hilly environment

BackgroundBuilt environment can influence physical conditions of older adults (e.g. osteoporosis). However, traditional methods using 2-dimensional circular buffer as a spatial structure to measure neighbourhood effect may create bias in health estimation, especially for the hilly and compact environment across low-income neighbourhoods (e.g. public housing estates). MethodsWe evaluated the environmental influences on self-reported osteoporosis among “old residents” (age≥65) in Hong Kong (n = 2077). Twelve public housing estates across hilly neighbourhoods in Hong Kong were selected as study sites. A cross-validated approach was developed to evaluate four spatial structures (2D circular, 2D service area, 3D circular, 3D service area). To determine problems of spatial uncertainty, we compared odds ratios (OR) and differences in effect sizes from models using different spatial structures. When all adjusted models achieve significant results based on 95% confidence intervals (CI) and with all positive/negative ORs, this study reported to have reached “a result with consistency”. Results from the 3D service area were then used to explain the environment-health relationship. ResultsDifferent spatial structures can yield different results. Particularly, circular buffers overestimated environmental effects on self-reported osteoporosis. Overestimated measures were related to walkability and accessibility but not greenery. Specifically, results from the 3D service area showed that more public space and health facilities within a walkable distance (500 m) from a location of subject's residence were negatively associated with self-reported osteoporosis (adjusted ORs: 0.44 [0.29, 0.66]; 0.94 [0.90, 0.99]). However, more major transport facilities at the immediate distance from residence (200 m) was positively associated with self-reported osteoporosis (adjusted OR: 1.11 [1.01, 1.23]). ConclusionsPhysical conditions (e.g. osteoporosis) of older adults living in a hilly neighbourhood could be driven by walking behaviours. It is necessary to include local terrain and road network to define a walkable neighbourhood for environment-health estimations to minimize spatial bias.

Energy analysis of cold climate region airports: a case study for airport terminal in Erzurum, Turkey

Airport terminals are among the major transportation facilities. They are among the facilities consuming a lot of energy. Energy demand depends on structural variables, operational variables related to the size of the airport, and climatic characteristics. The objective of this study is to analyse energy performance characteristics of Erzurum Airport terminal building, which is located in Turkey's coldest climate zone. Modelling of the Erzurum Airport terminal building was performed by using DesignBuilder software and simulation was performed by using EnergyPlus software. The actual energy consumption of the terminal building is compared with the consumption obtained by simulation. The difference between actual and simulated total final energy consumption is 11%. The total annual CO2 emission production of the terminal building is 1,855,590 kg as a result of consumption of natural gas and electricity. Some measures/practices to reduce energy consumption, reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency within Erzurum Airport terminal building are proposed.

SOFTWARE FOR LINE OF BALANCE IN PROJECTS OF HIGHWAYS

Highways play an important role in countries’ economy improvement as they are the major transportation facilities. Highway construction project needs effective planning method to overcome its complicity. Line of Balance is the most effective technique for scheduling such projects. Computerization of this technique to cover highway construction is very powerful to obtain the full advantages of this technique as computer-based program can simplify the mission of end users. The software was build using Visual Basic to ensure flexible code and interactive user-interface. The developed software was verified and validated through extensive testing during and after its building. The result of test showed its correctness and effectiveness to attain objectives

Domestic transport effects on regional export trade in Greece

This paper examines the role of domestic transport on regional export trade in Greece. It aims to understand how changes in the transport conditions of a region can affect its own and neighboring regions' ability to improve foreign trade. The proposed dynamic spatial panel model extends previous ones in the scant related literature, by accounting for spillover effects and own time lagged responses of export flows to changes in variables related, among others, to network distance and accessibility. The results suggest a considerable number of indirect (spatially lagged) effects that are significant for the regional export trade, including those of highway corridors. Agglomeration economies positively affect manufacturing exports by ship and truck in the own prefecture, while manufacturing specialization has a significant impact on maritime transport. It is also shown that failure to account for long-run responses can significantly underestimate the effect of changes in the distance to major transport facilities on export volume. Especially the enhancement of interregional accessibility and market potential has a major impact on the agricultural exports by road. The findings have implications for the coordination of regional investment policies and the planning of the mainland transport system in connection with the location of logistics hubs.

The Research on Overpass Water Depth Monitoring Sandbox Based on Internet of Things

Overpass is the major transportation facilities in the city, and occupies a very important position in the urban road network. Rainfall can likely cause surface water under the concave overpass. We establish a concave overpass wanter depth monitoring sandbox based on Internet of Things, and simulate the concave overpass water depth with different rainfall level. Simulation results show that the concave overpass wanter depth monitoring sandbox can control the overpass water depth with controlling drainage opening time by adjusting the threshold value, and simulate the physical environment very well. This can interchange for the city flood control and drainage design, checking provide reference and basis.

The Research of Public Traffic Safety Evaluation System

In order to improve the security of public traffic, In the road engineering, traffic engineering facilities for basic theory,analyze the factors that affect public transport safety,and then conduct extensive questionnaire,analyze the degree that the major transport facilities affect the safety of traffic,determine the evaluation index and use the analytic hierarchy construct public transport safety evaluation system.Finally,applicate evaluation system to determine the best time for preventive maintenance of road markings,and also provide a new way of thinking for the study of traffic safety.

COASTAL VULNERABILITY PREDICTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: STUDY CASE IN CIREBON COASTAL LAND

<p>Coastal area is the most vulnerable area to climate change. Cirebon coastal land in Western Java, Indonesia is low-lying coastal area which is one of the potential areal for fish culture and farming. There are also major transportation facilities for western Java province to the whole area in the island (Java) through this area. As low-lying landscape, populated and developing city, Cirebon should be considered vulnerable to future sea level rise. Geomorphology, geo-electric and remote sensing study were conducted during 2008 and 2009 in coastal land of Cirebon. The result showed that most part of coastal area in Cirebon was eroded in various scales which vulnerable turn to worst. Sea water was penetrating throughout several kilometres inland. Valuation on various land-uses would project 1,295,071,755,150 rupiah/ha/year of loss while sea level were rose 0.8 meters that would inundate various land-uses i.e., Shrimp, fish and salt ponds, rice fields and settlement in the area.</p><p>Keywords: vulnerability, coastal, climate change, sea level rise</p>

COASTAL VULNERABILITY PREDICTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: STUDY CASE IN CIREBON COASTAL LAND

Coastal area is the most vulnerable area to climate change. Cirebon coastal land in Western Java, Indonesia is low-lying coastal area which is one of the potential areal for fish culture and farming. There are also major transportation facilities for western Java province to the whole area in the island (Java) through this area. As low-lying landscape, populated and developing city, Cirebon should be considered vulnerable to future sea level rise. Geomorphology, geo-electric and remote sensing study were conducted during 2008 and 2009 in coastal land of Cirebon. The result showed that most part of coastal area in Cirebon was eroded in various scales which vulnerable turn to worst. Sea water was penetrating throughout several kilometres inland. Valuation on various land-uses would project 1,295,071,755,150 rupiah/ha/year of loss while sea level were rose 0.8 meters that would inundate various land-uses i.e., Shrimp, fish and salt ponds, rice fields and settlement in the area.Keywords: vulnerability, coastal, climate change, sea level rise

Urban design education as integral to ‘real-time’ urban revitalization processes: Salvokop, Pretoria

The article outlines an attempt at teaching urban design by integrating urban revitalisation processes. Salvokop, an historical but derelict railway precinct in the inner city of Pretoria, provides the site for a long-term, inter-disciplinary laboratory in which a real urban precinct revitalisation project is used as a vehicle for teaching and practical studio work. The site is studied from a variety of focal areas within the Department of Architecture. The project provides a mechanism for feedback among practitioners, the local council and the academic environment. Owing to its history as a century old, urban railway town that was part of a wider, ideologically driven socio-economic process, Salvokop has the potential for development. Its proximity to major transport facilities, its growing status as a place of refuge for newcomers and its intimate relation to the important Freedom Park heritage site make it particularly suitable for a multifaceted inquiry into issues such as urban sustainability, inner city housing, appropriate technology, heritage conservation and urban renewal, as a vehicle for directing teaching in a transforming, developing environment.

Regional-Local Conflicts in Transportation Planning

Recent trends suggest a dramatic swing from past practices of locating major transportation facilities with emphasis upon the interests of certain publics (notably the motoring public) to perhaps an overriding consideration of local interests that are intolerant of broader needs and concerns of other affected publics. More effective representation of all interest groups in the transportation planning and negotiating process requires: (1) More attention to impact on community values at the system and corridor planning phases; (2) procedures for documenting system-wide impact of eliminating controversial links; (3) multimodal transportation planning; (4) common goals and objectives for regional transportation and land development planning; and (5) better means for injecting broader citizen interests into the planning process.

State Policy and the Public Domain: The Ohio Canal Lands

One of the principal sectional issues in nineteenth-century American politics related to Federal subsidies for major transportation facilities in the territories and newer western states. Not unreasonably, western political and business leaders contended that tax revenues in newly settled areas were insufficient to support the cost of large-scale public transport projects. Road and canal facilities were essential to regional economic development, declared a Cincinnati editor in 1824; yet “the Western states … are too poor, too exhausted, to engage in those public works.” The states recently admitted to the Union, he asserted, required “the fostering aid of the nation.” But appeals for such aid ran into a bedeviling series of political and financial obstacles. First, military expenditures during the War of 1812 and the legacy of war debt drained the Federal Treasury of surplus funds. Then, Jeffersonian “strict constructionists,” notably Presidents Madison and Monroe, questioned on constitutional grounds the propriety of an active Federal role in transport development. Underlying the tortured constitutional debates was a basic sectional conflict, which posed the eastern and southern states (some of which had been supplicants themselves for Federal aid a few years earlier) against the claims of the West. Of all the major western demands for Federal patronage, the National Road was virtually the only project approved before 1824.

Social and economic factors afecting the location of residental neighborhoods

In this paper it has been argued that there are several important variables to consider in explaining the distribution of residential neighborhoods. These include (1) the overall tendency for urban populations to be concentrated about central places and along major transportation facilities, (2) the pattern of social relations which exist among the subgroups which comprise the community's population, (3) the major (common) residential values held by members of the community, and (4) the community power structure. It has been noted that the first of these factors has received more than its share of attention, and that, indeed, most attempts to explain residential structure seek to associate compositional characteristics in a fixed way to the settlement density and competition for land. Because the relationship between composition and density is mediated by many institutional and social variables, however, this approach is not considered very promising. Instead, it is suggested that attention be directed to all four elements, and especially to the second, dealing with the social relations that exist among the subgroups of the community. The careful study of these relations should provide an important key to the understanding of the residential structure of the modern American metropolis.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS AFECTING THE LOCATION OF RESIDENTAL NEIGHBORHOODS

In this paper it has been argued that there are several important variables to consider in explaining the distribution of residential neighborhoods. These include (1) the overall tendency for urban populations to be concentrated about central places and along major transportation facilities, (2) the pattern of social relations which exist among the subgroups which comprise the community's population, (3) the major (common) residential values held by members of the community, and (4) the community power structure. It has been noted that the first of these factors has received more than its share of attention, and that, indeed, most attempts to explain residential structure seek to associate compositional characteristics in a fixed way to the settlement density and competition for land. Because the relationship between composition and density is mediated by many institutional and social variables, however, this approach is not considered very promising. Instead, it is suggested that attention be directed to all four elements, and especially to the second, dealing with the social relations that exist among the subgroups of the community. The careful study of these relations should provide an important key to the understanding of the residential structure of the modern American metropolis.