Major Roads Research Articles

Interactions and Behaviors of Pedestrians with Autonomous Vehicles: A Synthesis

Integrating autonomous vehicles (AVs) into public roads presents profound implications for pedestrian safety and the broader acceptance of this emerging technology. This work examines the complex interactions between AVs and pedestrians, a dynamic influenced by the variability of pedestrian behaviors and the absence of traditional communication mechanisms, such as eye contact and gestures, commonly relied upon in human-driven scenarios. Given the nascent stage of AV deployment, this research addresses the challenges of evaluating AV−pedestrian interactions amid safety concerns and technological limitations. We review and synthesize global research on pedestrian behavior in the context of AV technology to track changes in pedestrians’ acceptance over time and identify the factors driving these shifts. Additionally, this review incorporates insights from transportation authorities to highlight potential safety issues and the need for innovative communication strategies that ensure safe interactions between pedestrians and AVs. By analyzing these factors, the research aims to contribute to the development of guidelines and communication protocols that enhance pedestrian safety and facilitate the integration of AVs into urban environments.

Power and paths in transport planning and policy: the case of E39 Romsdalsfjord, Norway

ABSTRACT The appraisal stage is crucial to the later success of transport infrastructure megaprojects. Stakeholders must be engaged early to protect their interests. This article analyses power dynamics and rationalized knowledge in long-term timelines and trajectories using critical discourse analysis. It examines a case where powerful stakeholders directly influenced decision-making. The Norwegian Public Road Authority planners helped local and regional community stakeholders collaborate over 13 years. This collaboration successfully advocated for a fixed-link concept alternative in the national transport plan. The findings suggest considering changes to the planning framework and local execution.

Comparative safety performance of autonomous- and human drivers: A real-world case study of the Waymo Driver

After several years of public road testing, the commercial deployment of fully autonomous vehicles—or Automated Driving Systems (ADS)—is poised to scale substantially following significant technological advancements and recent regulatory approvals. However, the fundamental question of whether an ADS is safer than its human counterparts remain largely unsolved due to several challenges in establishing an appropriate real-world safety comparison method. As scaling ensues, the lack of an established method can contribute to misinterpretations or uncertainties regarding ADS safety and impede the continuous and consistent assessment of ADS performance. This study introduces three research developments to define a robust and replicable safety comparison method to address this critical methodological gap. First, we introduce the use of liability insurance claims data to measure the comparative safety between ADS and human drivers. Second, we use Swiss Re insurance claims data to establish the first zip code- and responsibility-calibrated human performance benchmark, composed of over 600,000 private passenger vehicle claims and 125 billion miles of driving exposure. Third, we perform a case study by applying the developed baseline to evaluate the safety impact of the Waymo Driver. We find that when benchmarked against zip code-calibrated human baselines, the Waymo Driver significantly improves safety towards other road users. The comparison method established in this study can be replicated for other regions or ADS deployments to aid the decision-making of ADS safety stakeholders such as regulators, and instill trust in the general public.

Use of Phosphogypsum for Construction and Repair of Motor Roads

Use of Phosphogypsum for Construction and Repair of Motor Roads

AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS: COMPARISON OF TRAINING METHODS’ EFFECTIVENESS

The second decade of the 21st century saw the introduction of vehicles equipped with various driver assistance systems. However, the producers' plans go much further. In January 2023, Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT system was approved for use on public roads in Nevada (United States) as the first and so far only SAE Level 3 series-production solution. Despite increasing automation, the human factor remains important for the safety and efficiency of road transport. In the coming years, and possibly decades, this will mainly be due to the co-existence of vehicles with varying degrees of automation and necessary driver-vehicle interactions in cases where an automated driving system crosses the boundaries of the operational design domain. The latest research reveals the limitations of driving assistance systems, pointing not only to the need for changes in the technological domain but also to the need to pay more attention to the psychological aspects of using assistance systems in cognitive and behavioral areas. Therefore, an additional element of automation implementation should be considered, which is driver training focused on modern technological solutions. Properly arranged and conducted training can be treated as an additional factor facilitating the implementation of automated mobility. The article describes the methods of assessing the effectiveness of training in terms of familiarizing drivers with the functions that automate driving. The authors present the results of tests carried out on a driving simulator with an implemented Level 4 system (according to SAE classification). Three forms of knowledge transfer were analyzed: practical training, e-learning, and training with a short user manual. The results were compared in terms of driver-vehicle interaction effectiveness (e.g., system activation), ensuring that the driver is sufficiently reactive in dangerous situations and understands the limitations of the system. The research was conducted on a group of 81 drivers aged 18–65. Driver training was one of the main pillars of the Trustonomy project, which received funding from the EU research and innovation program Horizon 2020 under grant agreement No. 815003.

Prediction of Traffic Flow in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks using Optimized Based-Neural Network

Traffic flow prediction is crucial for managing traffic, reducing pollution, ensuring public safety, and is a vital element of Intelligent Transportation Systems. Furthermore, the variables that influence traffic patterns (such as public events, road closures, and accidents) are predominantly unforeseen, rendering the prediction of traffic flow an intricate undertaking. The objective of this research is to enhance the accuracy of traffic flow forecast by employing a novel strategy that utilizes feedforward Neural-Networks and the Quasi-Newton method for optimization. The proposed strategy decreases the error factor based on the Lagrange multiplier and Jacobian vector. This enhancement has resulted in expedited convergence throughout the process of learning. The sample was chosen using datasets provided by the Traffic Monitoring System, specifically from Highway England, Performance Measurement System, and Maryland 511, for the year 2023. In order to assess the proposed model, the research outcomes are juxtaposed with other established prediction methodologies. The study revealed that the research model that was established performed better than previous prediction strategies based on measures of mean absolute error and root mean squared error.

Unveiling Urban Vulnerabilities: Analysis of Pedestrian Safety and Experience at 2 No Gate, A Major Arterial Road in Chittagong, Bangladesh

In developing countries such as Bangladesh, pedestrian safety is a pressing concern due to inadequate infrastructureand increased vehicular traffic resulting in frequent conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles in urban areas.Chittagong is the second-largest city in Bangladesh where, in addition to road accidents, pedestrians also encounterchallenges due to the prevalent issue of water clogging caused by the inadequate drainage system. The study aims toanalyze the experience and the multifaceted risks faced by pedestrians in Chittagong which include road safetyconcerns as well as the threats during monsoon seasons. The research gathers data leading to twofold investigationson 2-no. gate area, based on the physical infrastructure and the road users’ behavior using human perception analysis,an in-depth questionnaire survey, and examining the previously occurring accidents. Analyzing the data, the paper hasattempted to shed light on the major causes and factors of pedestrian accidents in the area and suggested appropriateguidelines to reduce accidents and enhance pedestrian movement facilities in similar scenarios.

Enhancing Field Reporting at DPWH: A Mobile App Case Study

This case study examines the deployment of a mobile reporting application at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) within the Nueva Ecija 1st District Engineering Office, aimed at enhancing field reporting processes. Employing a qualitative approach, the study involved five key participants and utilized surveys, interviews, and observational studies to gather comprehensive data on the app’s usability and effectiveness. Results indicate that the app significantly improved operational efficiency by reducing the time and error associated with report submissions. Participants reported a moderate to high satisfaction level, highlighting the app’s impact on streamlining field reporting tasks. However, challenges such as usability issues under poor network conditions and difficulties with data entry on small screens were identified, suggesting areas for further improvement. This study underscores the potential of digital tools in transforming public sector management and outlines both the benefits and the barriers to technology adoption in governmental settings.

Development Of Trainer Learning Media Kit Solar Cell Public Road Lighting System in Electrical Light Installation

This research studies to develop instructors of electric lighting installation instructor media learns the feasibility of learning media for electrical installations trainers, learns the feasibility of worksheets for electric lighting installation learning media, and studies the effectiveness of learning media for electrical installations. Development (R&D) using the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation). By citing: (1) Analyzing (containing: analysis of design and needs, analysis of learning, analysis of students and obtaining difficulties there is no learning media for electrical installations), (2) Design (includes: large component trainers of electric contents, electricity, and trainer design), (3) Development (including making learning media broadcast by media experts and material experts), (4) Implementation (including conducted in class XI TL 2 SMK Negeri 2 Kota Serang starting with a pretest to find out where to find students IPL and then apply the learning media that has been developed) and (5) Evaluation (provided: done by providing a post-test to determine the effectiveness of the media that has been made). Based on the results of research that has been done, obtained data on the feasibility of instructional media with an average score of 82 categories "Very Eligible" and a learning media worksheet with an average score of 78 in the category of "Very Eligible". Both of these learning media get a value of "Very Effective" for learning with an average n-gain calculation score of 0.76.

A neglected terrible triad of the elbow: A report case

Background: The terrible triad of the elbow was described in 1996 by Hotchkiss and is defined by severe trauma involving posterior dislocation of the olecrana, fracture of the radial head and coronoid process. Management has been a therapeutic challenge in recent decades due to its difficult treatment and poor prognosis. We report a case of a neglected terrible triad of the elbow in a 68-year-old patient following a road accident that occurred 1 month before admission. Methods: Mr B.M, 68 years old, presented to the emergency department for a closed trauma to his left elbow one month after his admission following a public road accident, it was a motorcyclist hit by a car, resulting in trauma to multiple points of impact including the skull, spine and left elbow. On the radiograph of the elbow face, there was a fracture of the radial head associated with a fracture of the coronoid process and posterior humeroolecranial dislocation. CT imaging made it possible to better visualize the fracture traits and classify them confirming the diagnosis of a terrible neglected triad of the elbow. Results: The patient received surgery under general anesthesia, with a lateral first of the elbow, a fracture of the radial head with a fracture of the coronoid process in cal, after removal of the cal, reduction of the fracture of the head with installation of a mini T-plate, reduction of the olecrane and arthrodesis of the ulno-humeral joint by 02 pins in cross. Post-operative immobilization by a brachio-antebrachio-palmar splint was recommended. Conclusion: The delay in taking charge of an unfortunate triad of the elbow engages the functional prognosis of the limb. Neglected fractures are still seen in our context and pose a real public health problem.

The Influence of Location on The Decision to Stay at Swiss- Belhotel Harbor Bay

This study investigates the influence of hotel location on guests' decisions to stay at Swiss-Belhotel HarbourBay, a well-known hotel in Batam, Indonesia. The hotel offers all of the necessary amenities, and its workersprovide excellent service. The hotel's position, in a row of commercial shophouses in Harbor Bay and remotefrom major roads, is thought by hotel management to have an impact on the number of tourist visits, which isless than ideal. The study's goal is to research the relationship between hotel location and guest decision toremain, identify the important factors that influence guest decision to stay, and determine the impact on hotelroom sales. The study used a quantitative techniques methodology. The findings indicate that hotel location iscritical in deciding hotel location, with elements such as access, visibility, traffic, parking, and environment allinfluencing guests' decisions to stay. The study also identifies the factors that influence a guest's decision tostay, including product selection, brand selection, dealer selection, purchase timing, purchase quantity, andpayment method. The study's findings have major significance for hotel management, emphasizing thenecessity to shift hotel locations to boost overall hotel room sales. The alternative hypothesis is proven wherehotel location influences guest’s decision to stay with the formulation Y = 45.546 + 0.756X with a coefficient ofdetermination of 64.9%. This research suggests that hotels need to consider the location of a hotel beforebuilding a hotel so that it is easily accessible to potential guests.Keywords: Hotel Location, Guest’s Decision to Stay, Accessibility

Implementasi Peraturan Walikota Nomor 16 Tahun 2021 Tentang Tarif Retribusi Parkir di Tepi Jalan Umum

Ambon City residents, who park their vehicles at Amplaz, are subject to parking fees in accordance with Ambon Mayor Regulation Number 16 of 2021 concerning Parking Retribution Tariffs on Public Roads. Amplaz is subject to progressive parking rates, as it is a zone. So that the tariff for four-wheeled vehicles is no longer RP3000, and two-wheeled vehicles are no longer Rp2000 as in the implementation of the previous Ambon Mayor Regulation. The party who manages parking at Amplaz always urges Ambon City residents to have awareness in paying parking rates according to Ambon Mayor Regulation Number 16 of 2021 concerning Parking Retribution Tariffs on Public Roads. There are many cases when Ambon City residents pay less retribution, arguing that there is no small money and only big money. Even reluctant to pay at all. However, it is advisable to have awareness in paying parking fees. The party who manages parking at Amplaz prioritizes parking service satisfaction. This is done by providing optimal services, namely; directing vehicles in an orderly manner into and out of the parking area, protecting the vehicle from loss of goods, damage due to bumps, and theft of spare parts. Likewise, the friendly behavior of the parking employees. As a result, Ambon City residents cooperatively pay parking fees, according to Ambon Mayor Regulation Number 16 of 2021 concerning Parking Retribution Tariffs on Public Roads.

Performance of Shading Against West Glass Facades to Optimise Daylight, Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency of Office Buildings

In tropical urban areas, the vertical facades of buildings often play a crucial role in capturing solar radiation and heat, especially for office buildings facing west during the afternoon. In Dhaka, a tropical city, the construction of major arterial roads connecting the northern and southern regions of the city has led to the emergence of numerous commercial buildings along these roads, predominantly facing in east or west directions. This research investigated the efficiency of different existing fenestration types (glass curtain walls, glass windows with horizontal and vertical louvres, overhangs, vertical fins, and egg crate shading) of west-facing office buildings in Dhaka in terms of daylight, thermal comfort and energy efficiency, and explore strategies to enhance existing performance. From the field survey, a 'case office building' was selected, and simulations were carried out with the six different fenestrations, as mentioned above, while keeping other aspects constant as found during the survey, e.g., floor plan, equipment and number of occupants. In this research, the simulation process encompasses daylighting simulation, energy simulation, and multi-objective optimisation. The study utilised a case model created with Rhinoceros and ClimateStudio, while performance metric optimisation was achieved using Grasshopper and Octopus. Multi-objective optimisation techniques were employed to improve the shading configurations. The TT toolbox facilitated data exportation and Design Explorer assisted in data visualisation. The window with egg crate shading was found to be the most effective fenestration type among the studied shading configurations. Further parametric simulation was conducted to develop an optimised egg crate shading design configuration. It was found that egg crate shading with a 1.0 m depth provided optimum daylight and solar heat gain inside the office building among the studied configurations in the context of Dhaka. A comparison was also made between the optimised egg crate option and a customised egg crate with some detailing (popularly known as brise soleil). Brise soleil showed better performance with 12.2% higher sDA and 98 lux additional average illuminance compared to the previous optimum one. The findings underscore the significance of employing optimisation methodology to devise shading configurations while also revealing substantial opportunities to enhance performance further by tailoring details on the optimised design recommended from simulation analysis.

Reliability Evaluation of Electric Power Generation PLTS System on Public Street Lighting Tarakan City

Reliability Evaluation of Electric Power Generation PLTS System on Public Street Lighting Tarakan City

Safe Tractor Operations: Road Safety for Tractors and Farm Machinery

The Safe Tractor Operations series contains six articles devoted to tractor safety. This publication discusses practical tips to help prevent collisions involving tractors and other farm machinery on public roads. Written by Serap Gorucu, Carol J. Lehtola, and Charles M. Brown and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, June 2024.

Quantifying City- and Street-Scale Urban Tree Phenology from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope Images: A Case Study in Downtown Beijing

Understanding the phenology of urban trees can help mitigate the heat island effect by strategically planting and managing trees to provide shade, reduce energy consumption, and improve urban microclimates. In this study, we carried out the first evaluation of high spatial resolution satellite images from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope images to quantify urban street tree phenology in downtown Beijing. The major research goals are to evaluate the consistency in pixel-level spring–summer growth period phenology and to investigate the capacity of high-resolution satellite observations to distinguish phenological transition dates of urban street trees. At the city scale, Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope show similar temporal NDVI trends in general. The pixel-level analysis reveals that green-up date consistency is higher in areas with medium (NDVI > 0.5) to high (NDVI > 0.7) vegetation cover when the impacts of urban surfaces on vegetation reflectance are excluded. Similarly, maturity date consistency significantly increases in densely vegetated pixels with NDVI greater than 0.7. At the street scale, this study emphasizes the efficacy of NDVI time series derived from PlanetScope in quantifying the phenology of common street tree genera, including Poplars (Populus), Ginkgos (Ginkgo), Chinese Scholars (Styphnolobium), and Willows (Salix), in downtown Beijing to improve urban vegetation planning. Based on PlanetScope observations, we found that the four street tree genera have unique phenological patterns. Interestingly, we found that the trees along many major streets, where Chinese Scholars are the major tree genus, have later green-up dates than other areas in downtown Beijing. In conclusion, the three satellite observation datasets prove to be effective in monitoring street tree phenology during the spring–summer growth period in Beijing. PlanetScope is effective in monitoring tree phenology at the street scale; however, Landsat-8 may be affected by the mixture of land covers due to its relatively coarse spatial resolution.

Comparative Sensitivity Analysis on Intersection Crash Prediction Models by Control Type: Highway Safety Manual Approach

A comprehensive, in-depth investigation into the comparative safety of different intersection control types is presented, specifically signalized and minor road stop-controlled intersections across facility types. Employing a rigorous sensitivity analysis, the study scrutinizes intersection crash prediction models (CPMs) rooted in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) methodology. Through meticulous data analyses and thorough comparisons of predictive models across a range of major and minor road traffic volumes, the paper critically examines the portrayal of signalized and stop-controlled intersections within the default HSM Part C CPMs. Additionally, the study delves into the effects of certain crash modification factors on CPMs, further exploring the impacts of calibration factors and locally developed models on crash prediction results. CPMs for signalized intersections do not uniformly lead to fewer crashes compared with stop-controlled intersections, especially under certain traffic volumes and when considering fatal and injury crashes. Therefore, the choice of intersection control should be based on more nuanced criteria than traffic volume alone. Additionally, the research emphasizes the role of intersection geometry and operations, for example, the benefits of adding turn lanes and varying left-turn phasing, in influencing safety outcomes. This study significantly contributes to the understanding of intersection safety and HSM modeling approaches, providing a valuable resource for transportation professionals dedicated to advancing intersection safety. Examining strengths and limitations of existing models provides valuable input for researchers developing future intersection CPMs, and offers essential insights for transportation planners and engineers, informing decision-making for optimizing intersection control strategies and enhancing overall intersection safety and traffic management.

EBUDGET System and Engas: Lived Experiences of Finance Services Personnel in DPWH Surigao Del Norte Province, Philippines

The Electronic Budget (eBUDGET) and Electronic New Government Accounting System (eNGAS) were digital platforms designed to automate and streamline financial management processes within government departments, aiming to enhance efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and decision-making. This study explored the lived experiences of nine (9) finance personnel in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Surigao del Norte province, focusing on implementing eNGAS and budget systems. The Philippine government has adopted these systems to enhance financial management transparency, efficiency, and accountability. The researcher purposively sampled nine (9) finance services personnel and coded them from A to I to protect their identities. Key themes emerged from the categories and meaning units produced from the verbatim data, with 175 psychological meaning units classified into 14 concepts and six categories for the eBUDGET system and 162 psychological meaning units classified into 15 concepts and five categories for eNGAS. This study shed light on the challenges and benefits realized during the implementation process by exploring the lived experiences of nine selected finance personnel from the DPWH Surigao del Norte Province. The findings stressed the transformative power of the eBUDGET system and eNGAS in improving accountability, streamlining procedures, and enabling informed decision-making. Despite initial obstacles, such as learning curves and technological difficulties, continuous support, and adaptable strategies facilitated successful implementation. The study's implications extended to DPWH administrators, finance personnel, and future researchers, emphasizing the importance of embracing technological advancements, adaptability, ongoing training, and capacity-building initiatives. Reflecting on the experiences shared, it became evident that while the journey towards implementing the budget system and ENGAS may have been challenging, the resulting improvements in efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and decision-making justified the efforts invested, promising a brighter future for public financial management.

HeMoDU: High-Efficiency Multi-Object Detection Algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Urban Roads.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based object detection methods are widely used in traffic detection due to their high flexibility and extensive coverage. In recent years, with the increasing complexity of the urban road environment, UAV object detection algorithms based on deep learning have gradually become a research hotspot. However, how to further improve algorithmic efficiency in response to the numerous and rapidly changing road elements, and thus achieve high-speed and accurate road object detection, remains a challenging issue. Given this context, this paper proposes the high-efficiency multi-object detection algorithm for UAVs (HeMoDU). HeMoDU reconstructs a state-of-the-art, deep-learning-based object detection model and optimizes several aspects to improve computational efficiency and detection accuracy. To validate the performance of HeMoDU in urban road environments, this paper uses the public urban road datasets VisDrone2019 and UA-DETRAC for evaluation. The experimental results show that the HeMoDU model effectively improves the speed and accuracy of UAV object detection.

Measurement of black carbon exposure in urban classrooms during rush hours

Traffic-related air pollutants are predominantly emitted in urban environments; therefore, analyzing their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ) is important. Effectively managing IAQ is vital, given the extensive duration individuals, particularly students, spend indoors. This study conducted a quantitative assessment of black carbon (BC) and indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM2.5, particles with diameter ≤2.5 μm) concentrations in five South Korean classrooms to determine the root cause and effects of traffic-related air pollutants on indoor environments. The research specifically focused on indoor BC levels during rush hours, that is, periods marked by increased traffic volume. The analysis revealed that the mean indoor and outdoor BC concentrations in the five classrooms were measured at 1.03 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.36) and 1.38 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.96) μg/m3, respectively, while the mean PM2.5 concentrations were measured at 17.07 (95% CI: 12.92, 13.62) and 29.89 (95% CI: 10.88, 48.89) μg/m3, respectively. The indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) ratio of BC in the five classrooms during the occupied period was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.84) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.72) for PM2.5. During the unoccupied period, the I/O ratio of BC was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.72) and 0.53 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.63) for PM2.5. The rise in urban traffic increased the BC outdoor level by 47% and the PM2.5 concentration by 13%. Classrooms situated closer to roadways had higher BC levels than those located at a greater distance. During rush hours, the BC concentration in the classroom closest to the major road was 2.03 (95% CI: 1.78, 2.27) μg/m3, while the furthest classroom recorded a concentration of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.96) μg/m3. During commuting times, classroom BC concentrations increased by up to 5.86 μg/m3 owing to student door-opening activities, increasing the I/O ratio by approximately 20%. Consequently, the average BC concentration in classrooms during rush hours was approximately double that recorded during non-rush hours (0.73 μg/m3). These findings are instrumental in developing strategies to enhance IAQ in educational settings and guiding urban planning decisions regarding the location of schools.