Terrestrial Transport Research Articles

Disentangling drivers of vertebrate roadkill in a protected area in the Amazon rainforest

AbstractVertebrates' roadkill impacts many species in natural areas. However, data on this topic in the Amazon domain are still scarce, especially within protected areas. In this study, we analysed data from 2 years of monitoring amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds' roadkill on five types of terrestrial transport infrastructure in a protected area in the Brazilian Amazon. We tested which vertebrate classes and feeding guilds were most recorded, the influence of seasonality and the spatial pattern of roadkill. In the studied area, 2795 roadkills were recorded, with amphibians suffering the most casualties. Most of the roadkills occurred during the rainy season (57%). Correcting the roadkill data using observer efficiency and carcass persistence time data, we concluded that mortality rates might be underestimated by up to 40 times when compared to raw data. There was no significant difference between feeding guilds concerning the number of fatalities, and rainfall and temperature significantly affected the roadkill pattern of all vertebrate classes. The spatial pattern of roadkill varied between traffic routes and vertebrate class types. The results indicate that amphibians are the most common victims of roadkill, although they are neglected in many roadkill monitoring. Consequently, mitigation strategies should prioritize periods with the highest mortality rates, as rainfall and temperature influence the frequency of these accidents. In addition, different classes of vertebrates have different patterns of impact concentration along traffic routes, which makes mitigation planning more complex. Therefore, planning to reduce vertebrate deaths from roadkill must consider each taxon's particularity and seasonality.

Amphibious vehicle's resistance optimization through neural networks and genetic algorithms

Amphibious vehicles, as a new type of aquatic and terrestrial transport platform, are increasingly involved in the existing transportation system. Resistance is a key factor that affects the efficiency and energy consumption of vehicles in aquatic sailing. Resistance reduction optimization design is a focal point and challenge in the design process of amphibious vehicles. In this paper, a resistance performance optimization method has been proposed based on neural networks and genetic algorithms. First, key parameters for the shape design are extracted based on a thorough understanding of the vehicle's performance. These parameters are used to construct a parameterized design space. Second, a training set is obtained based on the Latin hypercube sampling method and numerical calculation methods, and a test set is randomly generated. To achieve better resistance prediction performance, a method based on the genetic algorithm-optimized backpropagation Neural Network is proposed. Next, the resistance performance of the two operating conditions is optimized through the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II, and optimized configuration parameters are obtained, which has a 22.71% energy-saving ratio at cruising speed. Finally, the optimized configuration is analyzed using numerical calculation methods to validate the resistance prediction and optimization methods.

Sustainable pathways for mitigating externalities in long-distance terrestrial transport

International agreements and European policies emphasise the necessity to reduce transport externalities, particularly by focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This reduction should align with improved accessibility to major urban areas, which is a goal explicitly associated with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). However, the correlation between these two objectives is not necessarily straightforward, as an increase in travel demand may contribute to the growth in transport externalities. This study economically evaluates the transport externalities generated along the Italian segment of the Brenner axis, which is the central part of the TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean corridor. The aim of the analysis is twofold: (i) to ascertain whether the evolution of travel demand over the last decade aligns with European objectives on transport externalities; (ii) to project the expected effects to 2030 and 2040 under alternative scenarios. Existing data fail to reveal a clear trend, owing to fluctuating travel demands in recent years. Instead of indicating a generalised reduction in externalities, the data reflect a redistribution of costs among categories, with less effects from local pollutants and higher congestion and accident costs. The anticipated increase in travel demand is likely to exacerbate these externalities, thus further increasing road congestion and accident costs. This increase is not expected to be fully offset by the reduction in air and GHG emissions despite the enhanced efficiency of the vehicular fleet. The modal shift from road to rail, as well as the ongoing digitalisation processes, are imperative for effective road traffic management and reducing costs along the corridor.

Complementary nanodomain structures in topologically close-packed precipitates of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

High-strength aluminium alloys attract continuous research interest, owing to their wide use in aerospace and terrestrial transportation industries. The performance of the alloys is essentially determined by nanoscale precipitates, thus understanding the structure and formation mechanism of the precipitates during thermal processing is of great importance. Here, we reveal complementary domain structures in precipitates in a high-strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy using a combination of aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Through the transfer of fivefold symmetry polyhedra at domain boundaries, the intermediate precipitates develop two sets of highly ordered and structurally complementary nanoscale domains in their nucleation and growth. This new type of atom packing maintains the topologically close-packed structure inside the precipitates while reducing the lattice misfit with the Al matrix and the barrier of structural transformations on two interfaces, demonstrating good thermal stability. Our discoveries lead to insight into the precipitate evolution in the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy system and can help understand other precipitation processes of complex structured phases. Furthermore, the evolution process demonstrates an advanced mode of building metastable architectures with nanoscale interlocking pieces in alloy matrixes, which may inspire strategies to obtain high-strength, lightweight and thermostable alloys.

Multigene and Improved Anti-Collision RRT* Algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Allocation and Route Planning in an Urban Air Mobility Scenario.

Compared to terrestrial transportation systems, the expansion of urban traffic into airspace can not only mitigate traffic congestion, but also foster establish eco-friendly transportation networks. Additionally, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) task allocation and trajectory planning are essential research topics for an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) scenario. However, heterogeneous tasks, temporary flight restriction zones, physical buildings, and environment prerequisites put forward challenges for the research. In this paper, multigene and improved anti-collision RRT* (IAC-RRT*) algorithms are proposed to address the challenge of task allocation and path planning problems in UAM scenarios by tailoring the chance of crossover and mutation. It is proved that multigene and IAC-RRT* algorithms can effectively minimize energy consumption and tasks' completion duration of UAVs. Simulation results demonstrate that the strategy of this work surpasses traditional optimization algorithms, i.e., RRT algorithm and gene algorithm, in terms of numerical stability and convergence speed.

Inland waterway transport development: A Q-Method study on Tocantins River, Brazilian Amazon

In Brazil, increasing Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) figures among efforts for the Nationally Determined Contribution due to better energy efficiency and lower CO2 emission levels, when compared to highways and railways. Identifying barriers and drivers is useful to develop IWT as an alternative to terrestrial transportation modes, which are scarce in the Brazilian Amazon. As more than 50% of Brazilian electricity is generated in hydropower plants, the harmonic coexistence between multiple water uses is crucial. This paper aims to explore stakeholders' perceptions and priorities related to the development of inland waterway transport in the Tocantins River, Amazon, Brazil, where there are several hydropower plants. With an emphasis on sustainability issues, we used the Q-Method, a technique for assessing the relative importance of elements in various contexts. We identify and describe four perspectives (factors) using Q-method: (1) “critical shoals”; (2) “waterway, death project”; (3) “dams on waterways” and (4) “freedom for waterways”. Within these perspectives, economic incentives, with insights to cut down costs and increase freight are main concerns. We found disconnection between the reality of local communities and the lack of awareness on negative impacts by government officials and economic agents interested in waterway development. Mechanisms to guarantee social participation in IWT planning and implementing could foster socially acceptable solutions for technical, economic and governance issues.

Physicochemical characteristics of airborne microplastics of a typical coastal city in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China

Airborne microplastics (MPs) are important pollutants that have been present in the environment for many years and are characterized by their universality, persistence, and potential toxicity. This study investigated the effects of terrestrial and marine transport of MPs in the atmosphere of a coastal city and compared the difference between daytime and nighttime. Laser direct infrared imaging (LDIR) and polarized light microscopy were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of MPs, including number concentration, chemical types, shape, and size. Backward trajectories were used to distinguish the air masses from marine and terrestrial transport. Twenty chemical types were detected by LDIR, with rubber (16.7%) and phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR; 14.8%) being major components. Three main morphological types of MPs were identified, and fragments (78.1%) are the dominant type. MPs in the atmosphere were concentrated in the small particle size segment (20–50 µm). The concentration of MPs in the air mass from marine transport was 14.7 items/m3 – lower than that from terrestrial transport (32.0 items/m3). The number concentration of airborne MPs was negatively correlated with relative humidity. MPs from terrestrial transport were mainly rubber (20.2%), while those from marine transport were mainly PFR (18%). MPs in the marine transport air mass were more aged and had a lower number concentration than those in the terrestrial transport air mass. The number concentration of airborne MPs is higher during the day than at night. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted control measures and methods to reduce MP pollution.

Assessing the Intensity of Marine Biogenic Influence on the Lower Atmosphere: An Insight into the Distribution of Marine Biogenic Aerosols over the Eastern China Seas.

Marine biological activities make a non-negligible contribution to atmospheric aerosols, leading to potential impacts on the regional atmospheric environment and climate. The eastern China seas are highly productive with significant emissions of biogenic substances, but the spatiotemporal variations of marine biogenic aerosols are not well known. Air mass exposure to chlorophyll a (AEC) can be used to indicate the influence of biogenic sources on the atmosphere to a certain degree. In this study, the 12 year (2009-2020) daily AEC were calculated over the eastern China seas, showing the spatial and seasonal patterns of marine biogenic influence intensity which were co-controlled by surface phytoplankton biomass and boundary layer height. By combining the AEC values, relevant meteorological parameters, and extensive observations of a typical biogenic secondary aerosol component, methanesulfonate (MSA), a parameterization scheme for MSA simulation was successfully constructed. This AEC-based approach with observation constraints provides a new insight into the distribution of marine biogenic aerosols. Meanwhile, the wintertime air mass retention over land exhibited a significant decrease, showing a decadal weakening trend of terrestrial transport, which is probably related to the weakening of the East Asian winter monsoon. Thus, marine biogenic aerosols may play an increasingly important role in the studied region.

Infrastructures connecting people: A mechanistic model for terrestrial transportation networks

Terrestrial Transportation Infrastructures (TTIs) are shaped by both socio-political and geographical factors, hence encoding crucial information about how resources and power are distributed through a territory. Therefore, analysing the structure of pathway, railway or road networks allows us to gain a better understanding of the political and social organization of the communities that created and maintained them. Network science can provide extremely useful tools to address quantitatively this issue. Here, focussing on passengers transport, we propose a methodology to shed light on the processes and forces that moulded transportation infrastructures into their current configuration, without having to rely on any additional information besides the topology of the network and the distribution of the population. Our approach is based on a simple mechanistic model that implements a wide spectrum of decision-making mechanisms (representing different power distributions) which could have driven the growth of a TTI. Thus, by adjusting a few model parameters, it is possible to generate several synthetic transportation networks, and compare across them and against the empirical system under study. An illustrative case study (i.e. the railway system in Catalonia, a region in Spain) is also provided to showcase the application of the proposed methodology. Our preliminary results highlight the potential of our approach, thus calling for further research.

Development of an urban air mobility vehicle family concept by system of systems aircraft design and assessment

The concept of urban air mobility promises a modern air taxi transport solution providing on-demand air mobility and hence time savings compared to congested terrestrial transportation in major cities and metropolitan areas. To make it a reality, vehicles, infrastructure, services, and operations must be developed simultaneously and cross-linked. These interconnections and interactions of the multitude of systems involved necessitate a system of systems approach, which is accounted for and implemented through agent-based simulations. Accordingly, the system of systems simulation framework is tuned to vehicle architecture as well as fleet design and assessment, thus allows to expand the aircraft design process by fleet operations and transport network perspectives. In this paper, the top level aircraft requirements of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles are investigated by a fleet-centric approach. Herein, two disparate configurations, i.e. multirotor and tiltrotor, are modelled to depict representative wingless and winged configurations. The optimal design points are found and traded off by formulating different measures of effectiveness accounting for conversion of passenger requests, fleet energy consumption, and vehicle load factor. In summary, this study demonstrates the need for system of systems simulations to derive market-and operations-tailored vehicles and fleets. Furthermore, work on heterogeneous fleet compositions is required.

Ocean Emission Pathway and Secondary Formation Mechanism of Aminiums Over the Chinese Marginal Sea

AbstractAmines/aminiums are recognized for their importance in new particle formation, organic nitrogen cycle, and aerosol forcings. Among the complex sources, the ocean origins and generation pathways of aminiums are less understood. During a cruise campaign over the Chinese marginal sea (Bohai Sea), five low‐molecular‐weight aminiums were measured. The strong anthropogenic period (terrestrial transport) and the weak anthropogenic period (dust, clean, and sea fog periods) were identified based on the traceable aerosol chemical species, air masses transport patterns, and marine chlorophyll‐a. Inconsistent spatiotemporal variations of various aminiums were observed. Monomethylaminium (MMAH+), dimethylaminium (DMAH+), ethylaminium (EAH+), and diethylaminium (DEAH+) were more enriched during the weak anthropogenic period than the strong anthropogenic period and especially peaked during the sea fog period. The significant correlation between the four aminiums and methanesulfonic acid suggested their secondary formation pathways. Through further exploring the governing factors, the acid–base neutralization via the aqueous phase processing was identified as a critical process for the secondary transformation of aminiums. In contrast, trimethylaminium (TMAH+) showed moderate correlation with Na+ in the total suspended particles only, suggesting its primary marine sources via enrichment in the sea‐spray aerosol through bubble bursting. Based on the step‐wise correlation analysis, the sea surface organic nitrogenous reservoir was found as the dominant contributor to the measured aminiums over the Bohai Sea, while the role of marine phytoplankton emission in the formation of aminiums was limited.

Thirty percent conversion efficiency from radiofrequency power to thrust energy in a magnetic nozzle plasma thruster

Innovations for terrestrial transportation technologies, e.g., cars, aircraft, and so on, have driven historical industries so far, and a similar breakthrough is now occurring in space owing to the successful development of electric propulsion devices such as gridded ion and Hall effect thrusters, where solar power is converted into the momentum of the propellant via acceleration of the ionized gases, resulting in a high specific impulse. A magnetic nozzle (MN) radiofrequency (rf) plasma thruster consisting of a low-pressure rf plasma source and a MN is an attractive candidate for a high-power electric propulsion device for spacecraft, as it will provide a long lifetime operation at a high-power level due to the absence of an electrode exposed to the plasma and a high thrust density. The high-density plasma produced in the source is transported along the magnetic field lines toward the open-source exit and the plasma is then spontaneously accelerated in the MN. By ejecting the plasma flow from the system, the reaction forces are exerted to the thruster structure including the source and the MN, and the spacecraft is resultantly propelled. The thruster will open the next door for space technologies, while the performance of the MN rf plasma thruster has been lower than those of the mature electric propulsion devices due to the energy loss to the physical walls. Here the thruster efficiency of about 30%, being the highest to date in this type of thruster, is successfully obtained in the MN rf plasma thruster by locating a cusp magnetic field inside the source, which acts as a virtual magnetic wall isolating the plasma from the source wall. The increase in the thrust by the cusp can be explained by considering the reductions of the loss area and the plasma volume in a thrust analysis combining a global source model and a one-dimensional MN model.

Warmer winters are reducing potential ice roads and port accessibility in the Pan-Arctic

Transportation in the Pan-Arctic winter is highly dependent on ice roads, which are affected by surface air temperatures and snow cover. In the context of polar increased warming, there is an urgent need to quantify the uncertainties of ice roads and their contribution to terrestrial transport. We evaluated the spatiotemporal characteristics of potential ice road changes by calculating four indicators: potential ice road area (PIRA), potential ice road days (PIRDs), potential ice road onset date (PIROD), and potential ice road end date (PIRED) from October to May, 1979–2017. Taking port accessibility as an example, we constructed a port accessibility model to quantify the contribution of potential ice roads to terrestrial transport. All four indicators showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in potential ice roads. PIRA experienced the largest share of losses in May (∼25%) and the sharpest reductions in April (2.77 × 104 km2 yr−1). PIRDs were shortened by an average of 0.41 d yr−1, and delayed PIROD (0.28 d yr−1 on average) was more severe than advanced PIRED (0.21 d yr−1 on average). A stability analysis showed that potential ice roads were changing from suitable to unsuitable during November to May. Between December and April, potential ice roads can increase port accessibility by more than 24 h in Canadian Arctic and Siberia and by more than 9 h in Alaska. However, the contribution of potential ice roads has reduced over the past decades, especially in Nunavut. The results provide insights into changes in potential ice roads in the Pan-Arctic and suggest that remote land accessibility has decreased significantly with warmer winters.

Molecular characteristics, sources and influencing factors of isoprene and monoterpenes secondary organic aerosol tracers in the marine atmosphere over the Arctic Ocean

Biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOA) are important components of the remote marine atmosphere. However, the response of BSOA changes to sea ice reduction over the Arctic Ocean remains unclear. Here we investigated isoprene and monoterpenes secondary organic aerosol (SOAI and SOAM) tracers in three years of summer aerosol samples collected from the Arctic Ocean atmosphere. The results indicated that methyltetrols were the most abundant SOAI tracers, while the main oxidation products of monoterpenes varied over the years owing to different aerosol aging. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA)-generalized additive model (GAM) combined with correlation analysis suggested that SOAI tracers were mainly generated by the oxidation of isoprene from marine emissions, while SOAM tracers were probably more influenced by terrestrial transport. Estimation of secondary organic carbon (SOC) indicated that monoterpenes oxidation contributed more than isoprene and that sea ice changes had a relatively small effect on biogenic SOC concentration levels. Our study quantified the contribution of influencing factors to the atmospheric concentration of BSOA tracers in the Arctic Ocean, and showed that there were differences in the sources of precursors for different BSOA. Hence, our findings have contributed to a better understanding of the characteristics, sources and formation of SOA in the atmosphere of the Arctic Ocean.

Abnormal depletion of terrestrial water storage and crustal uplift owing to the 2019 drought in Yunnan, China

SUMMARYDroughts are natural disasters that cause severe economic and social impacts. Analysing changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) before and after typical drought events is important for understanding the principles of the regional terrestrial water transport law and drought response, and for providing scientific agricultural production guidance. Yunnan is a drought-prone region, and high temperatures and low rainfall in 2019 led to a severe drought. Precipitation data showed that the wet season in Yunnan started 1 month later than usual in 2019. Moreover, 52 per cent (205 000 km2) of the total area of Yunnan experienced a cumulative precipitation anomaly (PA; in percentage) of −30 per cent between January and May. In this study, we used data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) missions to identify the spatial and temporal variations in TWS before and after the 2019 drought. Our results show that the drought led to an average reduction of 125 mm (equivalent water height) in the TWS, with the greatest loss in southern Yunnan, with a maximum loss of 272 mm. The reduced TWS caused by the delayed and anomalously weak southwest monsoon in 2019 gradually spread from the southwest to the northeast. By comparing with the drought in 2009–2010, we find that the southern Yunnan with abundant rainfall is more vulnerable to drought and has a relatively larger deficit in TWS. Furthermore, we used GRACE and GRACE-FO data to invert the crustal uplift caused by terrestrial water unloading in the 2019 drought, and found a maximum uplift of 8.4 mm. This showed a consistent spatial distribution with displacement variations recorded by 26 continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) stations in Yunnan during the same period, albeit slightly different in magnitude, indicating the potential of GPS for monitoring regional TWS changes.

Simulating the spread and establishment of alien species along aquatic and terrestrial transport networks: A multi‐pathway and high‐resolution approach

Abstract The introduction and further spread of many alien species have been a result of trade and transport. Consequently, alien species are often found close to traffic infrastructure and urban areas. To contain and manage the spread of alien species, it is essential to identify and predict major routes of spread, which cannot be obtained by applying common modelling approaches such as species distribution models. Here, we present a new model called CASPIAN to simulate the dispersal of alien species along traffic infrastructure and the establishment of populations along these routes. The model simulates simultaneous spread of species of up to eight different modes of transport along roads, railways and waterways. We calibrated and validated the model using two species that spread within Germany as case studies: the terrestrial plant Senecio inaequidens and the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea, and performed a shortest path analysis to quantify the relative importance of individual routes for spread. The application of the model yielded detailed predictions of dispersal and establishment for &gt;600,000 segments of the traffic network throughout Germany. Once calibrated, the model captured the general spread dynamics of the two species with higher accuracy for the freshwater environment due to the higher quality of data available for the aquatic species. The quantification of spread routes using the shortest path analysis revealed a clear backbone of major routes of spread, which varied depending on the type of traffic network and the starting points considered. Major routes of spread aligned with high traffic intensities, but high traffic per se did not necessarily result in high spread intensities. Synthesis and application. By simulating the spreading dynamics of alien species along transport networks across multiple pathways, CASPIAN enables the identification of major spread routes along different dispersal pathways and quantification of their relative importance, which helps prioritising pathways of introduction as required by international biodiversity goals such as the CBD Aichi targets.

Petrological and organic geochemical characteristics of the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China: Implications on the relationship between hydrocarbon accumulation and volcanic-hydrothermal activities

The coupling relationship between volcanic-hydrothermal activities and hydrocarbon generation has been a common understanding in recent years. However, there is a lack of theoretical and practical guidance in the application hydrocarbon production. The fine-grained sedimentary rocks of the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimsar Sag in the Junggar Basin, NW China, are critical source rocks and have been simplify regarded as a mudrocks for target for tight oil exploration. Recently studies show that rocks were deposited in an intracontinental lacustrine environment with multiple volcanic-hydrothermal activities. Their complex micro-scale lithological characteristics restrict the understanding and further exploration and development of tight oil. Hence, this study focuses on the detailed lithological and their organic geochemical characteristics of the Lucaogou Formation using microscopic thin-section observation, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Rock-Eval, saturated hydrocarbon chromatography and mass spectrometry. The following key conclusions were obtained. First, the massive mudrocks are sub-divided into lithofacies for hydrocarbon generation, including tuffaceous shale, calcareous shale and dolomitic shale, and, microinterval reservoirs, including dolostone and sedimentary tuff. Second, the origins of organic matter in Lucaogou Formation were mainly plankton, bacteria with minor of land plants. The depositional environment is high salinity and anoxic conditions. Materials derived from volcanic-hydrothermal activities, lacustrine precipitation, and terrestrial transportation mixed with various proportions to form this formation. Third, a mixture of carbonate minerals, felsic minerals and clay minerals is the best source rock, and the higher the mixture, the better. This research not only provides insight into the influence of volcanic-hydrothermal activities on lithology and organic matter enrichment, but also providing a potential scheme for the tight oil exploration and development in similar rifted geological settings. • A mixture lithology of carbonate minerals, felsic minerals and clay minerals is the best source rock. • The better the mixture of carbonate minerals, feldspar minerals and clay minerals, the better the quality of hydrocarbon source rock. • Volcanic-hydrothermal activities are favorable to the enrichment and preservation of organic matter. • The Lucaogou formation was formed in a high salinity and anoxic condition, and the biological source was mainly plankton.

Low audibility of trains may contribute to increased collisions with wildlife

Train collisions with wildlife occur worldwide and might be more likely when animals fail to detect trains early enough to perform effective escape behaviour. Detection could be especially limited where tracks curve around hills, reducing visibility and audibility of approaching trains, but no literature has examined this potential in the context of terrestrial transportation collisions with wildlife. At 10 locations in a mountain park where the railway curved around elevated topography, we measured train audibility (as a ratio of train to background sound during approach) and developed a physical model to simulate train audibilities along 45.6 km of the same track. We compared both measured and simulated values to locations of wildlife–train collisions over a 35 year period. More wildlife collisions occurred at locations where measured train audibilities (averaged between train directions at each location) were lower and for the lowest quartile of simulated audibilities. Hill height appeared to reduce train audibility for approaches around curves, but track curvature did not predict audibility overall. Background noise from adjacent road traffic reduced train audibility, as did high train speeds and down-grade travel. Our results suggest that co-occurrence of lower audibility with other risk factors will make it difficult to predict and mitigate collision risk from audibility alone.

Laboratory chemical waste: hazard classification by GHS and transport risk.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES:To identify and evaluate, based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and the legislation of the Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres (ANTT – National Agency for Terrestrial Transport), the hazards arising from chemical waste generated in research laboratories in the health area.METHODS:Chemical residues generated in two medical research laboratories of the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo were inventoried, from November 2017 to April 2019, and classified according to the GHS (hazard statements) and the ANTT transport legislation (risk classes), to determine the dangers coming from the respective substances and mixtures.RESULTS:In total, we identified 40 substances or mixtures with classification by the GHS indicating 36 hazard statements, 27 of which related to human health. According to the legislation established by ANTT, we found 16 cases of hazard associated with flammability, 15 cases related to toxicity and 12 cases related to corrosivity.CONCLUSIONS:Chemical residues generated in the laboratories studied are diversified in terms of their hazard characteristics, implying the possibility of exposure to severe risks to workers, students and the environment. The correct identification of these residues is a primary factor for reducing exposure to risks.

Risk Assessment of Terrestrial Transportation Infrastructures Exposed to Extreme Events

Keeping transport links open in adverse conditions and being able to restore connections quickly after extreme events are important and demanding tasks for infrastructure owners/operators. This paper is developed within the H2020 project SAFEWAY, whose main goal is to increase the resilience of terrestrial transportation infrastructure. Risk-based approaches are excellent tools to aid in the decision-making process of planning maintenance and implementation of risk mitigation measures with the ultimate goal of reducing risk and increasing resilience. This paper presents a framework for quantitative risk assessment which guides an integrated assessment of the risk components: hazard, exposure, vulnerability and consequences of a malfunctioning transportation infrastructure. The paper guides the identification of failure modes for transportation infrastructure exposed to extreme events (natural and human-made) and provides models for and examples of hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment. Each assessment step must be made in coherence with the other risk components as an integral part of the risk assessment.