Traffic Intensity Research Articles

Data mining and spatio-temporal characteristics of urban road traffic emissions: A case study in Shijiazhuang, China

Accurate estimation of traffic emissions and analysis of spatio-temporal distribution on urban roads play a crucial role in the development of low-carbon transportation system. Traditionally, a region’s emission characteristics have been studied using numerous emission models with GPS-based spatio-temporal data. Due to the heavy data processing needs of GPS-based data, emission characteristics for a large region have been studied by dividing the region into a limited number of smaller areas or units. Additionally, GPS data are based on a few vehicles in the traffic which does not fully reflect road conditions. This paper proposed an approach that can be used to study and calculate the spatio-temporal emission pattern of a region at a roadway section level by using Baidu’s online traffic data and COPERT model. The proposed method can be used to estimate road-level emission patterns while avoiding the impact of redundant data in large datasets, making the dataset more reliable, applicable, and scalable. The proposed approach has been demonstrated through a study of spatio-temporal emission patterns in the Qiaoxi district within city of Shijiazhuang, China. Online data crawling technology was used to obtain data on urban road traffic speed and driving distance. The linear reference technology was used to construct a two-layer road network model to conduct the coupling and matching of traffic data with the road network data. The COPERT model was implemented to calculate the average traffic emissions on each road in the road network, and a traffic emission intensity index was proposed to quantify the CO, VOC, NOx and CO2 emissions on urban roads in the study area. The analysis results show that the traffic emission intensity of the expressway, trunk road, secondary road, and branch road is high during the morning peak (7 AM-9 AM) and evening peak (5 PM—7 PM). The sections with higher traffic emission intensity are mainly concentrated on the main roads and secondary roads such as Jiefang South Street, Shitong Road and Xinhua Road. Nearly one-third of 2nd Ring and 3rd Ring roads also have relatively high emission intensity. The research results provide new ideas for estimating traffic emissions in urban road networks and analyzing the spatio-temporal distribution of traffic emissions. The research results can also provide a decision-making basis for traffic management departments to formulate energy-saving and emission-reduction measures and promote the development of urban green and low-carbon transportation.

Navigating the future: Evaluating two-level transport solutions for sustainable urban development

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose and evaluate two options for two-level transport solutions at the intersection of the bypass road and the Pidvolochyske Highway in Ternopil, Ukraine. The aim is to address the issues associated with the current road network passing through residential zones and present an optimal resolution for the intersection. Methodology: The methodology involves using the PTV Vissim software to conduct simulation modelling. The transport and operational indicators of the two options for two-level transport solutions, an elongated loop and two interconnected rings, are compared across different traffic intensities. Results: The results show that the transport solution with two roundabouts exhibits superior characteristics, particularly under high traffic flow conditions. The strengths and limitations of each solution are comprehensively delineated, encompassing factors like efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety measures, and ecological impacts. Theoretical contribution: The paper contributes to advancing knowledge and practice in two-level transport solutions. It provides valuable insights for developing the transportation system in Ternopil and other post-conflict cities. The advantages and disadvantages of public-private partnerships (PPP) as a tool for attracting investments and innovations in transportation infrastructure are also discussed. Practical implications: The findings of this research can be used by professionals in transportation, urban planning, and ecology for infrastructure development. It also serves as a valuable resource for residents of Ternopil interested in fostering improvements to their city’s quality of life.

Stability of development and dynamics of vitamin C content in the leaves of the berry apple tree in the conditions of technogenic pollution of the city of Novoaltaysk

The article considers the stability of the development of the berry apple tree in different growing conditions in Novoaltaysk. The fluctuating asymmetry of apple leaves was evaluated by 5 morphological features. We revealed a significant increase in comparison with the control of the leaf width, the length of the second second-order vein from the base of the leaf, the distance between the bases of the first and second second-order veins and the distance between the ends of the first and second second-order veins in apple leaves growing along highways and near industrial enterprises. There are 3 zones that differ in the integral indicator of the stability of the development of leaves in apple trees: conditionally normal (control), with an average degree of disturbance and critical. A regular change in the vitamin C content in the leaves of apple trees in a row is described: control -> courtyards, parks, squares -> roads with medium traffic intensity -> roads with high traffic intensity -> industrial zone.

Assessment of the impact of ground-based skidding on soil physical properties: initial effect and medium-term recovery

ABSTRACT Soil profile disturbance and compaction can have a medium-term detrimental impact on soil physical properties. We investigated the recovery of physical properties of disturbed soils on four abandoned skid trails in a deciduous mountain forest in northern Iran. The trails ranged from immediately after skidding operations (IAS), through 5 years and 10 years, to 20 years since forest harvesting. For each recovery period, mean values for soil bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, and rut depth were assessed for three levels of traffic intensity and two levels of slope gradients, as well as within the general harvesting area and compared to those in untrafficked control areas. Over the 20-year recovery period, skid trails with lower traffic intensity on gentle slopes exhibited mean values that were 16.1% (bulk density), and 3.5 cm (rut depth) greater and 9.5% (total porosity) and 32.7% (macroporosity) lower compared to undisturbed areas; on steep trails with higher traffic intensity, values were 43.1% (bulk density), and 13 cm (rut depth) greater and 30.3% (total porosity) and 64.5% (macroporosity) lower, respectively. During this period (over the 20-year recovery period), surface soil compaction showed recovery in the general harvesting area. These results raise serious concerns about medium-term resilience to traffic on forest soils and indicate the necessity to properly retire skid trails to avoid further soil degradation as trails age.

DC-RAN dynamic coverage methods to improve its performance

Abstract
 In cellular networks, there are usually times when the density of the network changes at different times of the day, where congested areas attract a large demand for communications and data, which generates peak demand at specific times of the day, and vice versa also happens in the same area but at another time of the day, and in order to meet the needs of this changing demand the network must keep pace with changes in the density of the areas served. This can only be done if the network has a dynamic ability to handle the change in traffic density and demand intensity, which requires turning on/off a certain number of Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) that represent the Radio Frequency (RF) front end of the mobile network. For the purpose of providing a reliable and acceptable telecommunications service to users and financially useful to network operators by rationing energy consumption and meeting the required needs, dynamic 5G networks can do this by relying on a Dynamic Cloud Radio Access Network (DC-RAN) that enables them to respond to demand variables by shifting several types of coverage cells into a single serviced area and stopping them when needed.

Geometric parameters analysis of the two-lane motorways cross profile using risk theory

The issue of safety and traffic potential on public motorways often arises due to large-sized vehicles such as buses, agricultural machinery, and road articulated vehicles stopping on the roadsides. This is caused by the number of logistic transportations between the territorial subjects of the Russian Federation, which has increased recently due to the increase in the number of warehouses and, as a consequence, the increase in the number of heavy and full-size vehicles. The problem is especially acute at high traffic intensity, when four vehicles are simultaneously located on a two-lane road in one transverse profile. In this article the authors consider the safety analysis of cross profile elements of a motor road on safety maintenance of road traffic at a collision of a passenger car on the car stopped on the roadside with simultaneous separation on a two-lane motor road from the position of the risk theory. This approach to the risk calculation methodology is developed within the framework of the scientific direction «Design, construction and operation of motorways under the condition of ensuring traffic safety taking into account the risk theory». The purpose of the calculation is to check the safe stopping possibility of large-tonnage vehicles on roadsides of II, III and IV categories on the basis of risk-oriented approach according to geometric elements normative dimensions of the public roads cross profile.

Study of Problems Related to Pedestrian Bridges in Bulgaria

Pedestrian bridges due to specific features of the traffic on them have different parameters of structural behaviour and proportions in comparison with road and railway bridges. The lower traffic intensity leads to the possibility of realisation of slender structures with complex geometry. In accordance with Bulgarian national regulations the importance category of the bridge structures is related only with the road passing or under the structure. In Bulgaria there are large number of pedestrian bridges with relatively large spans up to 260m on small village roads and forest roads. Due to their low category in accordance with national regulations the process of control in their design, execution and maintenance is realised by the relevant municipalities. In the case of large spans suspension and cable-stayed superstructures are often used but the technical staff in the municipalities is frequently with no enough expert level in the complex behaviour of such type of structures. In the paper some common structural deficiencies, illustrated on analysis of particular pedestrian bridges in exploitation are discussed.

Green Buildings in Pursuit of Healthy and Safe Human Living Environment

Abstract Emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere resulting from the combustion of fuels in the energy production process and road traffic intensity are a key determinants of poor air quality in cities and the creation of an unfriendly environment for people to live in, which has a significant impact on their safety and health. The first step to reducing emissions is to reduce energy consumption. The ecological effect resulting from the thermal modernization of existing residential building stock was estimated. Nature-based solutions were proposed to compensate for the lost green areas in favor of gray infrastructure in the form of green roofs and walls. The possibility of improving environmental conditions by introducing this type of solutions into the urban tissue was assessed. Depending on the type of vegetation, one m2 of green cover is able to absorb an average of 2.3 kg of CO2 and 0.2 kg of particulate matter from the air per year. Renewable energy sources are an important element of green buildings. Heat pump may be the most advantageous solution in minimizing emissions combined with low operating costs. Obtaining energy from geothermal sources would be equally beneficial in terms of reducing emissions, but there are risks changes in groundwater levels or soil damage. Solar energy is one of the leading renewable energy sources, especially in hot water installations, where it is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

Pollutant concentration prediction from traffic data analysis for concrete durability studies in Madrid Calle 30 urban tunnels

The possibility of assessing and predicting the concrete damage is essential in order to apply an adequate and accurate maintenance and reparation policy for infrastructure management. In urban tunnels, concrete is exposed to pollutant emissions from the engines of the vehicles which can cause neutralization issues that may lead to the corrosion of the steel reinforcement. As pollutant concentration is an indispensable parameter to evaluate and forecast concrete neutralization damage, the aim of this work was to quantify gas concentrations inside an urban tunnel based on available traffic intensity data. This study was carried out performing in-situ concentration measures, comparing these values with available traffic data during the same period and developing a traffic intensity study to obtain the total concentrations at which the infrastructure had been exposed since its construction. This analysis was performed in a ventilation gallery of the Madrid Calle 30 tunnels as a part of a study in development with the aim of determining the service lifespan of the structure based on a predictive numerical model for concrete carbonation.

Cadmium accumulation in urban sparrows (Passer domesticus): assessing the impact of high-traffic industrial areas in Meknes Morocco

ABSTRACT This study investigated cadmium in urban sparrows from various Meknes zones with differing industrial and traffic intensities, compared to a rural site. Forty sparrows from industrial regions and ten from rural were analysed post-capture. Cadmium extraction used acid mineralisation, quantified via ICP. Findings revealed higher cadmium in sparrows’ kidneys from industrial zones than the rural site, with an average of 1.25 µg/g wet weight, indicating urban and industrial impacts on metal accumulation. The kidneys showed notable vulnerability to cadmium. Statistical data highlighted significant concentration differences between zones. This research emphasises the need for environmental monitoring and pollution strategies in urban areas for safeguarding health.

Training and Applying Artificial Neural Networks in Traffic Light Control: Improving the Management and Safety of Road Traffic in Tyumen (Russia)

The article presents the initial experience (spring-summer 2023) of using artificial neural networks (ANN) to improve traffic management in the large Russian city of Tyumen. Using the example of one of the intersections of the city's road network, it is shown how much transport delays are reduced when the duration of the traffic light cycle phases is quickly adjusted to the actual traffic intensity when compared with the usual previously used traffic light predictive mode. For the specific intersection of Odesskaya and Kotovskogo streets in Tyumen, considered in this article, the traffic light control mode using an ANN can significantly (by 20.6 ... 22.4%) reduce the average delay time of vehicles. It is also important that the reduction in traffic delays, which is possible with the regulation of traffic using ANN, helps to reduce stress for road users and improve road safety. The article presents historical data illustrating the dynamics of changes in the field of traffic management and road safety in Tyumen. This information confirms the thesis about the dialectic of systemic development and the need for a gradual increase in the intellectual component of traffic management in large cities. The Applications (Appendix A and Appendix B) present the code of the auxiliary procedures and functions module and the code of the main data collection module used to optimize the traffic light control mode at the experimental intersection of the Tyumen road network. The main conclusion of the study is that the use of an ANN allows for taking into account a much larger number of factors and optimizing the control of the entire object, consisting of several intersections, which is not achievable using predictive modes and local adaptive control.

Optimal design of piezoelectric energy harvesters for bridge infrastructure: Effects of location and traffic intensity on energy production

Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) can be used as an additional power supply for a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. Its design can be optimised for the best performance, however, the optimal design depends on the input vibration and locations. In this work, we extend an optimisation framework from our previous studies to include the effect of the PEH’s location, which uses the cantilevered PEH Kirchhoff–Love plate model discretised by IsoGeometric Analysis (IGA) and coupled with Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm to find the designs with maximum energy outputs for a large number of input acceleration histories, extracted from the recorded dynamic response data of a real cable-stayed bridge in Australia. Then, clustering and evaluation under 24-h excitation are performed to find several best PEHs for the entire bridge. By comparing the best PEH at all locations with a typical benchmark device, the substantial performance improvement brought by the optimisation framework of this work is verified. The comparison results show a significant energy harvesting enhancement of 1.6 times at the best locations, 2.4 times at A2 and A3, and 3.6 times at the edge girders, respectively. The results also reveal the variability of the best design at different locations of the same structure to maximise the energy harvesting of the entire bridge, and demonstrate the design rule that the fundamental frequency of the device can be tuned within a certain frequency range to improve the robustness of PEHs design. Additional studies are performed to explore the effect of location and traffic intensity on energy harvesting by analysing the optimal PEH design and location throughout the bridge structure. The results indicate that the key factors of maximising energy harvesting efficiency are related to the input excitation and the mode of vibration being excited. The position of maximum displacement in the vibration mode corresponds to the best location for energy harvesting. Also, the best device has a fundamental frequency close to the frequency of the corresponding vibration mode. In addition, the change of traffic intensity affects the amount of convertible mechanical energy and also directs the tuning of the fundamental frequency of the PEH to achieve the highest energy conversion.

Ships Route Planning Based on Navigation Historical Data and Traffic Intensity

This work is about maritime safety. The paper considers the problem of planning a route for a vessel to cross water areas with heavy traffic. It should be borne in mind that the trajectory of the vessel should be consistent with established navigational practices and collective navigation experience. In this case, it seems productive to plan a route based on data on the movement of other ships that were in the water area earlier (the same idea underlies the methods of "big data" tasks). In the works published earlier, such route planning was based on a cluster analysis of retrospective data on the movement of ships, which involved dividing the water area into sections and highlighting characteristic values of speeds and courses in them. The problem with this approach was the choice of partitioning parameters, which had to be set for each specific water area separately. In this paper, another approach is proposed, when the graph of possible routes includes a selection of the trajectories of individual ships that were previously implemented in the selected water area. This work is a further development of methods for solving the problem of ship route planning in areas with heavy traffic. The proposed method is based on the formation of a graph of possible routes from a set of intersecting broken lines, each of which represents a previously implemented route. Each edge of the graph is assigned a measure of its "popularity", which characterizes the proximity of other edges to it. The shortest path on a weighted graph is constructed considering not only the geometric length of the edges, but also the measure of their "popularity". The route found in this way will lie among the most frequently used trajectories. Samples of route panning for Vladivostok water area are presenting in this paper.

Developing a method of multi-lane roundabouts capacity

Introduction. In recent years a number of methodological and regulatory documents have been developed for public road roundabouts in the Russian Federation. In particular it was proposed to evaluate the quality of traffic management at roundabouts by the level of service measured by the average delay at roundabout entrances. The extension of the average delay criterion to the design of roundabouts requires the development of a methodology for estimating the capacity of traffic lanes at multi-lane roundabout entrances.The aim of the study. Is to develop a methodology for estimating the capacity of multi-lane roundabouts.The object of the study. Is the functioning of multilane roundabouts. Subject of the research. Are the regularities of influence of traffic volume on the values of characteristics of transport streams interaction in the conflict points of multilane roundabouts.Theoretical foundations of the research. The model for estimation of carrying capacity of multilane roundabouts based on the use of conflict points and function of acceptance of intervals is offered.Research Methodology. The video footage of multi-lane roundabouts in the cities of Bratsk, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Lipetsk, Nakhodka, Orenburg, Petrozavodsk and Pskov was processed. On each lane of the circular carriageway, intervals in the flow, measured between the front bumpers of vehicles, were recorded. The accepted and rejected headways were registered, as well as the number of vehicles using accepted intervals. The determination of the values of critical headways and follow-up time was performed using the Siegloch’s method based on linear regression.Results. A model for estimating capacity at the entrance to a multi-lane roundabout was validated. The values of critical intervals, queuing intervals of each of the entrance lanes to 2-lane and 3-lane roundabouts were determined. The values of the minimum headways in the flows moving on the circular carriageway are determined, also the dependences of the influence of traffic intensity on the free share of the traffic flow are established.

Competition and Competitors: Evidence from the Retail Fuel Market

Policy makers and antitrust authorities are concerned about the lack of competition in the fuel retail market and its impact on consumer prices. The aim of this article is to empirically evaluate the role of the intensity of competition and competitors’ brand affiliation on retail fuel prices. To this end, we use a panel data set with detailed daily on nearly 8,500 gas stations and 2 million price observations; we estimate a reduced-form fuel price equation that accounts for supply (input costs and local competition) and demand shifters (income, traffic intensity, and location) as well as for brand and time fixed effects. We use an instrumental variable estimation strategy, to account for the endogeneity of the intensity of competition. Our results show that premium brands and low-cost brands affect the prices of rival firms in an opposite way. On the one hand, premium brands soften competition in the local markets where they operate and thereby allow their rivals to set higher prices. Besides, price setting by premium-brand stations react differently depending on whether the nearest rival sells the same brand (a friendly competitor) or some other brand. By contrast, low-cost brands contribute to reducing prices through their own prices (direct effect), thereby encouraging competitors to lower their prices (indirect effect). Our results suggest that regulation limiting the entry of premium operators whilst promoting the entry of low cost gas stations will enhance competition at the retail level.

Use of Waste Polythene in Bituminous Concrete Mixes for Highways

Abstract: Bituminous Concrete (BC) normally used in construction projects like road surfacing, airports ,parking lots etc is a composite material . It consists of asphalt or bitumen (used as a binder) and mineral aggregate which are mixed together & laid down in layers then compacted. In these days the large increment in high traffic intensity in terms of commercial vehicles, and the compelling variation in daily and seasonal temperature put us in a demanding situation to think of some alternatives for the improvisation of the pavement characteristics and quality by applying some necessary modifications which shall satisfy both the strength as well as economical aspects .Also considering the environmental approach, due to excessive use of polythene in day to day life the pollution to the environment is increased significantly . Since the polythene is non-biodegradable the need of the current hour is to use the waste polythene in some beneficial purposes .This paperpresents a research conducted to analyse the behavior of BC mix modified with waste polythene. Various percentages of polythene are used for preparation of mixes with a selected aggregate grading as given in the IRC Code. By preparing Marshall samples of the concrete mix the role of polythene in bituminous is studied for various engineering properties BC mixtures with and without polymer. Marshall properties such as stability, flow value, unit weight, air voids are used to determine optimum polythene content for the given grade of bitumen (80/100).

COVID-related anthropause highlights the impact of marine traffic but not of tourism on breeding little penguins

The COVID-19 pandemic and its lock-down measures have resulted in periods of reduced human activity, known as anthropause. While this period was expected to be favorable for the marine ecosystem, due to a probable reduction of pollution, shipping traffic, industrial activity and fishing pressure, negative counterparts such as reduced fisheries surveillance could counterbalance these positive effects. Simultaneously, on-land pressure due to human disturbance and tourism should have drastically decreased, potentially benefiting land-breeding marine animals such as seabirds. We analyzed 11 breeding seasons of data on several biological parameters of little penguins from a popular tourist attraction at Phillip Island, Australia. We investigated the impact of anthropogenic activities on penguin behavior during the breeding season measured by (1) distribution at sea, (2) colony attendance, (3) isotopic niche (4) chick meal mass, and (5) offspring investment against shipping traffic and number of tourists. The 2020 lock-downs resulted in a near absence of tourists visiting the Penguin Parade®, which was otherwise visited by 800,000+ visitors on average per breeding season. However, our long-term analysis showed no effect of the presence of visitors on little penguins' activities. Surprisingly, the anthropause did not trigger any changes in maritime traffic intensity and distribution in the region. We found inter- and intra-annual variations for most parameters, we detected a negative effect of marine traffic on the foraging efficiency. Our results suggest that environmental variations have a greater influence on the breeding behavior of little penguins compared to short-term anthropause events. Our long-term dataset was key to test whether changes in anthropogenic activities affected the wildlife during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Multi-Factor Analysis of Near-Surface PM2.5 Concentration in Local-Scale Urban Areas

Near-surface PM2.5 concentrations have been greatly exacerbated by urban land expansion and dense urban traffic. This study aims to clarify the effects of multiple factors on near-surface PM2.5 concentrations from three perspectives of background climatic variables, urban morphology variables, and traffic-related emission intensity. First, two case areas covering multiple local blocks were selected to conduct mobile measurements under different climatic conditions. The observed meteorological parameters and PM2.5 concentration were obtained through GIS-based imaging. These interpolation results of air temperature and relative humidity reveal highly spatiotemporal diversity, which is greatly influenced by artificial heat emissions and spatial morphology characteristics in local areas. The PM2.5 concentration on measurement days also varies considerably from the lowest value of 44~56 μg/m3 in October to about 500 μg/m3 in December in Harbin winter and ranges between about 5 μg/m3 and 50 μg/m3 in Guangzhou summer. The correlation analysis reveals that both the climatic conditions and urban morphology characteristics are significantly correlated with local PM2.5 concentration. Especially for Guangzhou summer, the PM2.5 concentration was positively correlated with the street traffic emission source intensity with correlation coefficient reaching about 0.79. Multivariate nonlinear formulas were applied to fit the association between these factors and PM2.5 concentration with higher determined coefficients. And optimization strategies are thus suggested to improve the urban air quality in local-scale areas. This attribution analysis contributes to environmentally friendly urban construction.

Influence of seasonal activities and traffic conditions on the accumulation and particle size distribution of gully pot sediments

Gully pots (GPs) are ubiquitously used in urban catchments, to direct surface runoff into piped sewer systems, reduce the risk of sediment-induced pipe blockages and the loading of solids and associated contaminants on the receiving waters. Over time, the build-up of sediments in GPs will lead to impaired hydraulic performance, putting the urban catchment at risk of flooding. However, GP maintenance strategies lack both a robust evidence base and clear aims against which their effectiveness can be benchmarked. An improved understanding of the factors influencing long-term in-situ solids accumulation in GPs is required for further assessment and optimisation of the GP maintenance scheme. As a contribution to addressing these knowledge gaps, sediments from 27 GPs located in urban catchments associated with three street feature types (roundabout; crossing; straight road) and varied traffic intensities were collected on two occasions, representing two distinct seasonal accumulation periods. Parameters including GP fullness levels, particle size distribution (PSD), and solids mass accumulation rates were evaluated with regards to the impacts of seasonal activities, traffic conditions as well as configuration and dimension of GPs. The results indicate impacts of seasonal activities on solids accumulation rates were not consistent across all GPs, with the magnitude of the difference larger following winter-spring catchment practices. Additionally, synergistic impacts of seasonal activities and traffic conditions on PSD and solids accumulation rates were observed. For example, the winter road safety measures may enhance the impacts of the characteristic vehicle turning motions at roundabouts, contributing to the negative correlation identified between traffic intensities and solids accumulation rates. The overall exhibited large variations in sump fullness levels (4 %–73 %) and solids dry mass (0.5–51 kg) directly challenged the commonly adopted generalised GP maintenance frequency without taking the catchment-specific activities into consideration.

Road Impact on Plant Colonization in the Arid Timanfaya National Park.

Roads have the potential to alter local environmental conditions, such as the availability of water and nutrients, and rapidly create suitable habitats for the establishment of both native and non-native plant species, transforming the ecosystems. This is a challenge in Timanfaya National Park and Los Volcanes Natural Park on Lanzarote Island, protected areas that have experienced primary succession after recent volcanic eruptions. In arid ecosystems, changes in abiotic conditions along roadsides might facilitate colonization and plant growth. We analyzed the effect of roads and road type on plant species composition and richness at a spatiotemporal scale. Vascular plant species were systematically recorded at three distances from the road edge on both sides, across fourteen zones in the wet and dry seasons, for three years. Results showed that there were slight differences on species composition depending on the distance to the road edge, as well as on the zones. Species richness was also determined by the interaction of the position, zones, and season, being higher at the road edge. Furthermore, zones with higher traffic intensity showed a higher presence of both native and non-native species. This study highlights the importance of the awareness about the road impacts on species composition by enhancing the colonization capacity of species while facilitating the entry of invasive ones. Good management practices regarding infrastructures in natural protected areas are crucial for the conservation of their unique flora, landscapes, and natural succession processes.