Effect of road width and traffic volume on vehicular interactions in heterogeneous traffic

Highway traffic flow phenomena involve several complex and stochastic variables with high interdependencies. The variations in roadway, traffic and environmental factors influence the traffic flow quality significantly. Capacity analysis of road sections under different traffic and geometric conditions need to quantify the vehicles of widely varying characteristics to a common and universally acceptable unit. Passenger car unit (PCU) is the universally adopted unit of traffic volume, keeping the passenger car as the ‘standard vehicle’ with reference to its static and dynamic characteristics; other vehicles are expressed to its equivalent number in terms of PCUs. The studies carried out in this aspect represent the dynamic nature of impedance caused by a vehicle while moving through a traffic stream. The PCU values recommended by the Highway Capacity Manual are widely applied in many countries; however, their applicability is highly under debate because of the variations in prevailing local traffic conditions. There are several factors that influence the PCU values such as traffic, roadway, vehicle, environmental and control conditions, etc. Apart from vehicular characteristics, the other two major factors that influence the PCU of vehicles are the following: (i) road width and (ii) traffic volume. In this study, estimation of PCU values for the different types of vehicles of a highly heterogeneous traffic on 7.5‐ and 11.0‐m‐wide roads, using micro‐simulation technique, has been dealt with. It has been found that the PCU value of a vehicle type varies significantly with variation in road width and traffic volume. The results of the study indicate that the PCU values are significantly influenced by the said two factors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling Capacity Reliability of Minor Roads at At-Grade Un-Signalized Intersections for Potential Performance Evaluation

Abstract

Given stochastic features of the demands on both the major road and the minor road at an at-grade un-signalized intersection, the capacity of the minor road is viewed as the vulnerable and critical part impacting on the overall capacity of the intersection. To facilitate the analysis of intersection performance reliability, the capacity reliability of the minor road is defined as the probability that the capacity of the minor road can accommodate a certain traffic demand at a certain degree of saturation. The headway distribution of traffic stream on major road is reflected by three types of distributions, namely, exponential distribution, shifted exponential distribution, and Cowan's M3 distribution. Based on field observations, the volumes on both major roads and minor roads are treated as correlated normal random variables. This paper presents the methods for modeling capacity reliability of the minor road at an at-grade un-signalized priority intersection. A method based on first-order reliability method is used to model the capacity reliability index. As important associated factors of capacity reliability analysis, the methods for modeling and analyzing capacity sensitivity of the minor road and reserve capacity of the priority intersection are also presented. A procedure for evaluating the intersection potential performance using capacity reliability, sensitivity and reserve capacity is developed and demonstrated with a numerical example. Finally, some new findings from the case studies are summarized.     

Effect of providing traffic information estimated by a stochastic network equilibrium model with stochastic demand

To estimate travel times through road networks, in this study, we assume a stochastic demand and formulate a stochastic network equilibrium model whose travel times, flows, and demands are stochastic. This model enables us to examine network reliability under stochastic circumstances and to evaluate the effect of providing traffic information on travel times. For traffic information, we focus on travel time information and propose methods to evaluate the effect of providing that information. To examine the feasibility and validity of the proposed model and methods, we apply them to a simple network and the real road network of Kanazawa, Japan. The results indicate that providing ambulance drivers in Kanazawa with travel time information leads to an average reduction in travel time of approximately three minutes.     

Selection of roadway grades that minimize earthwork cost using linear programming

Roadway grades are normally established to satisfy the geometric specifications of the road. Once the grades are established, the earthwork allocations that minimize the cost are determined. This paper presents a model that links these two activities. The model selects the roadway grades that minimize the cost of earthwork and satisfy the geometric specifications. The geometric specifications pertain to the elements of the vertical alignment, elevation of grade line at specified stations, horizontal and vertical alignment relations, and type of vertical curve. The model enumerates all technically feasible grades and solves the linear programming problem to minimize earthwork allocation cost for those grade alternatives that satisfy borrow pit and landfill capacity constraints. The model incorporates important earthwork details and guarantees obtaining the global minimum earthwork cost. Application of the model is illustrated by a numerical example and model extensions to accomodate other design and construction aspects are presented.     

Global optimization method for network design problem with stochastic user equilibrium

In this paper, we consider the continuous road network design problem with stochastic user equilibrium constraint that aims to optimize the network performance via road capacity expansion. The network flow pattern is subject to stochastic user equilibrium, specifically, the logit route choice model. The resulting formulation, a nonlinear nonconvex programming problem, is firstly transformed into a nonlinear program with only logarithmic functions as nonlinear terms, for which a tight linear programming relaxation is derived by using an outer-approximation technique. The linear programming relaxation is then embedded within a global optimization solution algorithm based on range reduction technique, and the proposed approach is proved to converge to a global optimum.     

Infrastructure based approach for roadway departure risk assessment

This paper presents a warning device to prevent the roadway departure of light vehicles while cornering. The proposed risk assessment methodology is based on recent works from the authors (Rey et al., 2011b,a; Rey, 2010). Given the random variability arising from the driver, the vehicle and the infrastructure at the entrance to the curve, a probabilistic strategy is adopted to assess the roadway departure risk. The infrastructure-based methodology enables the real curve characteristics to be considered and an alarm triggering decision to be made. Two safety criteria are tested and the potential safety benefits of the proposed warning device are evaluated. Contrary to existing roadway departure warning systems, the proposed approach does not require extra equipment for vehicles; it only requires that the measuring and warning devices be part of the road infrastructure, which is a great advantage in terms of economic cost.     

A traffic noise model for road intersections in the city of Cartagena de Indias,Colombia

Road traffic noise models are fundamental tools for designing and implementing appropriate prevention plans to minimize and control noise levels in urban areas. The objective of this study is to develop a traffic noise model to simulate the average equivalent sound pressure level at road intersections based on traffic flow and site characteristics, in the city of Cartagena de Indias (Cartagena), Colombia. Motorcycles are included as an additional vehicle category since they represent more than 30% of the total traffic flow and a distinctive source of noise that needs to be characterized. Noise measurements are collected using a sound level meter Type II. The data analysis leads to the development of noise maps and a general mathematical model for the city of Cartagena, Colombia, which correlates the sound levels as a function of vehicle flow within road intersections. The highest noise levels were 79.7 dB(A) for the road intersection María Auxiliadora during the week (business days) and 77.7 dB(A) for the road intersection India Catalina during weekends (non-business days). Although traffic and noise are naturally related, the intersections with higher vehicle flow did not have the highest noise levels. The roadway noise for these intersections in the city of Cartagena exceeds current limit standards. The roadway noise model is able to satisfactorily predict noise emissions for road intersections in the city of Cartagena, Colombia.     

聚酯玻纤布在沥青路面裂缝处治中的作用

如何减缓和阻止沥青路面反射裂缝一直是道路工作者普遍关心的问题。文章通过南友高速公路的工程实践,对聚酯玻纤布的性能和对实践中防反射裂缝的作用进行了分析,介绍了聚酯玻纤布的施工工艺,提出了使用聚酯玻纤布施工应注意的问题。     

Hierarchical network-based equilibrium model and algorithm for a mixed-traffic urban transport system

Abstract

Many equilibrium models and algorithms based on homogeneous motorized traffic have been devised to model urban transport systems in developed countries, but they are inadequate when it comes to represent mixed-traffic urban transport systems, including automobiles, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians, in developing countries such as China or India. In these cases, traffic flow on a road segment is an aggregated result of travellers' combined mode/route choices and corresponding interactions. Therefore, a special assignment model and algorithm are needed for modeling these distinct behaviors. In this article, the structure of a mixed-traffic urban transport system is analyzed and then expanded and represented using a hierarchical network model based on graph theory. Based on the analysis of travelers' combined mode/route choices, generalized travel cost functions and link impedance functions for different modes are formulated, where the interferences between different modes on the same road segments are taken into account. Due to the ‘asymmetric’ nature of these functions, a variational inequality model is proposed to represent the equilibrium assignment problem in a mixed-traffic urban transport system. The corresponding solution algorithm is also presented. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the practicality of the proposed model and algorithm.     

水泥路面沥青加铺层反射裂缝成因及分析

文章针对目前旧水泥混凝土路面修复中沥青加铺层易产生反射裂缝的现象，结合沥青加铺层反射裂缝的扩展模式，分析其产生的成因，为防止或减缓沥青加铺层反射裂缝提供参考。     

Weather and road geometry impact on longitudinal driving behavior: Exploratory analysis using an empirically supported acceleration modeling framework

The objective of this paper is to quantify and characterize driver behavior under different roadway geometries and weather conditions. In order to explore how a driver perceives the rapidly changing driving surrounding (i.e. different weather conditions and road geometry configurations) and executes acceleration maneuvers accordingly, this paper extends a Prospect Theory based acceleration modeling framework. A driving simulator is utilized to conduct 76 driving experiments. Foggy weather, icy and wet roadway surfaces, horizontal and vertical curves, and different lane and shoulder widths are simulated while having participants driving behind a yellow cab at speeds/headways of their choice. After studying the driving trends observed in the different driving experiments, the extended Prospect Theory based acceleration model is calibrated using the produced trajectory data. The extended Prospect Theory based model parameters are able to reflect a change in risk-perception and acceleration maneuvering when receiving different parameterized exogenous information. The results indicate that drivers invest more attention and effort to deal with the roadway challenges compared to the effort to deal with the weather conditions. Moreover, the calibrated model is used to simulate a highway segment and observe the produced fundamental diagram. The preliminary results suggest that the model is capable of capturing driver behavior under different roadway and weather conditions leading to changes in capacity and traffic disruptions.     

Testing a Framework for the Efficiency Assessment of Road Safety Measures

Abstract

The objective of this research is to develop and test a framework for efficiency assessment of road safety measures and evaluate its use in decision‐making. An exhaustive review of standard methodologies and practices related to cost‐effectiveness and cost–benefit analyses is carried out for that purpose. Moreover, a number of case studies are performed, concerning the efficiency assessment of various road safety measures in different countries, covering different types of road safety measures (user‐, vehicle‐ or infrastructure‐oriented, policy or enforcement, etc.), ranging from national to local levels of implementation and including both ex ante and ex post evaluations. From the results conclusions are drawn on the efficiency of different road safety measures and the related determinants. Furthermore, the case studies reveal a number of methodology and data issues for which further research is required. The procedures and barriers involved in the use of efficiency assessment techniques at different levels of decision‐making are also highlighted by means of feedback received during and after the various case studies. On the basis of these results, a framework for the promotion, implementation and evaluation of efficiency assessment in road safety decision‐making is proposed. A particular set of recommendations is also presented regarding the treatment of barriers (fundamental, institutional or technical) within the efficiency assessment itself and the related decision‐making process.     

SAWI在水泥混凝土路面薄层罩面中的应用

文章结合广清高速公路水泥混凝土薄层罩面结构设计实例,介绍了应用高弹改性沥青应力吸收层（SAWI）的水泥混凝土加铺薄沥青层的路面结构设计过程,阐述了SAWI的性能特点与施工质量控制的方法和重点,并对其实际使用性能进行了跟踪检测。结果表明：应用SAWI的水泥混凝土薄沥青层加铺技术可较好地抵抗反射裂缝,并能减少路面厚度,降低工程造价,是一项具备良好发展前景的水泥路面加铺新技术。     

Classifying Ports for Efficiency Benchmarking: A Review and a Frontier-based Clustering Approach

Abstract

Port efficiency and port clustering are two aspects that have received different degrees of attention in the existing literature. While the actual estimation of port efficiency has been extensively studied, the existing literature has paid little attention to developing robust methodologies for port classification. In this paper, we review the literature on classification methods for port efficiency, and present an approach that combines stochastic frontier analysis, clustering and self-organized maps (SOM). Cluster methodologies that build on the estimated cost function parameters could group ports into performance metrics’ categories. This helps when setting improvement targets for ports as a function of their specific cluster. The methodology is applied to a database of Spanish port authorities. The dendrogram features three clusters and five outlier Spanish Port Authorities. SOM are employed to track the temporal evolution of Spanish Port Authorities that are of special interest for some reasons (i.e. outliers). Results show that use of a combination of cost frontier and cluster methods to define robust port typology and SOMs, jointly or in isolation, offers useful information to the decision-makers.     

The Measurement of Efficiency of UK Airports,Using a Stochastic Latent Class Frontier Model

Abstract

In this paper, the latent stochastic frontier model is used to estimate the technical efficiency of UK airports. These airports are ranked according to their technical efficiency for the period 2000–06 and the airports are disentangled and segmented by the cost frontier model, which leads us to advise the implementation of policies by segments. Economic implications arising from the study are also considered.     

浅析半刚性基层荷载型裂缝对路面结构的影响

半刚性基层裂缝的产生和发展很大原因是受到荷载作用,由交通荷载重复作用而造成的疲劳裂缝属于荷载型裂缝。文章结合广西路网工程建设实际状况,利用有限元计算模型分析半刚性基层受荷载作用开裂的情况,揭示基层荷载型裂缝对路面结构的影响。     

南友高速公路沥青混凝土路面病害及养护对策

南友高速公路是广西首条使用沥青混凝土路面的高速公路，文章通过分析南友高速公路运营期间出现的裂缝、坑槽、车辙及路面沉陷等病害现象及成因，介绍了沥青混凝土路面病害养护对策及采用的修补材料、施工工艺和施工设备，以供借鉴。     

Integrated analysis of GHGs and public health damage mitigation for developing urban road transportation strategies

This study attempts to present an urban road transportation strategy focusing on the mitigation of both GHGs emission and public health damage, taking Xiamen City as a case study. We developed a Public Health and GHGs Emission model to estimate the impacts of direct energy-consumption-related GHGs emissions and public health damage in Xiamen’s road transportation strategies from 2008 to 2025, considering the environmental benefits and economic costs. Two scenarios were designed to describe future transportation strategies for Xiamen City, and mitigation potentials for both GHGs emission and public health costs were estimated from 2008 to 2025 under a series of options. The results show that enacting controls on private vehicles would be most effective to GHGs mitigation, while enacting controls on government and rental vehicles would contribute the most to NO₂ and PM2.5 reductions. Compared with the Business as Usual scenario, the Integrated scenario would achieve about a 68% energy consumption reduction and save 0.23 billion yuan (95% CI: 0.16, 0.32) in health costs in 2025. It is clear that integrated and advisable strategies need to mitigate the adverse impacts of urban road vehicles on GHGs emissions and public health and economic costs, particularly in regions of rapid urbanization.     

Modelling rain effects on risk‐taking behaviours of multi‐user classes in road networks with uncertainty

This paper proposes a new travel time reliability‐based traffic assignment model to investigate the rain effects on risk‐taking behaviours of different road users in networks with day‐to‐day demand fluctuations and variations in travel time. A generalized link travel time function is used to capture the rain effects on vehicle travel times and road conditions. This function is further incorporated into daily demand variations to investigate those travel time variations arising from demand uncertainty and rain condition. In view of these rain effects, road users' perception errors on travel times and risk‐taking behaviours on path choices are incorporated in the proposed model with the use of a logit‐based stochastic user equilibrium framework. This new model is formulated as a variational inequality problem in terms of path flows. A numerical example is used to illustrate the application of the proposed model for assessment of the rain effects on road networks with uncertainty.     

天然气输送用双抗型钢管的焊接工艺试验研究

为了研究影响双抗型钢管的抗氢诱导裂纹和抗硫化物应力腐蚀开裂的产生因素,对某双抗型钢管采用双V型坡口形式,通过不同线能量下手工电弧焊工艺施焊后,对焊接接头的力学性能、焊接裂纹性能、最高硬度、金相组织进行试验分析。采用美国腐蚀工程师协会的试验方法进行试验,发现钢管焊缝试样的硫化氢应力腐蚀裂纹大多沿着粒状贝氏体晶界和焊缝组织不均匀部位分布,并且硬度越高,裂纹敏感性越高。