Application of multi-criteria decision analysis methods for assessing walkability: A case study in Porto Alegre,Brazil

The concept of walkability refers to the extent to which a neighbourhood is walking-friendly. Several walkability indexes have been developed to quantify and evaluate the pedestrian environment. These indexes differ in terms of type of data, methods and goals. The indexes variables may present either uniform or distinct weights, defined by arbitrary, empirical or other diverse weighting methods. This paper pursues the determination of a weighted walkability index, constructed on the basis of the relative importance of their attributes. Weights were determined by the application of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), a robust multi-criteria method which considers the experts’ uncertainty in decision making. Moreover, FAHP weights were compared with the attribute weights obtained from other simpler methods, and a chi-square test for homogeneity was computed to compare the obtained values. The three most important walkability attributes were: Public Security, Traffic Safety and Pavement Quality, similar results to the ones found in the literature. The application to a case study in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, allowed categorizing the studied neighbourhoods and to analyse the effect of changes on attributes in walkability.     

Traffic conflict models to evaluate the safety of signalized intersections at the cycle level

The safety of signalized intersections has often been evaluated at an aggregate level relating collisions to annual traffic volume and the geometric characteristics of the intersection. However, for many safety issues, it is essential to understand how changes in traffic parameters and signal control affect safety at the signal cycle level. This paper develops conflict-based safety performance functions (SPFs) for signalized intersections at the signal cycle level. Traffic video-data was recorded for six signalized intersections located in two cities in Canada. A video analysis procedure is proposed to collect rear-end conflicts and various traffic variables at each signal cycle from the recorded videos. The traffic variables include: traffic volume, maximum queue length, shock wave characteristics (e.g. shock wave speed and shock wave area), and the platoon ratio. The SPFs are developed using the generalized linear models (GLM) approach. The results show that all models have good fit and almost all the explanatory variables are statistically significant leading to better prediction of conflict occurrence beyond what can be expected from the traffic volume only. Furthermore, space-time conflict heat maps are developed to investigate the distribution of the traffic conflicts. The heat maps illustrate graphically the association between rear-end conflicts and various traffic parameters. The developed models can give insight about how changes in the signal cycle design affect the safety of signalized intersections. The overall goal is to use the developed models for the real-time optimization of signalized intersection safety by changing the signal design.     

Methods using belief functions to manage imperfect information concerning events on the road in VANETs

Different models using belief functions are proposed and compared in this article to share and manage imperfect information about events on the road in vehicular networks. In an environment without infrastructure, the goal is to provide to driver the synthesis of the situation on the road from all acquired information. Different strategies are considered: discount or reinforce towards the absence of the event to take into account messages agings, keep the original messages or only the fusion results in vehicles databases, consider the world update, manage the spatiality of traffic jams by taking into account neighborhood. Methods are tested and compared using a Matlab™ simulator. Two strategies are introduced to tackle fog blankets spatiality; they are compared through an example.     

基于遗传算法的武器系统安全可靠性的优化分析

分析武器系统的安全可靠性与费用的关系，提出了一个两目标优化问题的数学模型。并用遗传算法对其求解，为进行武器系统的安全优化设计得出了基于费用的多个备选方案。遗传算法设计中采用了性别编码、保留Pareto最优解、共享函数的处理，很好地解决了此两目标优化问题。最后给出的应用实例，也充分说明了此方法的可行性。     

关于“三种广义凸性”一文的注记

指出了文[1]中的定理5.1的证明过程是错误的,并给出了一个引理,定理的正确的证明和一个推论.     

The influence of workplace environment on lung function of shopkeepers working near National Highway in Jalgaon: A note

The inferior ambient air quality was observed near highway passing through Jalgaon urban center. Among the pollutants critical level of particulates are observed at the roadside during May 2003 to April 2004. The shopkeepers working at the highway sides are at high risk of exposure to the air pollution caused by heavy highway traffic. The lung function test of the shopkeepers shows significant decrease in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow rate. The regular periodic health checkup and use of nose mask will protect the health of shopkeepers working near National Highway passing through Jalgaon urban center.     

预不变拟凸函数的新性质及应用

对一类新的广义凸函数-预不变拟凸函数作了进一步研究。借助于η-不变凸集和函数的上图(E(f)={(x,α)∶x∈K,α∈R,f(x)≤α})得到了预不变拟凸函数的几个新的性质,然后还给出了预不变拟凸函数在数学规划问题中的两个重要应用,从而完善了对此类广义凸函数的研究。     

尖角裂纹周围应力场分析

对于裂纹的分析,不仅要研究裂纹边界的应力状况,而且还要研究离开裂纹边界一定范围内的应力变化情况.针对尖角裂纹,采用弹性断裂理论和复变函数理论建立计算模型.通过保角映射方法建立精确的边界条件,解决了尖角裂纹的边界条件问题.根据所求得的尖角裂纹应力表达式对不同的裂纹张开角对应力分布的影响进行全面的研究.得到了不同张开角的尖角裂纹周围应力分布.并对不同裂纹张开角的应力场进行了比较全面的分析.     

基于MATLAB的遗传算法优化软件设计

优化设计理论使工程设计方法发生了变革。其中,遗传算法理论与传统优化算法相比,具有鲁棒性、自适应性、全局优化性和隐含并行性的特点。本文基于Matlab语言编程实现了遗传算法,并设计搭建了用户界面。通过标准测试函数对所开发软件优化功能进行了测试检验,优化结果准确,操作简单方便,系统设计满足预期要求。     

浅析新时期高等职业教育集团发展的新思路

高等职业教育集团建设可以促进地方经济发展和职业教育事业跨越式发展。应准确把握高等职业教育集团建设的内涵,政府支持,企业参与,创新务实,以推动当前高等职业教育集团的建设与发展。