Assessing the impact of reduced visibility on traffic crash risk using microscopic data and surrogate safety measures

Due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate real-time visibility and vehicle based traffic data at the same time, there are only few research studies that addressed the impact of reduced visibility on traffic crash risk. This research was conducted based on a new visibility detection system by mounting visibility sensor arrays combined with adaptive learning modules to provide more accurate visibility detections. The vehicle-based detector, Wavetronix SmartSensor HD, was installed at the same place to collect traffic data. Reduced visibility due to fog were selected and analyzed by comparing them with clear cases to identify the differences based on several surrogate measures of safety under different visibility classes. Moreover, vehicles were divided into different types and the vehicles in different lanes were compared in order to identify whether the impact of reduced visibility due to fog on traffic crash risk varies depending on vehicle types and lanes. Log-Inverse Gaussian regression modeling was then applied to explore the relationship between time to collision and visibility together with other traffic parameters. Based on the accurate visibility and traffic data collected by the new visibility and traffic detection system, it was concluded that reduced visibility would significantly increase the traffic crash risk especially rear-end crashes and the impact on crash risk was different for different vehicle types and for different lanes. The results would be helpful to understand the change in traffic crash risk and crash contributing factors under fog conditions. We suggest implementing the algorithms in real-time and augmenting it with ITS measures such as VSL and DMS to reduce crash risk.     

Direct formulation and algorithms for the probit-based stochastic user equilibrium traffic assignment problem

This paper proposes simple and direct formulation and algorithms for the probit-based stochastic user equilibrium traffic assignment problem. It is only necessary to account for random variables independent of link flows by performing a simple transformation of the perceived link travel time with a normal distribution. At every iteration of a Monte-Carlo simulation procedure, the values of the random variables are sampled based on their probability distributions, and then a regular deterministic user equilibrium assignment is carried out to produce link flows. The link flows produced at each iteration of the Monte-Carlo simulation are averaged to yield the final flow pattern. Two test networks demonstrate that the proposed algorithms and the traditional algorithm (the Method of Successive Averages) produce similar results and that the proposed algorithms can be extended to the computation of the case in which the random error term depends on measured travel time.     

Impact of regional population density on walking behavior

Land use can influence walking (measured by the number of steps) and so the health of people. This paper presents the result of empirical research on the impact of regional population densities (inhabitants per inhabitable area) on the number of steps (all steps, both outdoors and indoors). With data collected from almost 11,000 respondents in 148 Japanese regions, we estimate polynomial regression models, the total number of steps being the dependent variable and densities being the main independent variable. Regional population density significantly affects the number of steps after controlling for individual and household attributes. The estimated population density that maximizes the number of steps is around 11,000?persons/km². Increasing densities, up to levels of around 11,000?inhabitants/km², could increase walking and consequently the health of inhabitants. The population density elasticity of the number of steps is 0.046–0.049 in a simple log linear regression model without a peak.     

基于AIGA-WLSSVM的埋地管道腐蚀速率预测方法

为了降低埋地管道腐蚀影响因素之间的复杂相关性,提高腐蚀预测精度,文中提出一种基于自适应免疫遗传算法-加权最小二乘支持向量机(AIGA-WLSSVM)的埋地管道腐蚀速率预测建模方法,并采用AIGA优化模型参数,进一步提高模型的学习能力和稳定性。最后通过实例分析验证了AIGA-WLSSVM建模方法在埋地管道腐蚀速率预测中的可行性和有效性,为埋地管道的检修与更换提供参考。     

基于插补原理的船体复杂曲面加热线布置方法

船体曲面成形技术是船舶加工过程中重要的环节。如何更好更快实现船体复杂曲面加工,一致以来备受国内外学者的关注。本文借鉴插补原理,对传统船体复杂曲面加热线布置进行了优化设计,得到了圆弧形板、s形板、帆形板和马鞍板的加热线。采用COMSOL Multiphysics多物理场仿真软件,分析四种加热线下钢板变形情况,并通过实验检验了插补形式下的船体曲面成形效果。结果表明：(1)插补算法得到的船体曲面加热线路程比传统加热线路程节约75%以上。(2)对有限元计算位移进行曲面拟合,得到的预测模型与实际船体曲面基本一致。(3)实验了四种曲面加热线,并将有限元预测位移与实验进行对比,二者误差在6%以内,有限元计算与实验结果基本吻合。该方法降低加工时间,提高加工效率。     

长江航道承载力概念研究

以国家号召发展长江航道为背景,在生态航道建设的基础上,首次提出以满足生态效益需求为核心,兼顾经济社会发展、长江水资源综合利用等多种目标,实现长江航道建设可持续发展的长江航道承载力概念。借鉴资源承载力理论体系,运用系统理论、协同理论等理论对航道承载力系统的结构关系进行分析,并提出航道承载力的定义、内涵、特征及航道承载力发展机制。     

典型洪水作用下长江口白茆沙水道演变特性

基于白茆沙水道典型年份地形和水文数据,对典型洪水作用下白茆沙水道演变特性进行研究。结果表明:在新的河道边界条件和典型洪水作用下白茆沙水道分流点下移北偏,汇流点上提,白茆沙北水道深泓持续北偏,南水道新泾河至七丫口一带深泓较稳定;白茆沙沙体发生淤积,其面积、体积均呈增大特征,白茆沙南水道深槽平面上表现为冲刷展宽,断面上白茆沙南水道深槽冲刷下切,北水道断面面积呈淤积萎缩态势;白茆沙全河段表现出冲槽淤滩、总体淤积特征。     

近岸深水联排灌注桩施工工艺优化

采用传统的冲孔灌注桩施工工艺进行海上灌注桩施工时,往往会面临适用条件限制、环境污染、施工成本增加等问题。针对三亚凤凰岛项目海上冲孔灌注桩施工特点,介绍通过优化钢平台结构形式及布局设计、泥浆循环系统优化设计、结构稳定性计算、"四新设备"创新应用等措施,有效降低施工成本、提高施工效率、减少环境污染、提高施工质量。结果表明采取的工艺优化和平台改进措施效果良好、实用性强。     

波浪动力对开敞淤泥质海岸深水航道边坡稳定性的影响

开敞淤泥质海岸深水航道边坡的稳定性关系到航道的基建及维护费用,是航道工程设计中最重要的问题之一。以连云港港徐圩港区10万吨级航道为研究对象,采用在连云港海域应用较为成熟的波浪数学模型推算的波要素成果,研究中浪、大浪对徐圩10万吨级航道边坡稳定性的影响,并利用边坡实测地形资料进行分析。结果表明,从波浪动力的角度来看,徐圩10万吨级航道设计边坡的坡度取值是合理的,本海域的波浪动力不会对航道边坡的稳定性造成不利影响。     

中美欧日桩基承载力设计规范比较

针对中美欧日各国关于桩基设计方法的异同,在设计理论基础、单桩轴向抗压承载力、单桩抗拔承载力和水平承载力等方面进行了综合对比分析。并以工程实例为基础,计算了桩的抗压、抗拔极限承载力和折算允许值,得出中国规范安全裕度适中、水平承载力计算方法涵盖面广、可向海外推广的结论,并提出了工程设计中的关注点。