Assessment of policies and detection of unintended effects: Guiding principles for the consideration of methods and tools in policy-packaging

Single policies or entire policy packages are often assessed using different methods aiming at a quantification of effects as well as the detection of undesired outcomes. The knowledge of potential impacts is essential to take informed policy actions. Hence, there is a constant need for efficient assessment approaches to support policy decision-making. A broad range of such assessment methods is used in policymaking. Some of them are using quantitative data; others are characterized by qualitative information, observations or opinions. Practical experiences with transport policy prove that these methods all have their pros and cons, but none of them are able to detect the full range of effects. This leads to important questions this article deals with, such as what are the strengths and limitations of the different tools and methods for assessing impacts, and how should different approaches be integrated into the policymaking processes?We analyze the ability of assessment methods to detect different kinds of intended and unintended effects, and introduce the concepts of structurally open (mainly qualitative) and structurally closed (mainly quantitative) methods. It is argued that these concepts support making the pros and cons of the tools and methods more explicit and, thus, allow integrating the different tools and methods into the process of policy packaging. Based on a policy package example, we provide practical recommendations on how to integrate different assessment methods adequately and show that both quantitative and qualitative tools should be used in different phases of the process. The main recommendation is to alternate the application of assessment methods with structurally open methods used in the beginning and the end of the policymaking process and applying structurally closed methods in between.     

Environmentally appraising different pavement and construction scenarios: A comparative analysis for a typical local road

The aim of this work is to carry out a comparative analysis of environmental impacts for different scenarios of a typical local road. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the modeling tool used to quantify and characterize comparative environmental impacts. In carrying out this specific application of the LCA, different road construction techniques were considered with regards to the whole structure and compared in order to identify the best alternative in terms of environmental sustainability.So far, in fact, typical LCA frameworks of roads have focused on recycled materials for pavement layers only, thus neglecting study of the materials used in the embankment or in the subgrade. In this study, these materials were included too, in order to prove the environmental benefit of using a sustainable technique such as in situ stabilization of fine soils with lime (typically dumped clayey soils) in order to reduce the need for virgin material for embankment and subgrade construction.When using different percentages of recycled materials (such as reclaimed asphalt pavement – RAP) in the bituminous layer or in the foundation, the analysis of the functional unit studied shows a significant reduction of energy consumption and pollutant emissions mainly due to transportation of materials involved, in this way increasing the environmental performance of the road.Another important consideration is that the use of fine soils stabilized with lime “in situ”, instead of dumping it, not only is a good technical solution for improving soil mechanical properties, but it also produces a reduction of energy consumption and of pollutant emissions. It is noticeable that this technique results in a significant reduction of pollutant emissions due the transportation of involved materials, increasing the environmental performance of the road.     

X射线安检设备控制系统的设计

典型的X射线安检设备主要由X射线发生器、X射线线性阵列探测器、滚筒电机及传动装置、装有图像采集卡的PC及光触发传感器等组成，要实现各部分协调、高效的工作需设计一套完善的控制系统。依据X射线安检机各部分的工作原理及控制要求，设计了系统的控制方案，该控制系统方案已应用到沈阳地泰检测设备有限公司DEX9080B型X射线安检机上，经过2年多的运行，证明该系统运行稳定、响应速度快，具有良好的抗干扰性和实用价值。     

公路事故多发段点改造与安全设计

从提供安全的道路交通设施和道路安全管理的角度,介绍了公路事故多发段点的鉴别、改造与安全设计,目的在于改善现有道路的安全水平,并找出道路交通设计中的缺陷,将一些安全隐患消灭在规划、设计阶段,以减少交通事故造成的损失.     

铁路安全线空间线形设计方案研究

现行的铁路安全线设计方案,无论是直线型安全线还是曲线型安全线,均存在安全隐患,随着我国铁路运行速度的不断提高,这一问题愈显突出。为了避免列车进入安全线发生侧翻或脱轨时朝向正线侧,采用侧倾式设计方案对安全线系统进行优化,改进线路轨面高程设计和车挡外形设计,设置轨面高差,调整车挡撞击面与线路的夹角。侧倾式设计方案可以确保在列车进入安全线后,避免向正线一侧脱轨或侧翻。提出修改设计规范的建议,改进今后的设计,并对既有安全线进行改造,从而保证正线列车的运行安全。     

电务安全新机制的探索与实施

面对上海电务段管内高普并举、车地合一,设备用修矛盾突出,安全受控难度加大的复杂局面,上海电务段始终坚持用现代管理理念和企业安全文化引领安全基础建设,牢固树立"安全零事故、设备零故障"的科学、预防、发展观念,以深化安全风险管理为主线,以安全管理新机制为抓手,全面推进各项重点工作,确保了安全持续稳定、有序可控,初步形成了科学发展、安全发展、和谐发展的良好局面。     

地铁施工临近管线安全管理及评价标准研究

基于《地铁工程施工安全评价标准》国家标准编制项目的支持,对地铁工程施工临近地下管线安全管理及评价进行研究,确定地铁施工临近地下管线安全风险管理的工作内容与要求,分析临近地下管线的调查内容、调查步骤及其变形控制标准;将地铁施工诱发临近管线安全风险划分为五个等级,提出不同安全风险等级下地下管线的保护措施;并在此基础上建立地铁工程施工临近管线安全管理体系及评价标准。     

软土地区下穿运营高铁通道工程关键技术研究

天津市武清区某城市干道下穿高速铁路及普速铁路立交工程是我国首例下穿运营高铁的通道工程,具有安全风险高、工程技术复杂、施工难度极大等特点。以高速铁路为研究对象,针对其软土地区及临近运营高铁等特点,分别对工程防护设计与安全评估技术、高压旋喷桩施工和开挖对桥台影响试验、全封闭止水、开挖、顶进施工技术以及监测技术进行了深入研究和测试,取得了大量宝贵的试验和实测数据,提出一整套软土地区临近高铁工程的安全评估和防护技术、监测技术和施工方法。研究结论:针对降水、开挖、打桩等关键工序进行安全评估计算分析是必要的;采取"分段开挖、边挖边压、上下分层、同层分片、逐片推进"施工措施,及"及时封底、分段浇筑"施工模式,可有效降低施工对高铁工程沉降变形的影响;旋喷桩施工对高铁影响较大,施工时需要注意控制压力,尽量在15 m以外。     

Relex Studio软件在计算机联锁系统安全认证中的应用

介绍了Relex Studio软件的基本结构和主要功能,阐述了Relex Studio软件在计算机联锁系统安全认证中的作用,并对其优缺点进行了分析。     

CTCS-3级列控系统的系统评估研究

我国已经步入高速铁路时代,通过集成创新,建立符合我国国情和路情的高速铁路列控系统及系统评估体系具有非常重要的意义。论述了CTCS-3级列控系统的研究技术路线,提出了CTCS-3级列控系统的系统评估方法,对CTCS-3级列控系统的生命周期各个阶段进行有效评估,从而保证高速铁路列控系统满足高速铁路的需求。