This study provides an insight into the impact of construction activities on traffic operations. Specifically, the topic of interest for this thesis is to study the impact of construction on traffic operations for construction projects on Interstate 4 from SR 434 to John Young Parkway, from SR 528 to SR 535, and from SR 482 to SR 528. These three projects were chosen because they were the only projects on Interstate 4 where both construction data and loop detector data were available for analysis. The data was collected by examining the Florida Department of Transportation daily inspection reports which had detailed documentation of construction operations that took place. The following information was collected: date, type of construction work being performed, time, location, and direction of impact to the traveling public. These data points were cross-referenced to the loop detector stations and mile posts to collect the loop detector data and roadway geometric characteristics such as location of ramps, type of median, etc. The loop detector data (speed, volume, and occupancy) were collected and aggregated for the data analysis. The loop detector data were collected during construction, one year prior to construction, and one year after construction for comparison purposes. Logistic regression analysis under the within-stratum matched sampling framework was conducted as an exploratory analysis to see if there was a difference on the traffic impacts with and without construction. This was done by matching the variables to ensure that there were no other differences impacting the traffic operations. Logistic regression proved there was a difference in the traffic operations with and without the presence of construction. The simple model results demonstrated that speed was reduced, occupancy was increased, and volume decreased during construction. After construction, the speed and volume increased and the occupancy decreased. Linear regression and analysis of covariance were used to quantify the impact of the various construction activities on the speed, occupancy and volume. Linear regression and analysis of covariance were used to understand the impacts from the presence of roadway geometrics on freeway traffic operations during construction. Logistic regression controls the geometrics, linear regression and analysis of covariance demonstrated how the geometrics impacted the construction effects. The geometric characteristics of each area were included in this analysis. This thesis investigates construction activities and roadway geometric parameters that impact traffic freeway operations (speed, volume, and occupancy) before, during, and after construction. This research showed the impact of different types of construction operations in a highway construction widening project. This research demonstrated that construction activities have a significant impact on speed, volume, and occupancy. Different types of construction activities have more of an impact than other activities. Paving had the highest adverse impact. Agencies writing construction contracts should prohibit paving during the most highly congested times. For example, in Orlando, Florida on Interstate 4, agencies should prohibit night paving during the peak holiday seasons (such as Thanksgiving, spring breaks, Christmas, etc.) around the tourist attractions during closing times, during the peak morning hours, and during the closing times of high attendance activities, such as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios when high attendance is anticipated at the theme parks. Roadway geometrics also impact the traffic operations differently, before, during, and after construction and differently during various times of the day. The information of improved roadway geometrics and faster traffic flow can be used at open houses for upcoming projects where there are many people opposed to construction projects to show how the roadway construction projects actually increase traffic flow, helping everyone to get to their destinations much faster. The impact of the traffic delays in the congested areas, such as the tourist areas on Interstate 4 during the peak traffic times could be quantified to calculate delay costs to the roadway users.

Statybai, kaip vienai iš žmogaus ūkinės veiklos šakų, sparčiai keičiančiai gyvenamąją aplinką kiekybiniu ir kokybiniu požiūriais, skiriamas išskirtinis dėmesys. Statyba šiame darbe vertinama atsižvelgiant į darnumo principus. Norint sėkmingai integruotis į Europos Sąjungą, reikalingi infrastruktūros planavimo ir plėtros pokyčiai, būtina gerinti gyvenimo ir aplinkos kokybę. Šalies politika, taip pat ir darnios statybos klausimais, turi būti adekvati Europos valstybėms. Pastaraisiais metais darniai statybai, tame tarpe ir presuotų šiaudų panaudojimui, skiriamas didelis dėmesys ne tik populiarioje literatūroje: laikraščiuose, žurnaluose, bet ir mokslinėje literatūroje. Rašomi ne tik straipsniai, bet ir knygos. Atsinaujinančių statybinių medžiagų panaudojimo klausimais atliekami užsakomieji moksliniai tyrimai, ruošiamos disertacijos. Atsižvelgiant į tai galima teigti, kad ir Lietuvoje bus suformuota valstybinė darnaus vystymosi kriterijais paremta statybos politika. Tačiau kol kas, siekiant darnumo statybos pramonės srityje, tenka vadovautis bendrais aplinkosauginiais ir darnaus vystymosi idėjas deklaruojančiais politiniais ir teisiniais dokumentais. Lietuvoje darnios statybos plėtros galimybės nėra vertintos. Magistro darbą sudaro penki skyriai, išvados ir pasiūlymai bei naudotų literatūros šaltinių sąrašas. Pirmajame skyriuje nagrinėjama darnaus vystymosi samprata ir raida. Antrajame – statybos sektoriaus poveikis aplinkai. Trečiajame ir ketvirtajame skyriuose nagrinėjama darni... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The special attention is given for the construction as one of the branches of human economic activities, rapidly modifying the living environment in quantitative and qualitative approaches. In this work construction is evaluated by taking into consideration principles of sustainability. In order to successfully integrate into the European Union changes of infrastructure planning and development are required, it is necessary to improve the quality of life and environment. Country policy, as well as sustainable construction issues, must be adequate to the European countries. In recent years the great attention is paid for the sustainable construction including the use of compressed straw not only in the popular literature: newspapers, magazines, but also in the scientific literature. Not only articles are written, but books as well. Scientific researches are performed in the issues of renewable construction material use as well as the dissertations are prepared. Taking this into consideration it can be stated that Lithuania will establish a state construction policy based on sustainable development criteria. However, at the moment in an attempt of sustainability in the sphere of construction industry, we have to follow general environmental, political and legal documents declaring the ideas of sustainable development. In Lithuania the possibilities of sustainable construction expansion have not been evaluated. Master thesis consists of five chapters, conclusions and... [to full text]