Roadway safety continues to be a priority for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic and Safety Division. UDOT has participated in and managed several research projects in recent years to determine the roadway segments of highest safety concern in the state. This research has provided UDOT with more tools to assist in safety project prioritization. Researchers in Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) have worked with UDOT and the Statistics Department at BYU to create two network screening statistical tools called the Utah Crash Prediction Model (UCPM) and the Utah Crash Severity Model (UCSM) to analyze roadway segment safety. The Roadway Safety Analysis Methodology (RSAM) was developed as a process to run these segment models. Because a significant portion of crashes occur at intersections, there is a need to analyze roadway safety specifically at intersections. This research focuses on the development of the Utah Intersection Crash Prediction Model (UICPM) and the Intersection Safety Analysis Methodology (ISAM). The UICPM is a Bayesian generalized linear model that determines crash distributions for each intersection based on roadway characteristics and historical crash data. The observed number of crashes at each intersection is compared with the crash distribution, and a percentile value is calculated as the probability that the number of crashes occurring at an intersection in a particular year is less than or equal to the average annual number of crashes. A high percentile value indicates that more crashes were observed than expected and the intersection is a hot spot and should be considered for safety improvements. All intersections are ranked at the state, UDOT Region, and county levels based on the percentile value, the higher ranks having higher percentile values. The ISAM is the three-step process that was developed to execute the UICPM. The first step is to prepare the model input by formatting and combining the roadway characteristics and crash data files. Crashes are assigned to intersections if they fall with the functional area of an intersection. Due to data limitations, the ISAM is currently being used only for intersections of at least two state routes. It is anticipated that, as more data are made available, the ISAM will function properly for intersections of non-state routes as well. The second step is to execute the UICPM using the R GUI tool and R software. The third step is to create a two-page Intersection Safety Analysis Report (ISAR) for intersections of interest and maps of the state, UDOT Regions, and counties with the model results. Parts of the ISARs are auto-generated and the rest is entered manually by an analyst. The two-page ISARs will be used by UDOT Regions to prioritize intersection safety projects in their respective areas.

is thesis deals with the new approach to solving the usage of the urban places located at the current build-up area of the block of flats. On experiences from long-term processing of concrete designs there are introduced principles and fundamentals for the regeneration of public places at block of flats, including new structure of functional areas. These principles and fundamentals will serve as the methodical aid for the public service, self-government and for the designers conversant with regeneration of public places.

A quantidade de habitat remanescente, a conectividade e o tamanho dos fragmentos são sugeridos como determinantes para a manutenção de espécies em paisagens fragmentadas, e dessa maneira é essencial entendermos e modelarmos tais relações para o embasamento de políticas de conservação. Para analisarmos tais efeitos na riqueza e abundância de aves de sub-bosque e na abundância de 29 espécies de aves da Mata Atlântica, construímos modelos com variáveis representando o tamanho do fragmento e graus diversos de conectividade funcional em três paisagens com diferentes proporções de habitat (14, 31 e 45% de habitat). Posteriormente, confrontamos tais modelos com dados provenientes de amostragens com redes de neblina (4.818 indivíduos) com um esforço amostral total de quase 34.000 horas-rede em 53 fragmentos de diferentes tamanhos (2 a 159 ha) e graus de conectividades (considerando conexões por corredor ou por curtas distâncias pela matriz). Em seguida, hierarquizamos tais modelos através do critério de Informação de Akaike. Um total de 117 espécies foi capturado, e a paisagem com maior riqueza foi aquela de maior proporção de mata (87), enquanto as outras duas apresentaram riquezas semelhantes e menores (62 e 70), o que sugere um limiar de habitat entre 32 e 44% para a perda de um grande número de espécies. Além disso, os aspectos de configuração foram importantes em todas as paisagens, contudo, diferentes características foram relevantes em cada um dos casos. Enquanto na paisagem com menor proporção de habitat o tamanho dos fragmentos foi extremamente influente na determinação da riqueza e da abundância de espécies, os aspectos relacionados à conectividade foram mais importantes nas paisagens com 31 e 45% de proporção de habitat. Dentre as variáveis de conectividade, as que representam conectividade por corredores foram particularmente importantes, seguidas pelas de pequenos cruzamentos pela matriz (20 m). Modelos que levaram em consideração cruzamentos de 40 m pela matriz foram bem menos plausíveis que os demais. Os modelos para abundância das 29 espécies também resultaram em um padrão similar ao observado para a comunidade. No entanto, a importância relativa do tamanho do fragmento e da conectividade mudou em função da proporção de habitat, de acordo com a espécie abordada. Os resultados aqui apresentados são importantes para o embasamento de políticas de manejo para a conservação, e ressaltam a influência relativa das variáveis de configuração ao longo do gradiente de quantidade de hábitat, e devem ser consideradas quando na seleção de áreas para conservação, restauração ou qualquer forma de manejo voltado para a conservação. / Landscape aspects such as habitat amount, fragment size and connectivity, have been suggested as key features for maintaining species in altered landscapes, and thus are essential to be modeled and comprehended for management and conservation purposes. To test their effects on understory Atlantic forest bird species, we built models with variables representing fragment size and functional connectivity in 3 landscapes with different proportions of forest (14, 31 and 45%), and confronted with data from more than 4,818 individuals captured in 53 fragments of different sizes (2.06 to 158.45 ha) and connectivitys (connected by corridors, or by short distances), and then we ranked under a model selection approach (AIC). A total of 117 species were recorded, and the landscape with higher amount of forest was richer (87) than the two others which presented a similar lower richness (62 and 70), what suggests a threshold amount of habitat between 32 to 44%. Configuration aspects were important in all cases; however, different characteristics influenced species richness and abundance in each landscape. Patch size was important in determining species richness and abundance in the landscape with low amount of habitat, while connectivity aspects were crucial in the landscapes with higher amounts of habitat. Within the connectivity models, particularly the ones that take in to account the connectivity by corridors, but also the ones that consider short movements through the matrix are far better supported, then the ones by longer distances gaps. Moreover, specieslevel analyses yielded results similar to the pattern found for the whole assemblage, and the configuration variable influence varied along the habitat conversion gradient. The results presented here are important for management planning towards conservation, and should be considered in site selection for conservation, restoration or any other kind of management.

L’étude de la mobilité domicile-travail fait l’objet de nombreuses recherches visant à décrire et analyser les caractéristiques des actifs et de leurs déplacements. En France, ces études se concentrent principalement sur les individus vivant dans les espaces fonctionnels construits autour des agglomérations, les aires urbaines. Cette thèse vise à fournir une lecture complémentaire de ces travaux en étudiant les personnes qui se déplacent entre aires urbaines : les actifs interurbains.À partir d’une approche quantitative à l’échelle de la France continentale, menée principalement grâce aux bases de données du recensement de la population, une qualification des actifs interurbains est proposée. Nos résultats montrent une diversité des profils d’actifs en matière de caractéristiques sociodémographiques, ainsi qu’une pluralité de types de liaisons réalisées entre les différents espaces des aires urbaines. Nos travaux mettent également en évidence l’importance de l’usage de la voiture, principal mode de transport utilisé par les actifs interurbains. Aussi, malgré leur poids relativement faible dans la population des aires urbaines grandes et moyennes en France, ces actifs qui se déplacent sur de grandes distances en voiture sont alors responsables d’un volume important d’émissions de CO2.Ce dernier résultat a conduit à quantifier des potentiels de report modal des déplacements des interurbains de la voiture vers le réseau ferroviaire afin de réduire le volume de ces émissions. Nos résultats démontrent l’existence de leviers permettant de réduire théoriquement ces émissions liées à l’usage de l’automobile. Le facteur spatial, à différentes échelles, joue un rôle important dans les différences entre potentiels. Enfin, nous avons également montré que ces mesures ont des conséquences sociales distinctes, en matière de coût, en fonction des professions et catégories socioprofessionnelles / Commuter mobility is the subject of numerous studies meaning to describe and analyze the characteristics of commuters and their movements. In France, these studies focus primarily on people living in the functional area built around cities, called French urban areas. This thesis aims to provide supplementary insight on this topic by studying people moving between those French urban areas: intercity commuters.Analysing the French mainland population thought a quantitative approach conducted using census databases, measurement and qualification of long-distance commuters are proposed. Our results show a diversity of commuters in terms of demographic profile and spatial connections. The important use of the car as the primary mode of transport is emphasized. Despite their relatively low weight in the population of large and medium-sized urban areas in France, those commuters, who travel over long distances by car, are responsible for significant volumes of CO2 emissions.This result led to quantify the potential modal shift from car to rail. Our results demonstrate the existence of levers to theoretically reduce car use and thus the importance of its emissions. The influence of the spatial factor, at different scales, is attested. Furthermore such policies would have different consequences in terms of cost for the various professions and socio-professional categories

A quantidade de habitat remanescente, a conectividade e o tamanho dos fragmentos são sugeridos como determinantes para a manutenção de espécies em paisagens fragmentadas, e dessa maneira é essencial entendermos e modelarmos tais relações para o embasamento de políticas de conservação. Para analisarmos tais efeitos na riqueza e abundância de aves de sub-bosque e na abundância de 29 espécies de aves da Mata Atlântica, construímos modelos com variáveis representando o tamanho do fragmento e graus diversos de conectividade funcional em três paisagens com diferentes proporções de habitat (14, 31 e 45% de habitat). Posteriormente, confrontamos tais modelos com dados provenientes de amostragens com redes de neblina (4.818 indivíduos) com um esforço amostral total de quase 34.000 horas-rede em 53 fragmentos de diferentes tamanhos (2 a 159 ha) e graus de conectividades (considerando conexões por corredor ou por curtas distâncias pela matriz). Em seguida, hierarquizamos tais modelos através do critério de Informação de Akaike. Um total de 117 espécies foi capturado, e a paisagem com maior riqueza foi aquela de maior proporção de mata (87), enquanto as outras duas apresentaram riquezas semelhantes e menores (62 e 70), o que sugere um limiar de habitat entre 32 e 44% para a perda de um grande número de espécies. Além disso, os aspectos de configuração foram importantes em todas as paisagens, contudo, diferentes características foram relevantes em cada um dos casos. Enquanto na paisagem com menor proporção de habitat o tamanho dos fragmentos foi extremamente influente na determinação da riqueza e da abundância de espécies, os aspectos relacionados à conectividade foram mais importantes nas paisagens com 31 e 45% de proporção de habitat. Dentre as variáveis de conectividade, as que representam conectividade por corredores foram particularmente importantes, seguidas pelas de pequenos cruzamentos pela matriz (20 m). Modelos que levaram em consideração cruzamentos de 40 m pela matriz foram bem menos plausíveis que os demais. Os modelos para abundância das 29 espécies também resultaram em um padrão similar ao observado para a comunidade. No entanto, a importância relativa do tamanho do fragmento e da conectividade mudou em função da proporção de habitat, de acordo com a espécie abordada. Os resultados aqui apresentados são importantes para o embasamento de políticas de manejo para a conservação, e ressaltam a influência relativa das variáveis de configuração ao longo do gradiente de quantidade de hábitat, e devem ser consideradas quando na seleção de áreas para conservação, restauração ou qualquer forma de manejo voltado para a conservação. / Landscape aspects such as habitat amount, fragment size and connectivity, have been suggested as key features for maintaining species in altered landscapes, and thus are essential to be modeled and comprehended for management and conservation purposes. To test their effects on understory Atlantic forest bird species, we built models with variables representing fragment size and functional connectivity in 3 landscapes with different proportions of forest (14, 31 and 45%), and confronted with data from more than 4,818 individuals captured in 53 fragments of different sizes (2.06 to 158.45 ha) and connectivitys (connected by corridors, or by short distances), and then we ranked under a model selection approach (AIC). A total of 117 species were recorded, and the landscape with higher amount of forest was richer (87) than the two others which presented a similar lower richness (62 and 70), what suggests a threshold amount of habitat between 32 to 44%. Configuration aspects were important in all cases; however, different characteristics influenced species richness and abundance in each landscape. Patch size was important in determining species richness and abundance in the landscape with low amount of habitat, while connectivity aspects were crucial in the landscapes with higher amounts of habitat. Within the connectivity models, particularly the ones that take in to account the connectivity by corridors, but also the ones that consider short movements through the matrix are far better supported, then the ones by longer distances gaps. Moreover, specieslevel analyses yielded results similar to the pattern found for the whole assemblage, and the configuration variable influence varied along the habitat conversion gradient. The results presented here are important for management planning towards conservation, and should be considered in site selection for conservation, restoration or any other kind of management.

Major crossroads are designed to facilitate the conflicting movements of numerous vehicles in a manner that is both safe and efficient. Accesses located within the functional areas of major crossroads add complication to intersection activity due to additional conflicts arising from ingressing and egressing movements at the accesses. In this research, the impact of accesses on crashes within major crossroad functional areas was analyzed. Specifically, the effects of access spacing within functional areas and access setback from intersections were addressed. In order to conduct the analysis, the functional areas of 159 signalized major arterial crossroads across the state of Utah were examined. A database was built containing the frequency, type, and severity of functional area crashes as well as the intersection and roadway characteristics within the functional area. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the influence of accesses in intersection functional areas on functional area crashes. The statistical analyses show that the existence of accesses within the functional areas was correlated with increased crashes and crash severity costs. In particular, an increase in commercial access density was associated with increases in crash totals, crash rates, and rear end crashes in intersection functional areas. The analyses also showed that study site intersections meeting Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) corner clearance standards exhibited fewer right angle crashes and lower crash severity costs. Finally, intersections that prohibited all unsignalized access had lower crash totals, crash rates, right angle crash totals, and rear end crash totals than intersections that allowed some unsignalized access.

Effective corporate governance of boards can become a sustainable competitive advantage for organisations. In the extant literature a number of reasons are cited for dysfunctional boards. Some of the reasons attributed to board failure relate to poor corporate governance, practice and oversight. Some of the reasons for board failure pertain to micromanaging of the organisation, an ineffective nominating committee, size of the board, non-functioning committee structure, absence of strategic plan, no orientation\induction plan and no rotational plan. Poor governance practises across all sectors has negatively tainted economic investment in South Africa consequentially affecting economic growth. Below South Africa’s competitive rating slipped from (52nd) in 2012-2013 to 53rd in 2013-2014 rating is given to show that marked improvement is needed in corporate governance. South Africa’s rating in the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2012 was 43 and slipped to position 69 amongst 176 countries for the Corruption Perception Index, 2013. The trend analysis report of the Public Service Commission reported that In 2006/7, there were 1 042 cases of corruption, amounting to R130.6-million; in 2007/8, there were 868 cases, amounting to R21.7-million; in 2008/9, there were 1 204 cases, amounting to R100.1-million; in 2009/10, there were 1 135 cases, amounting to R346.5-million; in 2010/11, there were 1 035 cases, amounting to R932.3-million; in 2011/12, there were 1 243 cases, amounting to R229.9-million. Good governance frameworks, policies, procedures, processes and practices attract foreign direct investments. Better governance practices are critical for improved economic growth and development that will result in an improvement in the South Africa’s competitiveness and corruption perception index ratings. South Africa’s continued economic growth and development is dependent on attracting foreign direct investment. From 1994 corporate governance regimes were promulgated. Although there are a collection of corporate governance codes and guidelines that have been published, few specifically cover governance practices in public entities. Moreover, with better governance practices state-owned enterprises can significantly contribute to the economic transformation and development in South Africa. The purpose of the study is to establish that improved governance is a function of board structure and board process variables. With the presence of structural and process variables board activism will improve resulting in board decision quality. Independent directors without no conflict of interest, the requisite industry expertise and intelligence (functional area knowledge), the information to make decisions are adequate, accurate and timely (information quality), directors exert the needed effort (effort norms), directors robustly explore all dimensions and options (cognitive conflict) and the board functions optimally (cohesiveness) influence board decision quality. Boards which are configured optimally are able to execute their fiduciary responsibility optimally. In 2012 a budget of R845.5 billion was provisioned for infrastructural development to boost economic development. This budget allocation must be prudently and frugally managed in accordance with good governance practises to achieve economic development. In particular South Africa has to improve its competitiveness rating and corruption perception index to attract investments and continual growth. In terms of the research design, to address the research questions, a mixed research approach was selected for the study. The phenomenological (qualitative) and positivist (quantitative) philosophical paradigms were adopted with the purpose to obtain a greater understanding of board decision quality in the Public Entities in South Africa. The data collection instruments used in the study was in-depth interviews, focus group interviews and administration of a survey. The population for the qualitative research was 19 in-depth interviews and two focus group interviews. For the quantitative study a population of 215 public entity board members were selected for the study. A total of 104 board members of Public Entities completed the survey for the study. In relation to data analysis for the qualitative study Tesch’s coding, thematic analysis was used to analyse the in-depth and focus group interviews. For the quantitative study, SPSS was used to analyse responses from the surveys. The hypothesis was tested using inferential statistics, namely, factor analysis and multiple regression was used.. The findings generated from the first phase, the qualitative study that provided support for the positive relationship between board structure, board process variables and board decision quality. The following five variables are incorporated in a model that seeks to identify the strongest predictor of board decision quality: (1) board independence, (2) effort norms, (3) functional area knowledge and skill, (4) cognitive conflict and (5) information quality. The findings show that information quality is the strongest predictor of board decision quality followed by expert knowledge and skill. As expected, expert knowledge does not only increase the cognitive capacity of the board, but it also positively affects company competitiveness. The findings also show that cognitive conflict has a negative association with decision quality. The study argues that political influence exerted by board political appointees may explain the negative relationship between cognitive conflict and board decision quality. The major contribution of this study is that it provides a 28-item instrument that can be used practically by public entity boards in the reflective process to improve board decision quality. The study concludes by offering avenues for further research. The model suggests that board decision quality is a product of board structure (board independence), board process (functional area knowledge, information quality, and cognitive conflict and effort norms). / Business Management / D.B.L.

Effective corporate governance of boards can become a sustainable competitive advantage for organisations. In the extant literature a number of reasons are cited for dysfunctional boards. Some of the reasons attributed to board failure relate to poor corporate governance, practice and oversight. Some of the reasons for board failure pertain to micromanaging of the organisation, an ineffective nominating committee, size of the board, non-functioning committee structure, absence of strategic plan, no orientation\induction plan and no rotational plan. Poor governance practises across all sectors has negatively tainted economic investment in South Africa consequentially affecting economic growth. Below South Africa’s competitive rating slipped from (52nd) in 2012-2013 to 53rd in 2013-2014 rating is given to show that marked improvement is needed in corporate governance. South Africa’s rating in the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2012 was 43 and slipped to position 69 amongst 176 countries for the Corruption Perception Index, 2013. The trend analysis report of the Public Service Commission reported that In 2006/7, there were 1 042 cases of corruption, amounting to R130.6-million; in 2007/8, there were 868 cases, amounting to R21.7-million; in 2008/9, there were 1 204 cases, amounting to R100.1-million; in 2009/10, there were 1 135 cases, amounting to R346.5-million; in 2010/11, there were 1 035 cases, amounting to R932.3-million; in 2011/12, there were 1 243 cases, amounting to R229.9-million. Good governance frameworks, policies, procedures, processes and practices attract foreign direct investments. Better governance practices are critical for improved economic growth and development that will result in an improvement in the South Africa’s competitiveness and corruption perception index ratings. South Africa’s continued economic growth and development is dependent on attracting foreign direct investment. From 1994 corporate governance regimes were promulgated. Although there are a collection of corporate governance codes and guidelines that have been published, few specifically cover governance practices in public entities. Moreover, with better governance practices state-owned enterprises can significantly contribute to the economic transformation and development in South Africa. The purpose of the study is to establish that improved governance is a function of board structure and board process variables. With the presence of structural and process variables board activism will improve resulting in board decision quality. Independent directors without no conflict of interest, the requisite industry expertise and intelligence (functional area knowledge), the information to make decisions are adequate, accurate and timely (information quality), directors exert the needed effort (effort norms), directors robustly explore all dimensions and options (cognitive conflict) and the board functions optimally (cohesiveness) influence board decision quality. Boards which are configured optimally are able to execute their fiduciary responsibility optimally. In 2012 a budget of R845.5 billion was provisioned for infrastructural development to boost economic development. This budget allocation must be prudently and frugally managed in accordance with good governance practises to achieve economic development. In particular South Africa has to improve its competitiveness rating and corruption perception index to attract investments and continual growth. In terms of the research design, to address the research questions, a mixed research approach was selected for the study. The phenomenological (qualitative) and positivist (quantitative) philosophical paradigms were adopted with the purpose to obtain a greater understanding of board decision quality in the Public Entities in South Africa. The data collection instruments used in the study was in-depth interviews, focus group interviews and administration of a survey. The population for the qualitative research was 19 in-depth interviews and two focus group interviews. For the quantitative study a population of 215 public entity board members were selected for the study. A total of 104 board members of Public Entities completed the survey for the study. In relation to data analysis for the qualitative study Tesch’s coding, thematic analysis was used to analyse the in-depth and focus group interviews. For the quantitative study, SPSS was used to analyse responses from the surveys. The hypothesis was tested using inferential statistics, namely, factor analysis and multiple regression was used.. The findings generated from the first phase, the qualitative study that provided support for the positive relationship between board structure, board process variables and board decision quality. The following five variables are incorporated in a model that seeks to identify the strongest predictor of board decision quality: (1) board independence, (2) effort norms, (3) functional area knowledge and skill, (4) cognitive conflict and (5) information quality. The findings show that information quality is the strongest predictor of board decision quality followed by expert knowledge and skill. As expected, expert knowledge does not only increase the cognitive capacity of the board, but it also positively affects company competitiveness. The findings also show that cognitive conflict has a negative association with decision quality. The study argues that political influence exerted by board political appointees may explain the negative relationship between cognitive conflict and board decision quality. The major contribution of this study is that it provides a 28-item instrument that can be used practically by public entity boards in the reflective process to improve board decision quality. The study concludes by offering avenues for further research. The model suggests that board decision quality is a product of board structure (board independence), board process (functional area knowledge, information quality, and cognitive conflict and effort norms). / Business Management / D.B.L.