The purpose of this thesis is to investigate radio systems for the protection of vehicles and grade crossings. The protection function used with wireless communication, associated with grade crossings (the vehicles), uses the radio propagation to dispatch message (data) from the radio facilities to the vehicles when the emergency button is pushed to enable the operator to assess the emergency situation in advance. The rule for static and non-static measurements of the radio system, concerned with the crossing, is able to offer an improved spectrum assignment tool. All measurement data was derived from measurements performed for the trains of The Taiwan Railway Administration. The results are compared with the European Norm and China National Standard. Thus, the electromagnetic interferences due to trains can be analyzed. In order to estimate the radio propagation distances, we particularize the several modes of radio propagation in detail, and use the Lagrange method to analyze and determine the distance.

The analysis of grade crossing safety has long focused on vehicle-train crashes using statistical models based on crash data. The potential crashes generated by vehicle-vehicle rear-end conflicts have often been ignored. The interaction of different traffic attributes on safety performance of a grade crossing is also not well-understood. The primary objective of this thesis is to model the causal relationship of vehicle-vehicle interactions by developing the operation logic of gate-equipped grade crossing using a commercially available microscopic simulation package that models human driver behaviors. The simulation-generated vehicle trajectory data allows detail safety performance analysis on vehicle-vehicle interaction over time as they approach the track. A dual-gate equipped crossing at Kitchener, Ontario is selected as the study area. Initially, logic modifications are made to the simulation package (VISSIM) in order to accurately model the grade crossing segment. A two-step calibration is used in this thesis. Firstly, model input parameters for a signalized intersection from literature are used to model typical car-following behavior along this type of roadway. Secondly, parameters used to model drivers’ decision and reaction when approaching crossing is fine tuned through data collection and calibration. After incorporating all the modifications to the simulation package, validation is undertaken by comparing model-generated speed profiles to on-site observed speed profile. The established model is tested for its safety performance sensitivity through varying three traffic attributes in the simulation: (i) percentage of bus, (ii) total traffic volume, (iii) percentage of cars in the center lane of a 2-lane approach. Four safety performance measures were selected. The overall results indicate that the established model is functional and reliable in modeling grade crossing vehicles interactions at gated crossings. In the absence of a train, vehicles’ reduction in speed in the vicinity of a crossing results in traffic flow turbulence that increases the opportunity for high risk rear-end vehicle interactions. The sensitivity test revealed that the spillback behavior of vehicles due to the stopping behaviors of buses increases risk in the upstream section. Also, overloading of vehicles into the network indeed improves safety as the effect of differential speed diminishes. Among the four selected safety performance measures, DRAC seems to reflect problems with rear-end vehicle interactions in the vicinity of a crossing as a function of the traffic attributes considered in this research.

Highway/railroad grade crossings present a danger to vehicular traffic. According to the USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2009, there were 1,887 crashes at highway/rail crossings resulting in 248 fatalities (FRA, 2009). The installation of presignals at grade crossings decreases crashes and fatalities at highway/rail crossings. There are no Federal standards that provide guidance for the installation of presignals. Therefore, current practices do not conform to any set of consistent nationwide standards except for guidelines specified in the MUTCD. These guidelines state that a presignal should be considered where the at-grade highway/rail crossing is located within 50 feet of a signalized intersection. The MUTCD also gives the option of installing a presignal at a distance greater than 50 feet, if an engineering study determines a need; however, no specific guidelines are provided for such studies.This work uses a case study to determine which measures are needed to warrant a presignal and examines if the distance criterion of 50 feet between signalized intersections and highway/rail crossings is adequate. It also explores the need for consistent national standards to provide guidance to practitioners in determining the needs for the installation of such signals.The study finds that distance criterion should not be used as the sole indicator for the installation of a presignal and therefore, engineering studies must be performed in all cases to determine presignal needs. Furthermore, the work concluded that the MUTCD must be modified to provide standards and guidelines that can be used nationwide for systematic quantitative assessment in determining when presignals are warranted near railroad crossings. This study proposes that presignals be installed based on warrants that consist of crash data, queue distance and no gates at the crossing. The proposed modifications include describing presignal types, defining their purpose, developing presignal warrants, and creating guidelines that can be used by practitioners.The changes and revisions recommended by this research work include queue length analysis, signal phasing and timing modifications, and existing intersection infrastructure needs. The resulting warrants and guidelines for presignal installation can be used nationally to provide uniform guidance and recommendations in performing presignal studies.

The analysis of grade crossing safety has long focused on vehicle-train crashes using statistical models based on crash data. The potential crashes generated by vehicle-vehicle rear-end conflicts have often been ignored. The interaction of different traffic attributes on safety performance of a grade crossing is also not well-understood. The primary objective of this thesis is to model the causal relationship of vehicle-vehicle interactions by developing the operation logic of gate-equipped grade crossing using a commercially available microscopic simulation package that models human driver behaviors. The simulation-generated vehicle trajectory data allows detail safety performance analysis on vehicle-vehicle interaction over time as they approach the track. A dual-gate equipped crossing at Kitchener, Ontario is selected as the study area. Initially, logic modifications are made to the simulation package (VISSIM) in order to accurately model the grade crossing segment. A two-step calibration is used in this thesis. Firstly, model input parameters for a signalized intersection from literature are used to model typical car-following behavior along this type of roadway. Secondly, parameters used to model drivers’ decision and reaction when approaching crossing is fine tuned through data collection and calibration. After incorporating all the modifications to the simulation package, validation is undertaken by comparing model-generated speed profiles to on-site observed speed profile. The established model is tested for its safety performance sensitivity through varying three traffic attributes in the simulation: (i) percentage of bus, (ii) total traffic volume, (iii) percentage of cars in the center lane of a 2-lane approach. Four safety performance measures were selected. The overall results indicate that the established model is functional and reliable in modeling grade crossing vehicles interactions at gated crossings. In the absence of a train, vehicles’ reduction in speed in the vicinity of a crossing results in traffic flow turbulence that increases the opportunity for high risk rear-end vehicle interactions. The sensitivity test revealed that the spillback behavior of vehicles due to the stopping behaviors of buses increases risk in the upstream section. Also, overloading of vehicles into the network indeed improves safety as the effect of differential speed diminishes. Among the four selected safety performance measures, DRAC seems to reflect problems with rear-end vehicle interactions in the vicinity of a crossing as a function of the traffic attributes considered in this research.

The dissertation proposed an approach, named "Signal Optimization Under Rail Crossing sAfety cOnstraints"(SOURCAO), to the traffic signal control near a highway rail grade crossing (HRGC). SOURCAO targets two objectives: HRGC safety improvement (a high priority national transportation goal) and highway traffic delay reduction (a common desire for virtually all of us). Communication and data availability from ITS and the next generation train control are assumed available in SOURCAO. The first step in SOURCAO is to intelligently choose a proper preemption phase sequence to promote HRGC safety. An inference engine is designed in place of traditional traffic signal preemption calls to prevent the queue from backing onto HRGC. The potential hazard is dynamically examined as to whether any queuing vehicle stalls on railroad tracks. The inference engine chooses the appropriate phase sequence to eliminate the hazardous situation. The second step in SOURCAO is to find the optimized phase length. The optimization process uses the network traffic delay (close to the control delay) at the intersections within HRGC vicinities as an objective function. The delay function is approximated and represented by multilayer perceptron neural network (off-line). After the function was trained and obtained, an optimization algorithm named Successive Quadratic Programming (SQP) searches the length of phases (on-line) by minimizing the delay function. The inference engine and proposed delay model in optimization take the on-line surveillance detector data and HRGC closure information as input. By integrating artificial intelligence and optimization technologies, the independent simulation evaluation of SOURCAO by TSIS/CORSIM demonstrated that the objectives are reached. The average network delay for 20 runs of simulation evaluation is reduced over eight percent by a t-test while the safety of HRGC is promoted. The sensitivity tests demonstrate that SOURCAO works efficiently under light and heavy traffic conditions, as well as a wide range of HRGC closure times. / Ph. D.

Introdução - O cruzamento do modal ferroviário com rodoviário em um mesmo nível é chamado de passagem de nível (PN), os quais apresentam baixa freqüência de acidentes, porém elevados índices de gravidade. No dia 08 de setembro de 2010, em Americana-SP, ocorreu acidente envolvendo dois trens e um ônibus em uma PN, com dez vítimas fatais e dezessete feridos, dos quais quatro foram registrados como acidentes de trabalho. Objetivo - Analisar origens imediatas e latentes desse acidente visando evitar ou minimizar as chances de ocorrência de eventos semelhante no futuro. Método - Estudo de caso que foi realizado através da pesquisa de artigos, livros, jornais e reportagens televisivas sobre o assunto. Após essa etapa, foram realizadas entrevistas com pessoas envolvidas no acidente, como canceleiros, motoristas de ônibus e maquinistas. O Modelo de Análise e Prevenção de Acidentes de Trabalho (MAPA), que propõe uma abordagem sistêmica do caso, foi usado na análise do evento. Resultados - O local é mal iluminado e com presença de construções que dificultam a visualização dos trens. Essa PN apresenta intenso tráfego de pedestres e de carros mesmo com o sinal fechado. O motorista informou que o sinal vermelho só foi acionado quando o ônibus já estava no meio da PN, instantes antes do choque. As condições de trabalho dos motoristas de ônibus e maquinistas são inadequadas com uma prática freqüente de horas extras e às vezes não é respeitado o intervalo legal de 11 horas entre uma jornada e outra. As barreiras presentes na PN eram apenas simbólicas. O sistema de comunicação entre canceleiros, motoristas e maquinistas é dependente da ação humana sendo considerado frágil. Os entrevistados afirmaram já ter presenciado acidentes em PN, confirmando a fragilidade do sistema. O acidente foi investigado pelo Instituto de Criminalística que considerou o motorista do ônibus culpado pela ocorrência, sendo atualmente objeto de processo criminal correndo o risco de ser condenado e preso. Conclusão - O acidente foi um evento complexo, com a interação entre, pelo menos os seguintes componentes: o sistema de transporte rodoviário urbano, com destaque para a ação do motorista do ônibus; o transporte ferroviário e o trabalho dos maquinistas dos trens; o sistema de controle da PN que envolve o trabalho dos canceleiros encarregados da sinalização de aproximação dos trens; a concepção, gestão e manutenção da segurança da PN, o sistema viário urbano que inclui a iluminação pública / Introduction - The railway crossing with the road on the same level is called Grade Crossing (GC), which present low incidence of accidents, however, when they happen, they usually present high rates of severity. On September 8th, 2010, in Americana-SP, there was an accident involving two trains and one bus on a GC, with ten people died and seventeen were injured, four of which were registered as work accident. Aim - To analyze the immediate and latent causes of the accident attempting to avoid or minimize the chances of similar events to happen in the future. Method Case study that was performed by means of research from articles, books, newspapers and TV reports about the subject. After this phase, interviews were carried out with people involved in the accident, like watchmen, bus drivers and train operators. The Model of Analysis and Prevention of Work Accidents (MAPA), which proposes a systemic approach of the event, was used as a guide. Results - The site is poorly lit and with the presence buildings that obstruct the visualization of the trains coming to it. This GC has intense traffic of pedestrians and cars when the traffic signal is closed. The driver said that the red traffic signal was only triggered when the bus was in the middle of GC, moments before the collision. The work conditions bus drivers and driver of train are inadequate with a frequent practice of overtime and sometimes not respected the legal range of 11 hours between one day and another. At the time the accident happened, there were only symbolic barriers. The system of communication among watchmen, bus drivers and train operators depends on the human action being considered weak. The people interviewed said they had seen accidents on GC, which confirmed the fragility of the system. The accident was investigated by the Institute of Forensic Science which has considered the bus driver guilty of the occurrence, nowadays being object of criminal procedure and may be condemned and arrested. Conclusion - The accident was a complex event, with the interaction among, at least: the system of urban road transport, especially the action of the bus driver; the rail transport and the work of trains operators; the control system of GC, that involves the work of watchmen that are responsible by traffic signal at the approaching of trains; those in charge of design, management and maintenance of safety issues in the GCs and those in charge of the urban road system that includes lighting

Introdução - O cruzamento do modal ferroviário com rodoviário em um mesmo nível é chamado de passagem de nível (PN), os quais apresentam baixa freqüência de acidentes, porém elevados índices de gravidade. No dia 08 de setembro de 2010, em Americana-SP, ocorreu acidente envolvendo dois trens e um ônibus em uma PN, com dez vítimas fatais e dezessete feridos, dos quais quatro foram registrados como acidentes de trabalho. Objetivo - Analisar origens imediatas e latentes desse acidente visando evitar ou minimizar as chances de ocorrência de eventos semelhante no futuro. Método - Estudo de caso que foi realizado através da pesquisa de artigos, livros, jornais e reportagens televisivas sobre o assunto. Após essa etapa, foram realizadas entrevistas com pessoas envolvidas no acidente, como canceleiros, motoristas de ônibus e maquinistas. O Modelo de Análise e Prevenção de Acidentes de Trabalho (MAPA), que propõe uma abordagem sistêmica do caso, foi usado na análise do evento. Resultados - O local é mal iluminado e com presença de construções que dificultam a visualização dos trens. Essa PN apresenta intenso tráfego de pedestres e de carros mesmo com o sinal fechado. O motorista informou que o sinal vermelho só foi acionado quando o ônibus já estava no meio da PN, instantes antes do choque. As condições de trabalho dos motoristas de ônibus e maquinistas são inadequadas com uma prática freqüente de horas extras e às vezes não é respeitado o intervalo legal de 11 horas entre uma jornada e outra. As barreiras presentes na PN eram apenas simbólicas. O sistema de comunicação entre canceleiros, motoristas e maquinistas é dependente da ação humana sendo considerado frágil. Os entrevistados afirmaram já ter presenciado acidentes em PN, confirmando a fragilidade do sistema. O acidente foi investigado pelo Instituto de Criminalística que considerou o motorista do ônibus culpado pela ocorrência, sendo atualmente objeto de processo criminal correndo o risco de ser condenado e preso. Conclusão - O acidente foi um evento complexo, com a interação entre, pelo menos os seguintes componentes: o sistema de transporte rodoviário urbano, com destaque para a ação do motorista do ônibus; o transporte ferroviário e o trabalho dos maquinistas dos trens; o sistema de controle da PN que envolve o trabalho dos canceleiros encarregados da sinalização de aproximação dos trens; a concepção, gestão e manutenção da segurança da PN, o sistema viário urbano que inclui a iluminação pública / Introduction - The railway crossing with the road on the same level is called Grade Crossing (GC), which present low incidence of accidents, however, when they happen, they usually present high rates of severity. On September 8th, 2010, in Americana-SP, there was an accident involving two trains and one bus on a GC, with ten people died and seventeen were injured, four of which were registered as work accident. Aim - To analyze the immediate and latent causes of the accident attempting to avoid or minimize the chances of similar events to happen in the future. Method Case study that was performed by means of research from articles, books, newspapers and TV reports about the subject. After this phase, interviews were carried out with people involved in the accident, like watchmen, bus drivers and train operators. The Model of Analysis and Prevention of Work Accidents (MAPA), which proposes a systemic approach of the event, was used as a guide. Results - The site is poorly lit and with the presence buildings that obstruct the visualization of the trains coming to it. This GC has intense traffic of pedestrians and cars when the traffic signal is closed. The driver said that the red traffic signal was only triggered when the bus was in the middle of GC, moments before the collision. The work conditions bus drivers and driver of train are inadequate with a frequent practice of overtime and sometimes not respected the legal range of 11 hours between one day and another. At the time the accident happened, there were only symbolic barriers. The system of communication among watchmen, bus drivers and train operators depends on the human action being considered weak. The people interviewed said they had seen accidents on GC, which confirmed the fragility of the system. The accident was investigated by the Institute of Forensic Science which has considered the bus driver guilty of the occurrence, nowadays being object of criminal procedure and may be condemned and arrested. Conclusion - The accident was a complex event, with the interaction among, at least: the system of urban road transport, especially the action of the bus driver; the rail transport and the work of trains operators; the control system of GC, that involves the work of watchmen that are responsible by traffic signal at the approaching of trains; those in charge of design, management and maintenance of safety issues in the GCs and those in charge of the urban road system that includes lighting

Highway roughness is a concern for both the motoring public and highway authorities. Roughness may even increase the risk of crashes. Rail-highway grade crossings are particularly problematic. Roughness may be due to deterioration or simply due to the way the crossing was built to accommodate grade change, local utilities, or rail elevation. With over 216,000 crossings in the US, maintenance is a vast undertaking. While methods are available to quantify highway roughness, no method exists to quantitatively assess the condition of rail crossings. Conventional inspection relies on a labor-intensive process of qualitative judgment. A quantifiable, objective and extensible procedure for rating and prioritizing improvement of crossings is thus desired. In this dissertation, a 3D infrastructure condition assessment model is developed for evaluating the condition and performance of rail highway grade crossings. Various scanning techniques and devices are developed or used to obtain the 3D “point cloud” or surface as the first step towards quantifying crossing roughness. Next, a technique for repeatable field measurement of acceleration is presented and tested to provide a condition index. Acceleration-based metrics are developed, and these can be used to rate and compare crossings for improvement programs to mitigate potential vehicle damage and provide passenger comfort. A vehicle dynamic model is next customized to use surface models to estimate vertical accelerations eliminating the need for field data collection. Following, crossing roughness and rideability is estimated directly from 3D point clouds. This allows isolation of acceleration components derived from the surface condition and original design profile. Finally, a practice ready application of the 3D point cloud is developed and presented to address hump crossing safety. In conclusion, the dissertation presents several methods to assess the condition and performance of rail crossings. It provides quantitative metrics that can be used to evaluate designs and construction methods, and efficiently implement cost effective improvement programs. The metrics provide a technique to measure and monitor system assets over time, and can be extended to other infrastructure components such as pavements and bridges.

The aim of this thesis is to design an exclusion of the road crossing the railway line no.300 with Kaštanová street in Brno. A ring road-based solution is proposed. Planned doubling of railway line, as mentioned in the feasibility study of SJKD, was taken into account. The new railway station Brněnské Ivanovice is designed, which will together with public transport bus services create an interchange station. The project also includes a newly designed routes for pedestrians.

Primary objective of diploma thesis is design geometrical parameters of tracks at railway station Zruč nad Sázavou for three new platforms with acces options for paralyzed people and preservetion four railway tracks. Other objective is proposition of track drainage and reconstruction superstructure and substructure