Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Malgorzata J. Rys / This dissertation is the result of studying different methods of increasing guide sign visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime, to increase safety on roadways. It also studies intersection lighting to indicate the lighting benefits on nighttime crash frequency reduction. From a survey conducted, practices related to overhead guide sign illumination and retroreflectivity in United States were summarized. A laboratory experiment was conducted to compare light distribution of five light sources: Metal Halide, Mercury Vapor, High Pressure Sodium, induction lighting, and Light Emitting Diode (LED). Cost analysis of the five light sources was performed. Combining results of the laboratory experiment and the cost analysis, induction lighting was recommended for states that want to continue external sign illumination. A retroreflectivity experiment was conducted to compare three types of retroreflective sheeting: Engineering Grade (type I), Diamond Grade (type XI), and High Intensity (type IV), to determine the sheeting that best increases visibility and legibility. Diamond Grade (type XI) was found to be the optimal sheeting that increases visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime. A glare experiment was conducted to expand the retroreflectivity experiment results. Four sheeting-font combinations of High Intensity (type IV) and Diamond Grade (type XI) materials and Series E (Modified) and Clearview fonts were compared. Results revealed an optimal sheeting-font combination of Diamond Grade (type XI) sheeting and Clearview font which increases the visibility and legibility of guide signs to drivers under presence of oncoming glare source. The Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) database was used to study the effect of intersection lighting on the expected crash frequency. Illuminated intersections showed 3.61% and 6.54% decrease in the expected nighttime crash frequency as compared to dark intersections in Minnesota and California, respectively. In addition, partial lighting at intersections decreases the expected nighttime crash frequency by 4.72% compared to continuous lighting in Minnesota. The recommended sheeting-font combination for Departments of Transportation was Diamond Grade (type XI) and Clearview. This combination will increase signs’ visibility and legibility to drivers, and consequently increase safety on roadways. Adding partial lighting at intersections will reduce the expected nighttime crash frequency, and increase safety on roadways.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:30:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Flavia Della Coletta Depine.pdf: 1360961 bytes, checksum: 1e578ccd557ad3949a1e556a90006381 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-18 / This study aims to understand the resurgence of concessionaire phenomenon in Brazil from the early 1990 s, especially in road infrastructure sector, its scope and characteristics, identifying the type of concession applied to the granting of roadways management and the legal regime applicable to them. In the first part of this work it s investigated the emergence and evolution of concessions in Brazil, its concept, its characteristics, the legal nature of the institute, and the available modalities in positive national law. This study seeks to address the processing of the institute since its origin, identifying current characteristics, peculiarities and object of each kind of concession, whereas the innovations brought by federal law 11.079, from 2004 Dec. 30. Furthermore, takes care of the concept of public service, its origin, and development. It s also identified the notion of public service inferred from the 1988 Constitution and the possibility of legislators, respected the parameters of Constitution, raise a certain activity to public service category, once the idea is to seek if the management and operation of roadways in Brazil can be defined as a public service or not. The work discusses the legislation about roadways and the granting of its management and operation. Also it analyzes the management and operation activities of the roadways in order to demonstrate that grant contracts are generally disciplined by federal law 8.987/1995, and there is no impediment to the implementation of public-private partnerships in the sector. Finally, it explores the legal aspects of the roadways concessionaire remuneration, studying the legal nature of the toll, the financial resources of the concessionaire and the economic-financial balance of roadways concession contract / O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar o ressurgimento da concessão no Brasil no setor de infraestrutura rodoviária, a partir do início dos anos 90, seu alcance e características, identificando as modalidades de concessão aplicáveis à gestão da malha rodoviária e o regime jurídico da remuneração das concessionárias de rodovias. Para tanto, na primeira parte deste trabalho investigamos o surgimento e a evolução das concessões no Brasil, o seu conceito, as suas características, a natureza jurídica do instituto, bem como as modalidades de concessão existentes no direito positivo nacional, considerando as inovações trazidas pela Lei federal 11.079, de 30.12.2004, que instituiu normas gerais para licitação e contratação de parceria público-privada no âmbito da administração pública. Cuidamos da noção de serviço público, sua origem, evolução e identificação inferida da Constituição de 1988 e a possibilidade de o legislador infraconstitucional, respeitados os parâmetros da Constituição, alçar uma atividade à categoria de serviço público, para identificar a noção de serviço público de operação de rodovias. Tratamos da legislação referente à malha rodoviária e às outorgas da gestão e operação das rodovias, demonstrando que, atualmente, os contratos de concessão firmados são, em regra, disciplinados pela Lei federal 8.987/1995, não existindo impedimento para a implementação de parcerias público-privadas no setor. Por fim, adentramos no estudo dos aspectos jurídicos da remuneração da concessionária de rodovia. Cuidamos da natureza jurídica do pedágio, das fontes de receitas da concessionária e do equilíbrio econômico-financeiro do contrato de concessão de rodovias

<p>Traffic is inevitably a major source of air pollution, particularly in urban areas. Efforts are made towards reducing emissions by improving vehicle and fuel technology and promoting alternative, sustainable modes of transportation. Although the emergence of EVs has shown capabilities of decreasing energy use and emissions levels, the EV market is developing slowly mainly due to drivers’ range anxiety and charging time. Electric roadways (ERs) have been proposed as a solution to overcome the concerns related to EVs by converting road segments into powered lanes where vehicles can be charged as they move along the roadway. This technology has the potential to increase driving range, decrease battery size and thus, lower the weight and the cost of EVs. In this context, exploring the challenging concept of ERs comes natural. </p> <p>Since data on the market acceptance and the environmental implications on this technology are limited to non-existent, this thesis has the following objectives: 1) identify the factors that affect the short- and long-term intention to use ERs, 2) estimate the level of adoption of the ER technology and identify characteristics of the market segments and 3) assess the impact of ERs on criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions based on the market adoption results.</p> <p>To achieve these objectives, a survey of the general population in Los Angeles, California was conducted, gathering 600 responses representative of gender and age in the area. Los Angeles is considered a leader in electro-mobility and thus, a natural choice for the implementation of ERs. The short-or long-term intentions to drive on ERs and purchase an EV knowing about the availability of ERs were found to be correlated and thus, were modeled simultaneously using a bivariate ordered probit model. The compatibility of the ER technology with respondents’ lifestyle and needs, respondents’ tendency towards using sustainable forms of transportation, respondents’ innovativeness and perceived environmental benefits were among the most significant variables found to affect the short-term and long-term intention to use ERs.</p> <p>The level of adoption of the ER technology and corresponding market segments were identified using a combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis. Three clusters emerged from the analysis: early adopters (48.5%), mid-adopters (27.67%) and late adopters (23.83%) that differed in terms of demographics and socioeconomic characteristics, travel and EV charging characteristics and level of awareness. </p> <p>The adoption levels found were then used to estimate the emissions change due to the implementation of the ERs by 2050. Using the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) 2017 EMissions FACtor model (EMFAC). Two scenarios were examined considering light-duty vehicles (LDVs) in a specific corridor: “with” and “without electrification” scenarios. The results suggested that the ER technology for light-duty vehicles has the potential to provide emission reductions of 4 to 24%. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to examine the effect of speed on the results.</p> <p>Turning to the practical implications, this thesis can provide a foundational framework for the evaluation of the ER technology in terms of environmental and economic viability and set the groundwork for future research. Ultimately, the short-term and long-term intention analysis can be used as a draft guide by state and local agencies and inform their strategic short- or long- range plans for mobility. By segmenting potential users, policy makers and transport operators can be informed about the main challenges regarding the promotion of the ER technology to distinct market segments and devise ways to accelerate its adoption. The findings from the impact analysis of ERs on criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases can also inform long-range transportation plans and existing regulations and policies in California and beyond.</p> <p> </p>