Thesis (Ph.D.)--Binghamton University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 261-274).

A prioridade aos sistema de transporte coletivo por ônibus gera inúmeros benefícios operacionais, como menores tempos de viagem, velocidades operacionais mais elevadas, proporcionando, também, melhores condições aos usuários nos seus deslocamentos. Apresenta-se uma caracterização geral de 374 corredores prioritários ao ônibus, incluindo sistemas BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) e corredores com segregação viária. Análises de clusterização foram usadas para encontrar similaridades entre os diferentes corredores e resultaram na formação de quatro grupos. Verificou-se que as dez características com maior influência para a formação dos agrupamentos consistem de características físicas e operacionais dos corredores. Foi possível identificar características próprias para cada um dos clusters. Para entender o impacto de diferentes elementos de projeto e desempenho dos corredores na velocidade operacional realizou-se análises de relação entre variáveis. / The priority of public transport, more specifically bus systems, generates numerous operational benefits, such as lower travel times, higher operating speeds, as well as offering better conditions for users. A general characterization of the 374 bus priority corridors is presented, including BRT systems (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) and segregated bus priority corridors. Clustering analyses was used to find out similarities between the different corridors and resulted in the formation of four groups. It was found that the ten most influential characteristics for the formation of the 4 groups consisted of physical and operational characteristics of the corridors. It was possible to identify set of characteristics for each one of the clusters. Relationship between the variables was used to understand the impact of different design elements and performance of bus priority corridors in terms of operational speed.

A prioridade aos sistema de transporte coletivo por ônibus gera inúmeros benefícios operacionais, como menores tempos de viagem, velocidades operacionais mais elevadas, proporcionando, também, melhores condições aos usuários nos seus deslocamentos. Apresenta-se uma caracterização geral de 374 corredores prioritários ao ônibus, incluindo sistemas BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) e corredores com segregação viária. Análises de clusterização foram usadas para encontrar similaridades entre os diferentes corredores e resultaram na formação de quatro grupos. Verificou-se que as dez características com maior influência para a formação dos agrupamentos consistem de características físicas e operacionais dos corredores. Foi possível identificar características próprias para cada um dos clusters. Para entender o impacto de diferentes elementos de projeto e desempenho dos corredores na velocidade operacional realizou-se análises de relação entre variáveis. / The priority of public transport, more specifically bus systems, generates numerous operational benefits, such as lower travel times, higher operating speeds, as well as offering better conditions for users. A general characterization of the 374 bus priority corridors is presented, including BRT systems (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) and segregated bus priority corridors. Clustering analyses was used to find out similarities between the different corridors and resulted in the formation of four groups. It was found that the ten most influential characteristics for the formation of the 4 groups consisted of physical and operational characteristics of the corridors. It was possible to identify set of characteristics for each one of the clusters. Relationship between the variables was used to understand the impact of different design elements and performance of bus priority corridors in terms of operational speed.

Muitas políticas públicas têm buscado minimizar os efeitos que atividades de transporte causam ao meio ambiente e à sociedade. Uma dessas políticas remete ao surgimento dos corredores verdes de transporte de cargas, originalmente concebidos na Europa. Inicialmente, propõe-se uma definição de corredores verdes para que se avalie o transporte de mercadorias no Brasil a partir da definição obtida e seja selecionado um caso de transporte de mercadorias no Brasil para avaliação de acordo com o que se propõe em experiências internacionais, incluindo a aplicação de tecnologias para obtenção de tais corredores. Desenvolve-se, portanto, um estudo de caso aplicado a corredores de transporte de soja produzida no Mato Grosso para exportação, de forma que se considere os modais rodoviário, ferroviário e hidroviário, e a intermodalidade. São utilizados indicadores de desempenho para análise e verificadas as características e diferenças entre os corredores. Tecnologias que visam aumentar a sustentabilidade em um corredor são testadas e formas de tornar um corredor brasileiro de transporte de soja em um corredor verde são sugeridas. Observa-se que corredores que utilizam o modal hidroviário tendem a apresentar melhor desempenho econômico e ambiental, sugerindo que a alternativa para \"verdificação\" de corredores de transportes no Brasil é a utilização dos rios. Verifica-se também que substituir combustíveis utilizados pode reduzir em até 90% a emissão de gases do efeito estufa e que investir em terminais intermodais leva eficiência às operações deixando margem para investimentos em tecnologias sustentáveis. Conclui-se, ainda, que corredores que utilizam hidrovias possuem elevado potencial de melhoria em função da quantidade de tecnologias e melhorias propostas. / Many public policies aim to minimize the effects that transport activities cause to the environment and society. One such policy refers to the conception of green corridors originally designed in Europe. An initial objective of this thesis is conceptualizing a green corridor to freight in Brazil and, from the definition obtained, select cases of freight transport for evaluation according to what is proposed in international experiences, including the application of technologies to obtain green corridors. In order to achieve the objective a case study is developed for freight corridors of soybean produced in Mato Grosso for export so as to consider road, rail, waterways and intermodality. KPI\'s are considered on case analysis and to verify the characteristics and differences between the corridors. Technologies that aim to increase sustainability in a corridor are tested and ways to turn a Brazilian soybean corridor into a green corridor are suggested. The corridors that consider waterways tend to present better economic and environmental performance, suggesting that the alternative for \"greening\" of transportation corridors in Brazil is the use of rivers. It also has observed that replacing fuels could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% and that investing in intermodal terminals brings efficiency to operations leaving margin for investments in sustainable technologies. It can also be concluded that the corridors present high potential for improvement when consider waterways due to the number of technologies and improvements proposed to this mode of transportation.

A prioridade aos sistema de transporte coletivo por ônibus gera inúmeros benefícios operacionais, como menores tempos de viagem, velocidades operacionais mais elevadas, proporcionando, também, melhores condições aos usuários nos seus deslocamentos. Apresenta-se uma caracterização geral de 374 corredores prioritários ao ônibus, incluindo sistemas BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) e corredores com segregação viária. Análises de clusterização foram usadas para encontrar similaridades entre os diferentes corredores e resultaram na formação de quatro grupos. Verificou-se que as dez características com maior influência para a formação dos agrupamentos consistem de características físicas e operacionais dos corredores. Foi possível identificar características próprias para cada um dos clusters. Para entender o impacto de diferentes elementos de projeto e desempenho dos corredores na velocidade operacional realizou-se análises de relação entre variáveis. / The priority of public transport, more specifically bus systems, generates numerous operational benefits, such as lower travel times, higher operating speeds, as well as offering better conditions for users. A general characterization of the 374 bus priority corridors is presented, including BRT systems (Bus Rapid Transit), BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) and segregated bus priority corridors. Clustering analyses was used to find out similarities between the different corridors and resulted in the formation of four groups. It was found that the ten most influential characteristics for the formation of the 4 groups consisted of physical and operational characteristics of the corridors. It was possible to identify set of characteristics for each one of the clusters. Relationship between the variables was used to understand the impact of different design elements and performance of bus priority corridors in terms of operational speed.

Orientador: Alexandre Marco da Silva / Banca: Cassio Jose Montagnani Figueira / Banca: Darllan Collins da Cunha e Silva / Banca: Fabrício de Francisco Lunardi / Banca: Sandra Yukari Shirata Lanças / Resumo: A necessidade de estratégias adequadas para identificar regiões prioritárias em uma paisagem fragmentada e indicar propostas de adequação ao planejamento urbano é uma questão fundamental para a conservação da biodiversidade e desenvolvimento sustentável. As ações humanas geram paisagens cada vez mais fragmentadas, que necessitam de intervenção por meio de projetos de conexão ecológica para o reestabelecimento de ligações às unidades de conservação. No entanto, há pouco foco na identificação de barreiras, que causam resistência à matriz de percolação. Neste trabalho, um procedimento inovador, que utiliza métodos de avaliação da matriz quanto à percolação junto à seleção de áreas de vacância para favorecer a ligação de um grupo de fragmentos, foi proposto e aplicado em um cenário de habitat constituído pelo município de Sorocaba-SP. O modelo SIR (suitable index restoration) que fornece dados sobre a permeabilidade ou resistência foi aplicado para avaliação da matriz. Como amostragem, foram selecionados fragmentos com área maior do que 50ha. Para a seleção de pontos de conexão foi desenvolvido o método multi-buffer. A fusão de dados entre o modelo (SIR) e os padrões que ocorrem na matriz apontou regiões prioritárias para restauração, sendo 42,5% para restauração assistida. Os 25 maiores fragmentos foram precedentes para atribuir distâncias de ligações ente 60-120m. Com isso, foram identificados 9 pontos para aplicação do plano de restauração. Os vazios que fragmentam o corredor ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

We test the controversial ideas about the role of corridors in fragmented animal habitats. Using simulation studies we analyze how fragmentation affects a simple prey-predator system and how the introduction of openings that connect the habitats changes the situation. Our individual based model consists of 3 levels: renewable prey food, as well as prey and predators that both have a simple economy. We find, in line with intuition, that the fragmentation of a habitat has a strong negative effect especially on the predator population. Connecting the fragmented habitats facilitates predator (and hence prey) survival, but also leads to an important counterintuitive effect: in the presence of a high quality predator, connected fragmented systems fare better in terms of coexistence than do unfragmented systems. Using a frequency domain analysis we explain how corridors between sub-habitats serve as "wave breakers" in the population flow, thus preventing deadly density waves to occur.

Although the unprotected lands of northern Tanzania support large numbers of elephants, and provide critical linkages for wildlife movements across the region, there is little information on the dispersal patterns of elephants in these unprotected lands. Our home range measures (100% MCP) of 21 elephants with satellite collars in four study regions were highly variable (191 to 3,698 km2). Home range sizes (95% fixed kernel) of bulls were typically larger than those of females, and wet season ranges were typically larger than dry season ranges. There were large differences in average home range sizes reflected varying strategies for obtaining food and water and avoiding humans. All eight radio-collared elephants (3 bulls, 5 females) in the West Kilimanjaro study region crossed the Tanzania-Kenya border, but typically elephants crossed more frequently in the wet than the dry season, and bulls crossed 47% more frequently than females. These extensive transboundary movements indicate that the elephant populations of West Kilimanjaro and Amboseli NP constitute a single transboundary population. Based upon 14,287 fixes from eight collared elephants, the vast majority of time was spent in unprotected ( x=91.5%) versus protected (x =8.5%) areas. Amboseli NP was visited by all eight elephants and was the protected area most utilized ( x=8%, range 2-24%). Based upon the movements of 15 GPS-collared elephants in northern Tanzania, we identified eight areas that we considered important for wildlife conservation corridors/linkages for elephants. Our conservation priorities for these corridors were based upon the levels of threats and conservation potential. Community interviews and hilltop surveys were used in two Maasai villages to determine the extent of wildlife conflict, community attitudes towards elephants, and if elephants were using a vegetation corridor to move between Tanzania and southern Kenya. Elephants were the most problematic wildlife species and were considered a nuisance. However, they believed they attracted tourists, and generally did not believe elephant numbers should be reduced. Based upon elephant conflict and use and the communities' need to maintain areas for cattle grazing and medicinal plant collection, the two communities established the first wildlife conservation corridor in Tanzania.

Geophysical surveys in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere rarely have the opportunity to receive direct, meaningful and quantitative feedback from ground observed excavations, despite their frequent occurrence as a subsequent phase of development-led archaeological projects. This research critically reappraises the largest and most coherent geophysical archive maintained by a single end-user over a ten year period. The geophysical archive has been collated from 170 reports on linear road schemes as a result of commercially-driven assessments in Ireland, to facilitate the biggest analysis of geophysical survey legacy data and subsequent detailed excavations. The analysis of the legacy data archive has reviewed and tested the influence of key variables that have, in some circumstances, affected the methods and outcomes of geophysical assessments in Ireland over the last 10 years. By understanding the impact of those key variables upon the legacy data - which include archaeological feature type, geology, sampling strategy and seasonality - appropriate and new ways to research linear corridors have been suggested that should be employed in future geophysical survey assessments for a range of environments and archaeological site types. The comprehensive analysis of geophysical surveys from the legacy data archive has created definitive statements regarding the validity of geophysical techniques in Ireland. Key failures that occurred in the past have been identified and a thorough investigation of new and novel techniques or methods of survey will facilitate a more robust approach to geophysical survey strategies in the future. The outcomes of this research are likely to have ramifications beyond the Irish road corridors from which the legacy data derives. / National Roads Authority (NRA)

Traditional trails near backcountry stream corridors are often designed with disregard to their potential ecological impact. Ecological and trail related literature show that riparian landscapes are sensitive to recreation impacts. This thesis examines concepts for designing trails in ecologically compatible ways near backcountry stream corridors. The synthesis of the literature regarding the biophysical processes of stream corridors and the effects of trails on the environment is used to help develop principles and guidelines for locating trails near backcountry stream corridors. In turn, these principles and guidelines assisted in the development of a trail assessment manual useful to scientists, planners, and designers. Seven trail impacts are assessed: excessive soil erosion, wet trails, water on trails, excessive trail widths, multiple trails, root exposure, and stream sedimentation. Three backcountry study sites from the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Province of Virginia are evaluated. A ranking and measurement procedure is developed to characterize environmental, use, design/siting, construction, and maintenance factors because each of these influence the degree of impacts along studied trails. Results show that many steep trail segments, especially those without proper drainage features have incised or eroded trail treads. Likewise, many trail segments without drainage features located along flat adjacent landforms have wet soil and water on trail impacts. Overall results show that as use amount or type increase there is a parallel in trail and environmental degradation. Finally, a stream crossing and trail drainage concept is developed illustrating ways to reduce sediment inputs into nearby streams. / Master of Landscape Architecture