The increasing urbanization of landscapes significantly alters the surface water hydrology of impacted watersheds. As a side effect, stormwater discharges to receiving water bodies are often of decreased quality due to pollutants deposited on impervious urban surfaces being entrained by runoff. A pertinent example of this problem is the presence of copper and zinc in highway runoff. Both copper and zinc have been shown to exert toxic effects on aquatic micro- and macro-biota. Copper in particular has been shown to harmfully disrupt the olfactory nervous system of fish species at concentrations as low as 3 [mu]g/L. To meet these limits, treatment of highway runoff for the removal of copper and zinc is necessary. However, due to the complexities associated with the behavior of heavy metals in natural systems, the appropriateness of removal techniques will necessarily depend on a variety of system-specific factors and chemical characteristics of highway runoff. Adsorption has been shown to be generally effective in the removal of dissolved heavy metals, but the choice of adsorptive media is again dependent on system-specific parameters. This study developed and evaluated a column testing protocol that can be used to quickly and reliably evaluate adsorptive removal of dissolved heavy metals from highway runoff. The protocol is demonstrated in an evaluation of iron oxide, manganese oxide, crab shell, concrete, and bone meal media for removing dissolved copper and zinc from highway runoff. The performance of these media was assessed as a function of various runoff characteristics including pH, ionic strength, alkalinity, and total organic carbon. The methodology was used to show that iron oxide media in combination with crab shell or concrete media provided the most effective removal of copper and zinc from highway runoff. Through this study, the convenience, flexibility, and robustness of the proposed protocol are compellingly established. / text

Standard techniques of random vibration analysis have been applied to the problem of determining the response of vehicle components to random road surface undulations. A simple road classification method, which will typify the general terrain inputs to vehicles is proposed and is based on the knowledge of the spectral density of any 1ongitudinal track. Finally, this work introduces a novel technique for simulating in the laboratory the response of a. vehicle to road profile excitation. Three analytical models of increasing complexity are used to describe the road surface roughness. The first considers the road as consisting of a cylindrical surface which can be defined by means of a single longitudinal track of (x), treated as a member function of a Gaussian random process.

Measured by the level of transportation safety, the Commonwealth of Virginia stands out from all the States because despite increased need for mobility, it manages to maintain its safety indices at exceptionally good levels. In many respects we can attribute this success to the comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety Plan of Virginia (SHSP), which is, as concluded from the analysis of its analogues, among the best in the US. The programs and policies described in this document embrace all aspects of transportation safety and create a harmonious system. To assess the effectiveness of the SHSP, this thesis used correlation and regression analysis based on statistical data from the years 2004 – 2011 in Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) documents. The performed calculations showed very positive trends with gradual reduction, in crash and death rates. It was also found that citizens would use private vehicles more often in the future without making conditions worse on the highways. Instead, drivers tend to be more careful and responsible. Analysis also reveals a rising level of drunken driving incidents, a finding substantiated by literature review, chiefly planning reports and economic analysis. The current transportation policy I does not adequately address this issue. The correlation between allocation of funds and performance indicators showed it would be more effective to invest in research projects on safety rather than in “safety” itself (i.e. construction of roads). Unfortunately, in difficult times, governments usually cut research projects. Finally, Virginia is on the verge of a new transportation era, when the structure of driving cohorts will change, and decisions about building new highways will have to be balanced between technical and ecological considerations.

People are often a product of their environment, and each of the characters in this collection is an example of that shaping effect. These stories take you to the southern plains–land of red dirt, Bluestem, and prairie wind. Themes like hope, loss, and the exploration of frontier appear throughout the collection. In each story the setting becomes a character, forcing us to recognize the importance of place in our lives.

Due to its extensive applications, VANETs had emerged as one of the important research areas in wireless networks. The main motto of vehicular technologies is to enhance traffic management by improving safety and also provide a reliable data exchange and information services among vehicles.   Vehicular communications is a co-operative technology that enables communication among different vehicles, infrastructure and other devices. V2V, V2I communication models are commonly used in vehicular networks. Recently, extensive research is being performed on hybrid model which integrates both V2V and V2I models. The main goal of this research is to study the nature of these communication models in an urban and highway traffic environment and suggest a simulated model which helps to which provide reliable vehicular communication.   Literature study helps to gain knowledge on the background of vehicular networks. Later, a simulated model is designed with the help of SUMO and NS-3 which implements all these communication models. The simulated model which is developed is classified into different phases and each phase represents a different communication model. Each phase is completely different from one another. All these phases are incorporated in both urban and highway traffic environments.   Performance metrics are evaluated and analyzed to study the behavior of these models. Throughput, PDR, Packet-Drop and Propagation-Delay are the performance metrics considered.   Simulation analysis shows that hybrid model exhibits a stable communication behavior when compared with V2V and V2I in both urban and highway traffic environments.

A segurança viária está diretamente relacionada, dentre outros fatores, com as características do traçado da via. A dissertação tem como objetivo realizar uma comparação entre dois dos principais modelos de análise de consistência de traçado de rodovias de pista simples bidirecional, ou seja, o método dos critérios de segurança, estabelecido por Lamm et al. (1998), e o proposto pela Fitzpatrick et al. (2000), que foi incorporado no programa IHSDM (Interactive Highway Safety Design Model) pelo módulo DCM (Design Consistency Module), desenvolvido pela FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). São apresentadas as principais características do procedimento estabelecido por cada um dos métodos e os resultados de uma análise comparativa da aplicação de ambos os métodos em um estudo de caso. Nos dois modelos de análise, as equações de previsão de velocidades foram determinadas para as situações de outros países. No estudo de caso relatado na presente dissertação, foram pesquisadas as velocidades praticadas pelos motoristas em três rodovias de pista simples bidirecional, com base nas quais foi possível estabelecer uma equação de previsão de velocidades. Efetuada a comparação dos resultados obtidos no estudo de caso, pode-se verificar que nas curvas com raios de curvatura maior de 100 m, as velocidades praticadas pelos motoristas nas condições das rodovias pesquisadas são semelhantes às velocidades estimadas pela equação de Fitzpatrick (2000), e nas curvas com raios menores de 100 m, as velocidades praticadas estão próximas da equação elaborada por Lamm (1998) na Alemanha. / Highway safety is directly related, amongst other factors, to highway design characteristics. This dissertation compares two of the main existing models of analysis of highway design consistency, which are: the safety criteria method established by Lamm et al. (1998) and the one proposed by Fitzpatrick et al. (2000) incorporated in the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) by the Design Consistency Module (DCM), developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The main characteristics of the process established by each of the methods are presented here along with the results of a comparative analysis of the application of both methods in a case study. Both models apply speed prediction equations based on studies carried out in other countries. In the case study reported in the present dissertation, the speed practiced by drivers in three bidirectional two-lane roads was investigated, yielding results which allowed the development of a speed prediction equation. After comparing the results obtained in the case study, it was verified that on curves with radius of curvature longer than 100m, the speeds practiced by drivers in the conditions of the roads here studied are similar to those predicted by Fitzpatrick\'s (2000) equation. However, on roads whose radius is shorter than 100m, the speeds practiced are closer to those yielded by the equation elaborated by Lamm (1988) in Germany.

Diversas pesquisas realizadas no Brasil e no exterior nos últimos anos permitem inferir que existe uma relação causal entre a geometria das rodovias e a incidência de acidentes em determinadas locais. Uma da s principais dificuldades nesses estudos tem sido a representação gráfica da ge ometria da via na forma em que foi efetivamente construída. O advento da tecnologia do GPS associada a modernas técnicas de CAD abre novas possibilidades em termos de se propor um método expedito de criar uma base geográfica de informação à qual poderá associar-se posteriormente dados de acidentes, sinalização da via, condições do pavimento, etc. A proposta da dissertação de mestrado é desenvolver o método de representação geométrica da estrada usando a técnica cinemática do GPS. Para avaliar o desempenho do método proposto foi realizado o levantamento de um trecho de 30 km da rodovia SP-127 Fausto Santo Mauro conectando Rio Claro a Piracicaba. Através do arquivo de dados resultante do levantamento foi possível desenhar a rodovia em planta e em perfil com um nível de precisão suficiente para a construção de uma base geográfica de um SIG. Relatam-se algumas dificuldades de representação gráfica no TRANSCAD, no LISCAD e no AUTOCAD. / Several studies in Brasil and abroad in the n ear past lead to the conclusion that there is a causal relationship between highway ge ometry and accident incidence at certain locations on the road. One of the major diffi culties described in these studies is the grafic representation of the road geometry as built.The advent of the GPS technology, associated with modern CAD techniques, opens new possibilities in terms of an expedite method to criate a geographic information base that can be associated to accident data, traffic sign data, pavement conditions data, etc. A method to graphically represent the roadway geometry using the kinematic GPS techique is proposed at the level of a MSc thesis. In order to evaluate the proposed methods performance, a 30 km segment of SP-127 Fausto Santo Mauro Highway connecting Rio Claro to Piracicaba was surveyed. The graphical representation of the horizontal and vertical profile of the road that resulted from the surveying method is shown. Some of the difficulties in graphically representing the road with TRANSCAD, LISCAD and AUTOCAD are described.

A malha rodoviária brasileira é constituída predominantemente de rodovias de pista simples e boa parte delas encontra-se em regiões montanhosas. Rodovias de pista simples em regiões montanhosas possuem dificuldades de modelagem, porque as rampas elevadas e os raios de curvatura pequenos possuem impacto significativo no desempenho do tráfego. Adicionalmente, existem poucos estudos de simulação de tráfego de veículos em rodovias de pista simples, sobretudo em regiões montanhosas. Sendo assim, a combinação de rodovias de pista simples com região montanhosa é ainda mais restrita para codificação dessas redes em microssimuladores de tráfego. Dados de geometria de rodovias são comumente obtidos por meio de plataformas como o Google Earth, contudo sua precisão pode ser insuficiente para uma boa representação em regiões montanhosas, devido à influência significativa dos perfis planialtimétricos no desempenho do tráfego em rodovias de pistas simples. O presente trabalho desenvolveu uma metodologia para a codificação de rodovias de pista simples em região montanhosa. Esta metodologia foi aplicada em um estudo de simulação de tráfego através do microssimulador de tráfego VISSIM. O trecho de estudo de caso corresponde à 16 km de extensão da ERS-115 entre as cidades de Três Coroas e Gramado na Serra Gaúcha. A partir de dois bancos de dados (Google Earth e levantamento veicular a Laser), foram desenvolvidos três modelos: (i) modelo baseado nos dados originais do Google (Google original), (ii) modelo com perfil altimétrico suavizado (LOESS) e (iii) modelo com perfil planialtimétrico baseado em levantamento de campo a Laser (Laser). A comparação do perfil altimétrico dos três modelos revelou diferenças significativas entre o modelo do Google original em relação aos demais. O perfil altimétrico decorrente dos dados originais do Google Earth apresentou grandes declividades, na prática, incompatíveis com a classe da rodovia. O método proposto de suavização (LOESS) resultou em um modelo bem mais próximo do perfil real da rodovia, representado pelo modelo construído a partir do levantamento a laser. Com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho através da simulação de tráfego nos 3 modelos foram executados 11 cenários de simulação. Os cenários envolveram 2 níveis de demanda: demanda baixa, compatível com condições de fluxo livre e uma demanda representativa das condições típicas de tráfego verificadas no trecho. Em relação à demanda em fluxo livre, veículos nos modelos Laser e LOESS apresentaram velocidades similares ao longo do estaqueamento, enquanto que o modelo Google original revelou diferenças significativas de velocidades. A análise do desempenho do tráfego nos cenários de demanda típica foi baseada nos tempos de viagem. Cenários nesta análise envolveram a segmentação da rodovia em trechos homogêneos e variações na proporção de veículos por sentido (split direcional). A comparação entre os tempos de viagem dos modelos LOESS e Laser resultou em R²=0,99, enquanto que R² obtidos entre os modelos Google original e Laser variaram no intervalo de 0,04 a 0,99. Os resultados obtidos apontam a importância da metodologia desenvolvida pelo presente trabalho na modelagem de rodovias de pista simples, sobretudo em região montanhosa. / The Brazilian road network consists predominantly of two-lane highways and great part of them are in mountainous regions. Two-lane highways in mountainous regions have modeling difficulties because high slopes and small bend radii have a significant impact on traffic performance. Additionally, there are few simulation studies of vehicle traffic on two-lane highways, especially in mountainous regions. Thus, the combination of two-lane highways and mountainous region is even more restricted for coding these networks into traffic microsimulators. Road geometry data are commonly obtained through platforms such as Google Earth, but their accuracy may be insufficient for good representation in mountainous regions due to significant influence of planialtimetric profiles on traffic performance on two-lane highways. The present work developed a methodology for the codification of two-lane highways in mountainous region. This methodology was applied in a simulation study of traffic through the VISSIM traffic microsymulator. The case study section corresponds to the 16 km extension of the ERS-115 between the cities of Três Coroas and Gramado in the Serra Gaúcha. From two databases (Google Earth and Laser Vehicle Survey), three models were developed: (i) model based on original Google data (Google original), (ii) model with smoothed altimetric profile (LOESS) and (iii) model with planialtimetric profile based on laser field survey (Laser). The comparison of altimetric profiles of the three models revealed significant differences between the Google original model in relation to the others. The altimetric profile derived from the original data of Google Earth presented great slopes, in practice, incompatible with the highway class. The proposed smoothing method (LOESS) resulted in a model that is closer to the actual road profile, represented by the model constructed from the laser survey. In order to evaluate the performance through the simulation of traffic in the three models, 11 simulation scenarios were executed. The scenarios involved two levels of demand: low demand, compatible with free flow conditions and a representative demand of the typical traffic conditions verified in the road segment. Regarding the free-flow demand, vehicles in Laser and LOESS models presented similar speeds along the road, while the Google original model revealed significant differences in speeds. The analysis of traffic performance in typical demand scenarios was based on travel times. Scenarios in this analysis involved the segmentation of the highway in homogeneous segments and variations in the proportion of vehicles by direction (directional split). The comparison of travel times of the LOESS and Laser models resulted in R² = 0.99, while R² obtained between the Google original and Laser models varied in the range of 0.04 to 0.99. The results obtained point out the importance of the methodology developed by the present work in the modeling of two-lane highways, especially in the mountainous region.

This thesis investigates the impact of precipitation on the UK motorway network, with the aim of determining how speed, flow and accidents are affected. Climate change impact assessments require detailed information regarding the impact of weather in the current (baseline) climate and so this thesis seeks to address gaps in knowledge of current precipitation impacts to better inform future climate impact assessments. This thesis demonstrates that whilst precipitation does impact on traffic speeds, there is no universal significant single factor relationship. Indeed, a key threshold is identified at 0 mm hr-1 – the fastest speeds occur when there is no precipitation and speeds immediately decrease at the onset of precipitation. More detailed findings indicate the impact can be detected in both speed and maximum flow across much of the network as well as a downward reduction in the overall speed – flow relationship. In addition to speed flow, the impact of precipitation on road traffic accidents was also investigated. Fifteen percent of accidents in the UK occur in wet weather. Precipitation related accidents are shown to have a prolonged impact on the road network and can continue to cause a decrease in traffic speed and flow for up to three hours afterwards. With increased instances of heavy precipitation predicted as a result of climate change, these findings highlight the subsequent impact on journey speeds, travel times, traffic flows and the associated economic costs.

The author of this thesis deals with the issues of real time traffic management in junction areas and bottleneck sections on mainline railways in the event of service disturbances. A systematic methodology is proposed for modelling and solving real time train rescheduling problems in junction areas and bottleneck sections, including train re-sequencing and train re-timing. A formal mathematical model, the Junction Rescheduling Model (JRM) is proposed, based on a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) to minimise a Weighted Average Delay (WAD). An innovative algorithm based on Differential Evolution algorithm, named DE_JRM is proposed for solving real time train rescheduling problems formulated with JRM. The performance of the algorithm DE_JRM has been evaluated with a stochastic method based on Monte-Carlo simulation methodology. The evaluation results show a good performance for both flyover and flat junctions compared with First Come First Served (FCFS) and a conventional ARS strategy. The author also extends the proposed methodology, including JRM and the algorithm DE_JRM, to model and solve real time train rescheduling problems for bottleneck sections of railway networks. Finally, an integrated system architecture for the traffic management and train control is introduced for system implementation of the proposed methodology of train rescheduling in junction areas and bottleneck sections on mainline railways.