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Traffic responsive mode of operation with its two mechanisms, threshold-based and pattern matching, is considered one of the effective and efficient signal control modes. This operation mode is underutilized due to its cumbersome configuration procedure. The research presented in this thesis aims to give some guidelines regarding traffic responsive and issues that might improve the system performance. Four different issues related to traffic responsive are considered: The first issue is the generation of different traffic scenarios that drive the design of the system. This point is not limited to traffic responsive only but it is more general for different traffic engineering applications that need different traffic scenarios. The second issue is presenting an approach to implement traffic responsive control mode of operation in a large arterial network in Northern Virginia. Pattern matching mechanism is used for this application. Compared to time-of-day control mode, traffic responsive control saves up to 26.94% of the average delay and 21.13% of average number of stops for Reston Parkway network. The third issue is an attempt to improve the current threshold mechanism by relaxing the threshold constraints and using variable thresholds for different levels of plan selection parameters. The last issue is a study for the pedestrian effect on the performance of networks operating by traffic responsive control. The effects of pedestrian calls and pedestrian phases on traffic responsive control are compared and the results shows that pedestrian calls are better for low pedestrian volumes while pedestrian phases are better for high pedestrian volumes. / Master of Science

Master of Architecture

M.S.

L’étude et la compréhension du comportement humain est devenue l’une des problématiques majeures dans différents secteurs d’activités. Ce besoin de comprendre les habitudes des individus a conduit plusieurs entreprises vers l’utilisation de vidéos pour l’analyse et l’interprétation des comportements. Ces raisons ont conduit à l’émergence de travaux de recherches qui ont pour objectif l’automatisation de ces procédures. De ce fait, l’étude du comportement humain est devenue l’un des principaux sujets de recherche dans le domaine de la vision par ordinateur, et de nombreuses solutions d’analyse du comportements basées sur l’utilisation de l’intelligence artificielle ont émergé.Dans ce travail, notre objectif est le développement d’un système qui va permettre de suivre simultanément plusieurs individus dans un réseau multi-caméras dans le contexte de l’analyse comportementale. Pour cela, nous avons proposé un système de suivi qui est composé de trois modules principaux et d’un module de gestion. Le premier est un module de comptage pour mesurer les entrées. Le deuxième module, basé sur l’utilisation de filtres à particules, est un système de suivi mono-caméra destiné à suivre les individus indépendamment dans chacune des caméras. Le troisième module, basé sur la sélection des régions saillantes de chaque individu, sert à la ré-identification et permet d’associer les individus détectés dans les différentes caméras. Enfin, le module de gestion est conçu pour créer des trajectoires sémantiques à partir des trajectoires brutes obtenues précédemment. / The study and the understanding of human behavior has become one of the major concerns for various reasons in different sectors of activity. This need to understand the habits of people led several big firms towards the use of videos surveillance for analyzing and interpreting behaviors. These reasons led to the emergence of research aimed at automating these procedures. As a result, the study of human behavior has become the main subject of several researches in the field of computer vision. Thus, a variety of behavior analysis solutions based on artificial intelligence emerged.In this work, our objective is the proposal of a solution that enable the simultaneous track of several individuals in a multi-camera network in order to reconstruct their trajectories in the context of behavioral analysis. For this, we have proposed a system that is made of three main modules and a management module. The first module is a counting module to measure entries. The second module is a mono-camera tracking system that is based on the use of particle filtering to track individuals independently in each camera. The third module is a re-identification module which is based on the selection of salient regions for each individual. It enables the association of the individuals that are detected in the different cameras. The last module which is the management module is based on the use of ontologies for interpreting trajectories. This module is designed to create semantic trajectories from raw trajectories obtained previously.

O presente trabalho trata da acessibilidade relativa dos espaços urbanos para pedestres com restrições de mobilidade. Reconhecendo-se que estes espaços são deficientes no aspecto da mobilidade potencial dos pedestres e que a situação é agravada dependendo das características de locomoção desses indivíduos, a hipótese do trabalho considera que estas deficiências podem ser amenizadas se for possível mensurar os seus efeitos para os grupos de pedestres com alguma dificuldade de locomoção. Para tanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi propor um modelo de avaliação capaz de mapear a acessibilidade relativa dos caminhos de pedestres, considerando-se as condições de mobilidade potencial de grupos de indivíduos selecionados. O estudo foi voltado para pessoas com deficiência física (cadeirantes), com deficiência visual (cegos) e com restrição de mobilidade (idosos), usando como referência as pessoas sem restrições de mobilidade. O modelo foi proposto com base na aplicação do método de avaliação multicritério que teve como complementação um estudo que resultou na proposição de níveis de acessibilidade relativa. Este modelo foi desenvolvido em ambiente SIG de forma a proporcionar a visualização das relações entre os ambientes urbanos de acordo com as condições de mobilidade para cada grupo de usuários selecionados. O modelo foi aplicado em dois campi universitários, um no Brasil e outro em Portugal, e validado com a adoção de dois métodos que verificaram sua aplicabilidade. Os resultados indicaram que o modelo é adequado e promissor, pois possibilita obter indicadores ou índices de acessibilidade relativa para a caracterização das condições de mobilidade potencial de pedestres. / The present works focus on the relative accessibility of urban open spaces for pedestrians with mobility constraints, based on the premise that urban open spaces are deficient with regard to the potential mobility of pedestrians and also that the situation can be aggravated by the particular travel conditions of the individuals. Therefore, the urban spaces deficiencies can be properly reduced if it is possible to assess their effect on the group of pedestrians with mobility limitations. In order to do so, the objective of this study was to formulate an evaluation model for mapping the relative accessibility of pedestrians\' pathways, in which the potential mobility conditions of particular groups were taken into account. The following groups of pedestrians were considered: wheelchair users, with visual disabilities, and with mobility constraints (e.g., elderly). Users without mobility constraints formed the control group taken as a reference of accessibility. The proposed model was initially based on a multicriteria evaluation, which was subsequently adjusted to show levels of relative accessibility. The entire model was developed in a Geographic Information System environment, what allows a visual comparison of the urban spaces conditions for the different groups of selected users. The method was applied in two university campuses, one in Brazil and one in Portugal, and the validation process involved two different methods. The results suggest that the model is an adequate and promising alternative to assess the potential mobility of particular pedestrians groups through the relative accessibility levels of urban open spaces.

O presente trabalho trata da acessibilidade relativa dos espaços urbanos para pedestres com restrições de mobilidade. Reconhecendo-se que estes espaços são deficientes no aspecto da mobilidade potencial dos pedestres e que a situação é agravada dependendo das características de locomoção desses indivíduos, a hipótese do trabalho considera que estas deficiências podem ser amenizadas se for possível mensurar os seus efeitos para os grupos de pedestres com alguma dificuldade de locomoção. Para tanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi propor um modelo de avaliação capaz de mapear a acessibilidade relativa dos caminhos de pedestres, considerando-se as condições de mobilidade potencial de grupos de indivíduos selecionados. O estudo foi voltado para pessoas com deficiência física (cadeirantes), com deficiência visual (cegos) e com restrição de mobilidade (idosos), usando como referência as pessoas sem restrições de mobilidade. O modelo foi proposto com base na aplicação do método de avaliação multicritério que teve como complementação um estudo que resultou na proposição de níveis de acessibilidade relativa. Este modelo foi desenvolvido em ambiente SIG de forma a proporcionar a visualização das relações entre os ambientes urbanos de acordo com as condições de mobilidade para cada grupo de usuários selecionados. O modelo foi aplicado em dois campi universitários, um no Brasil e outro em Portugal, e validado com a adoção de dois métodos que verificaram sua aplicabilidade. Os resultados indicaram que o modelo é adequado e promissor, pois possibilita obter indicadores ou índices de acessibilidade relativa para a caracterização das condições de mobilidade potencial de pedestres. / The present works focus on the relative accessibility of urban open spaces for pedestrians with mobility constraints, based on the premise that urban open spaces are deficient with regard to the potential mobility of pedestrians and also that the situation can be aggravated by the particular travel conditions of the individuals. Therefore, the urban spaces deficiencies can be properly reduced if it is possible to assess their effect on the group of pedestrians with mobility limitations. In order to do so, the objective of this study was to formulate an evaluation model for mapping the relative accessibility of pedestrians\' pathways, in which the potential mobility conditions of particular groups were taken into account. The following groups of pedestrians were considered: wheelchair users, with visual disabilities, and with mobility constraints (e.g., elderly). Users without mobility constraints formed the control group taken as a reference of accessibility. The proposed model was initially based on a multicriteria evaluation, which was subsequently adjusted to show levels of relative accessibility. The entire model was developed in a Geographic Information System environment, what allows a visual comparison of the urban spaces conditions for the different groups of selected users. The method was applied in two university campuses, one in Brazil and one in Portugal, and the validation process involved two different methods. The results suggest that the model is an adequate and promising alternative to assess the potential mobility of particular pedestrians groups through the relative accessibility levels of urban open spaces.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

A master’s thesis deals with a problem of traffic accidents on pedestrian crossings. A theoretical part describes causes and following responsibilities of all participants of the traffic accident. Furthermore, the theoretical part analyzes a traffic system and its individual parts. A practical part of this thesis describes all measuring tools used for collection of data during the analysis. The data was obtained during a real traffic on chosen pedestrian crossing in Brno A tool used for analysis is called eyetracer. Furthermore, an evaluation of collected data and following analysis were carried out. Eventually, results were compared with reports about accidents which happened on chosen pedestrian crossings.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The design of railway station environments in South Africa and to a certain extent internationally, is based on rules of thumb. These rules, using general macroscopic principles for determining peak passenger loads are inadequate and misleading for detailed design purposes. The principles advocated in local design guideline documents are erroneous and ignore the highly variable flow nature or “micro-peaking” effects that typically occur within railway station environments. Furthermore, there are no procedures proposed in these guideline documents, which leads to ambiguous assessment techniques used by practitioners in the determination of pedestrian spatial areas. It is evident that the knowledge in the area of pedestrian movement contained within the design guidance is far from comprehensive. Without a reliable method for estimating pedestrian levels-of-service and capacities, design of new facilities does not follow a uniform process, resulting in high levels of uncertainty in determining if the time, money and resources invested in upgrading facilities will actually cater to the demand. The situation is further exacerbated by current industry thinking towards pedestrian modelling in South Africa, where it is perceived by both clients and practitioners to be more cost effective to use macroscopic techniques and designing infrastructure according to a “one-level-up” level-of-service method. Working with architects confirmed that the area of circulation design was lacking in data and guidance and that associated quantified assessments of pedestrian movement was rarely, if ever, carried out. Towards addressing these issues, the development of a Spatial Parameter (SP)-model spreadsheet application became the main objective of the study. The model contributes towards addressing the needs of individual station users based on the trade-off between level-of-service and infrastructure costs. The output of the model allows the designer to avoid the under-provision (detrimental to operations) and oversizing of railway station infrastructure (with obvious financial implications). The author recognised the lack of pedestrian movement data in South Africa and addressed this by conducting extensive video-based pedestrian observations aimed at exploring the macroscopic fundamental relationships and the ways in which these relationships might be influenced by the various personal, situational and environmental factors that characterise the context in which pedestrians move. The movement trajectories of 24,410 pedestrians were investigated over three infrastructure environments at Maitland and Bonteheuwel stations in Cape Town, carefully selected to incorporate the cultural diversity common in South Africa. Tracking of pedestrians was achieved via the use of an in-house developed “video annotator” software tool. Boarding and alighting rates of 7,426 passengers were also observed at these stations incorporating contributory attributes such as age, gender, body size, encumbrance, group size, time of day, and location. The research makes a number of significant advances in the understanding of pedestrian flow behaviour within railway station environments and provides recommendations to industry of what issues to consider. The empirical study has provided comprehensive pedestrian movement characteristics incorporating the relationships between density, speed and flow including the effect of culture and other context factors unique to the local South African environment. New methods for determining spatial requirements are proposed, together with new and unique empirical data for use by the local industry. A calibrated spreadsheet SP-model for assessing the design of concourse type railway stations is developed and presented in the study. The advance in local pedestrian flow knowledge, together with the SP-model, is shown to be practical through application to two real railway station case study projects. The results of this study constitute an important contribution to local pedestrian flow knowledge and is considered a valuable resource for those developing pedestrian models in practice. It is expected that the results will be useful in the planning and design of pedestrian environments in South African railway stations and can be applied to other African metro railway stations with similar pedestrian characteristics. Overall, this research has succeeded in advancing the approach to railway station design, empirical data, knowledge and methods held within the local engineering industry. However, the contribution of this study and associated conference papers is an early step in changing the perceptions in this country towards ensuring fully informed and appropriate performance-based spatial designs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwerp van areas binne Suid-Afrikaanse spoorweg stasies en ook tot ‘n sekere mate internasionaal, is gebaseer op historiese ondervindings asook riglyne wat tans in die praktyk gebruik word. Die riglyne gebruik algemene makroskopiese beginsels om die spits passasiersvrag te bepaal vir gedetaileerde ontwerp doeleindes. Hierdie riglyne is egter ongeskik en misleidend aangesien dit nie die hoogs wispelturige natuur van vloei en mikrospits effekte wat binne die stasies plaasvind, in ag nie. Die riglyne ontbreek ook van prosedures wat gevolg moet word vir die bepaling van ruimtelike areas vir voetgangers wat die gevolg het dat dubbelsinnige beramingstegnieke deur praktisyne gebruik word. Die kennis oor voetganger bewegings in die ontwerp riglyne is nie omvattend genoeg nie. Sonder ‘n betroubare beramings metode vir die bepaling van voetganger diensvlak en kapasiteit kan daar nie bepaal word of die tyd, geld en hulpbronne wat in die fasilitieit geinvesteer word, aan die behoeftes gaan voldoen nie. Die situasie word verder vererger deur die huidige persepsie oor voetganger modellering in Suid-Afrika, waar dit deur beide kliënte en praktisyne, as ‘n meer koste effektiewe oplossing gesien word om makroskopiese tegnieke te gebruik en om infrastruktuur te ontwerp volgens ‘n metode waar ‘n hoër diensvlak as die teiken diensvlak gebruik word. In samewerking met argitekte is dit bevestig dat die area van sirkulasie ontwerp ‘n tekort het aan data en riglyne en dat die kwantitatiewe skattings verbonde aan voetganger beweging selde, indien ooit, uitgevoer word. Die ontwikkeling van ‘n Spatial Parameters (SP)-model om die bogenoemde problem te oorkom, is die hoofdoel van hierdie tesis. Die model poog om die behoeftes van individuele stasie gebruikers aan te spreek gebaseer op die wisselwerking tussen diensvlak en infrastruktuur kostes. Die uitsette van die model stel die ontwerper in staat om ondervoorsiening en oorvoorsiening van spoorweg stasie infrastruktuur te voorkom wat nadelige vir die bedryf is en ook ooglopende finansiële implikasies tot gevolg het. Die skrywer het die tekort aan data aangaande voetganger bewegings in Suid-Afrika geidentifiseer en dit aangespreek deur omvattende video gebaseerde voetganger waarnemings te maak met die doel om die basiese makroskopiese verhoudings te ondersoek asook in hoe ‘n mate hierdie verhoudings beinvloed word deur verskeie persoonlike, liggings- en omgewingsfaktore wat die konteks waarin voetgangers beweeg, karakteriseer. Die bewegingsprofiel van 24,410 voetgangers is ondersoek by drie infrastruktuur omgewings by Maitland en Bonteheuwel stasies in Kaapstad. Die stasies is noukeurig uitgesoek om Suid-Afrika se kulturele diversiteit te verteenwoordig. Die voetgangers is nagevolg deur gebruik te maak van ‘n selfontwikkelde video-annoteerder sagteware. Waarneming van die opklim- en afklimspoed van 7,426 passasiers is gemaak by hierdie stasies en faktore soos ouderdom, geslag, liggaamsgrootte, mobiliteit, grootte van groepe, tyd van die dag en ligging was ingesluit by die waarnemings. Hierdie navorsing maak belangrike bydraes tot die begrip van die vloei van voetgangers binne spoorweg stasies en aanbevellings word aan die industrie gemaak oor die faktore wat in ag geneem moet word by ontwerp van fasilitieite. Die empiriese studie het omvattende voetganger beweging karakteristieke uitgewys wat die verhoudings tussen digtheid, spoed en vloei inkorporeer asook die effek van kultuur en ander faktore wat verband hou met die unieke konteks van die plaaslike Suid-Afrikaanse omgewing. Nuwe metodes om ruimtelike-vereistes te bepaal word voorgestel, saam met nuwe en unieke empiriese data vir gebruik deur die plaaslike industrie. ‘n Gekalibreerde en gevalideerde SP-model is ontwikkel om die ontwerp van spoorweg stasies te assesseer en word in hierdie tesis beskyf en aangebied. Die studie toon dat akkurate data en kennis oor plaaslike voetganger vloei met die SP-model verkry kan word, soos bewys uit twee spoorweg stasie studiegevalle. Die resultate van hierdie tesis dien as ‘n belangrike bydrae tot die kennis van plaaslike voetganger vloei en word geag as ‘n waardevolle hulpbron vir die ontwikkeling van voetganger modelle in die praktyk. Hierdie resultate mag nuttig wees gedurende die beplanning en ontwerp van voetganger-areas in Suid-Afrikaanse spoorweg stasies. Dit kan ook toegepas word vir spoorweg stasies in die res van Afrika wat soortgelyke voetganger karaktereienskappe het. Die navorsing het daarin geslaag om die benadering tot spoorweg stasie ontwerp te verbeter, asook om empiriese data, kennis en die metodes wat binne die plaaslike ingenieurs industrie voorgehou word, te verbeter. Let egter daarop dat die bydrae wat hierdie tesis maak, asook bydraes deur relevante konferensie verhandelinge, ‘n vroeë stap is in die verandering van persepsies in Suid-Afrika om geskikte prestasie-gebaseerde ruimte ontwerpe te verseker.