Controlling traffic jams on urban roads modeled in Coloured Petri net using Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents an application to traffic lights control in congested urban traffic, in real time, taking as input the position and route of the vehicles in the involved areas. This data is obtained from the communication between vehicles and infrastructure (V2I). Due to the great complexity of the possible combination of traffic lights and the short time to get a response, Genetic Algorithm was used to optimize this control. According to test results, the application can reduce the number of vehicles in congested areas, even with the entry of vehicles that previously were not being considered in these roads, such as parked vehicles. © 2012 IEEE.

Roads towards gender equity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Roads: a new approach for road network management and conservation

Includes bibliography

Aplicação de sistema de gestão da qualidade na execução de obras de pavimentação asfáltica, baseado nas diretrizes da ABNT NBR ISO 9001:2008

This work brings to its content proposed deployment of a system of quality management in paving asphalt based on the elaboration of a basic training to meet those entering this area of civil engineering at a technical manual for the implementation of major services running on paving of roads. The training was designed to serve both those entering the field of asphalt paving, synthesizing the complex processes involved in paving services and providing an overview of the steps in implementation thereof, as well as entrants must meet the enterprise user of this system, providing them an idea of the method used by the company designing the paving of roads. The technical manual presented in turn, has 8 (eight) of the main services components of a work of paving, which are: Mobilization and Maintenance of construction site, Regularization and subfloor preparation, execution or sub-base BGS base (graded gravel plain), Execution of sub-base or base BGTC (graded gravel treated with cement), Implementation of subbase or base Macadam hydraulic Priming bituminous waterproofing, asphalt binder Priming and finally the execution flexible pavement - HMA (hot milled asphalt concrete). These services are presented in the form of IT-Education work, this seven items are presented that guide the performance of services, thus providing overall guidelines to perform the services described in it. The development of IT's was based on experiences in day-to-day paving near the theoretical precepts presented in the literature, so the conditions specified in these documents aim to always guide the implementation of services in general, giving the process a versatility major operation, as this work takes into account the dynamics of such services, as well as the variety of their execution according to local conditions and specified in the project. So in general we can say that this ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Reduction of Soil Erosion on Forest Roads

Results of onsite erosion control work from across the United States provide estimates of the amount of erosion reduction on forest roads from various treatments. Supplementary information includes the effects of slope gradient, soil characteristics, and ground cover. Estimates of sediment travel below fillslopes can be made, together with the combined effect of erosion control treatments of the running surface, road cut, and ditch.

Can Roads Be Used as Transects for Primate Population Surveys?

Line transect distance sampling (LTDS) can be applied to either trails or roads. However, it is likely that sampling along roads might result in biased density estimates. In this paper, we compared the results obtained with LTDS applied on trails and roads for two primate species (Callithrix penicillata and Callicebus nigrifrons) to clarify whether roads are appropriate transects to estimate densities. We performed standard LTDS surveys in two nature reserves in south-eastern Brazil. Effective strip width and population density were different between trails and roads for C. penicillata, but not for C. nigrifrons. The results suggest that roads are not appropriate for use as transects in primate surveys, at least for some species. Further work is required to fully understand this issue, but in the meantime we recommend that researchers avoid using roads as transects or treat roads and trails as covariates when sampling on roads is unavoidable. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Amphetamine, cocaine and cannabinoids use among truck drivers on the roads in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Drugs are important risk factors for traffic accidents. In Brazil, truck drivers report using amphetamines to maintain their extensive work schedule and stay awake. These drugs can be obtained without prescription easily on Brazilian roads. The use of these stimulants can result in health problems and can be associated with traffic accidents. There are Brazilian studies that show that drivers use drugs. However, these studies are questionnaire-based and do not always reflect real-life situations. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence of drug use by truck drivers on the roads of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, during 2009. Drivers of large trucks were randomly stopped by police officers on the interstate roads during morning hours. After being informed of the goals of the study, the drivers gave written informed consent before providing a urine sample. In addition, a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic characteristics and health information was administered. Urine samples were screened for amphetamines, cocaine, and cannabinoids by immunoassay and the confirmation was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Of the 488 drivers stopped, 456 (93.4%) provided urine samples, and 9.3% of them (n = 42) tested positive for drugs. Amphetamines were the most commonly found (n = 26) drug, representing 61.9% of the positive samples. Ten cases tested positive for cocaine (23.8%), and five for cannabinoids (11.9%). All drivers were male with a mean age of 40 +/- 10.8 years, and 29.3% of them reported some health problem (diabetes, high blood pressure and/or stress). A high incidence of truck drivers who tested positive for drug use was found, among other reported health problems. Thus, there is an evident need to promote a healthier lifestyle among professional drivers and a need for preventive measures aimed at controlling the use of drugs by truck drivers in Brazil. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Noise mapping of highly trafficked roads of the province of Bologna according to D.Lgs. 194/2005

The European Community has stressed the importance of achieving a common understanding to deal with the environmental noise through community actions of the Member States. This implies the use of harmonized indicators and specific information regarding the values of indicators, the exceedance of limits and the number of people and dwellings exposed to noise. The D.Lgs. 149/2005 in compliance with the European Directive 2002/49/EC defines methodologies, noise indicators and types of outputs required. In this dissertation the work done for the noise mapping of highly trafficked roads of the Province of Bologna will be reported. The study accounts for the environmental noise generated by the road infrastructure outside the urban agglomeration of Bologna. Roads characterized by an annual traffic greater than three millions of vehicles will be considered. The process of data collection and validation will be reported, as long as the implementation of the calculation method in the software and the procedure to create and calibrate the calculation model. Results will be provided as required by the legislation, in forms of maps and tables. Moreover results regarding each road section accounted will be combined to gain a general understanding of the situation of the overall studied area. Although the understanding of the noise levels and the number of people exposed is paramount, it is not sufficient to develop strategies of noise abatement interventions. Thus a further step will be addressed: the creation of priority maps as the basis of action plans for organizing and prioritizing solutions for noise reduction and abatement. Noise reduction measures are reported in a qualitative way in the annex and constitute a preliminary research.