Articles tagged with Highways
Researchers are exploring the use of recycled plastic pins to repair deep-seated failures on embankments and areas around highway bridges. The pins provide stabilization and reduce costs by more than 50%, while also testing the feasibility of using just a moisture barrier for slope stabilization.
A study found that red foxes are outcompeting Arctic foxes for food in the high mountains, thanks to human littering. In contrast, Arctic foxes avoid areas with more litter and prefer cleaner habitats. This shift is altering alpine ecosystems.
A Berkeley Lab study finds that California's winter precipitation will become 50% more variable by 2100, affecting agriculture, flood control, and water resource management. The MJO, a global rainfall pattern, is expected to transfer its precipitation-related atmospheric conditions to the West Coast via changes in strong winds.
A study published in the Journal of Mammalogy found that Wyoming pronghorn exhibit high levels of genetic connectivity across the state, contradicting previous research suggesting barriers to gene flow. The researchers suggest periodic monitoring of genetic structure and diversity as part of management strategies.
Research shows that neighborhood values are driven by unique local amenities, leading to self-reinforcing negative effects on low-valued areas. Direct investments in these neighborhoods can help spark development processes.
The study, conducted by the University of Córdoba, demonstrates the feasibility of using recycled demolition waste to build roads. The results show that recycled aggregates from mixed materials and concrete foundations performed better than natural aggregates in terms of surface properties and mechanical development.
The University of Texas at Arlington is conducting pioneering research on concrete pipes reinforced with synthetic fibers to test their strength and durability. The project aims to develop longer-lasting pipes that can last for over 100 years, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Shanjiang Zhu and team to evaluate three alternative modeling approaches for demand responses to tolled and priced lanes, producing detailed technical reports on methods and findings. The study aims to inform FHWA's state-of-art modeling strategies, informing their applicability in different applications.
Researchers found that despite turtles using open roadside habitats, none attempted to cross the road. The highway acts as a complete barrier, potentially separating the local population and decreasing its ability to cope with threats. Corticosterone levels were not affected between Bypass and roadless sites.
Heriberto Pérez's research developed deterioration models using International Roughness Index (IRI) and Coefficient of Transverse Friction (skid resistance), enabling predictions on road conditions after vehicle use. The models provide a strategic approach to optimize repair costs and improve pavement durability.
The Pan-Borneo Highway will severely degrade Borneo's last expanses of intact forest, increasing pressures on loggers, poachers, and farmers. The network of highways would isolate Sabah's forests from the rest of Borneo, cutting off endangered species' habitats.
Researchers at UTA developed a system to track repairs and data on potentially problematic slopes, reducing repair time from four months to one to two weeks and costs by 20%. The project was recognized as one of AASHTO's top projects in 2019.
A Purdue University team is developing sensors to track concrete strength development in real time, allowing for more precise data on when traffic can use new concrete pavement. This technology has the potential to save millions of dollars each year and reduce traffic by providing engineers with accurate information on concrete maturity.
Small mammals use roadside vegetation foraging in Canada, contrary to assumptions that wildlife passages are only for crossing. The study suggests maintaining habitat between highways could attract animals to roads, increasing the risk of collisions.
The Whiting Knoll Fire in east central Arizona has generated enough smoke to be seen from space, with NASA-NOAA satellite images capturing its extent. The fire, which started on June 30, 2019, is burning approximately 1,546 acres and remains only 5% contained.
A new study finds crowdsourced traffic data from Waze is highly correlated with conventional reporting data, allowing for earlier notification of trauma surgeons and improved patient care. This could lead to a significant reduction in mortality rates from motor vehicle crashes.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that drivers who are distracted while driving in a highway work zone are 29 times more likely to be involved in a collision or near-miss. The study analyzed data from over 3,000 drivers and provides recommendations for behavioral countermeasures to reduce injuries and fatalities.
A UC Santa Barbara study reveals that proximity to highly trafficked areas, shopping centers, and freeways leads to higher gas prices. The researchers also found that market competition can override the effect of location, with nearby gas stations influencing pricing behavior.
A novel concept proposes a lateral alternating multilayered junction for organic solar cells, enabling long-distance carrier transport and extraction. The structure shows promising results with high exciton-collection efficiency, paving the way to exceed conversion efficiency of 20%.
A new study measures the effectiveness of underground passageways that let fauna cross highways safely, finding higher road mortality at fence ends. Fencing and underpasses can reduce roadkill numbers by discouraging animals from crossing busy lanes.
A Purdue University-developed drone technology can map a scene in five to eight minutes, allowing public safety officers to open roads much quicker after an accident. This reduces secondary crashes by 60% and exposure of colleagues to highway traffic hazards.
A new study by UMBC researchers highlights the importance of taking a long-term approach to reforestation efforts. Secondary forest patches are often quickly re-cleared, but their full benefits don't kick in until they're decades old. The study found that large patches and those alongside rivers were less likely to be re-cleared.
A research team from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul has published data on bird and reptile roadkill on Brazil's notorious BR-262 highway. The study found 930 animals representing 29 reptile and 47 bird species, with new records including the Black-and-white hawk-eagle.
UTA professor Sahadat Hossain uses recycled plastic pins to strengthen MSE walls, increasing bearing and shearing capacity of foundation soils. The new method reduces excavation and replacement costs, improving pavement maintenance and reducing cracking.
Studies have found that roadside dust contains traffic-related abrasion particles, including tire wear and brake pad debris, which can pose health risks to humans and wildlife. Researchers are warning that climate change may exacerbate this problem, leading to increased pollution and potential harm to ecosystems.
A recent study found that installing wildlife crossing structures over highways has increased the success rate of pronghorn crossings, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions by 70 percent. Pronghorn adapted to using these structures within four years, increasing their crossing success rates and decreasing stress levels.
A new study from University of Chicago researchers finds that 'traffic jams' in the jet stream can cause abnormal weather patterns, such as blocking events. The research develops a mechanistic model to predict long-term weather patterns, including droughts and floods, by comparing the jet stream to highway traffic.
A study by Columbia University researchers found that converting a 2.4-mile section of the Cross-Bronx Expressway into a deck park would benefit residents monetarily and in terms of life expectancy, adding nearly two months of quality-adjusted life years.
Dr. Yazdani will use non-destructive techniques to test 30 bridges in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, detecting cracks and corrosion without harming the bridge. His research aims to determine load capacity and identify potential issues before they become major problems.
Topological insulators exhibit unique properties, with electrons confined to quantum channels at the edge. Researchers have engineered these pathways, allowing for controlled conduction and potential applications in next-generation electronic devices. This work provides new insights into fundamental properties of topological edge states.
Researchers from UBC's Okanagan campus found that female grizzly bears with cubs prefer using wildlife overpasses to cross the highway, highlighting the importance of designing structures that prioritize bear safety. The study also suggests that a diverse range of crossing design types can help mitigate road-bear conflicts.
A study by Brigham Young University researchers found that lower speed limits were linked to higher rates of accidents, contrary to expectations. Increasing shoulder width and using concrete barriers were also associated with a decrease in crash risk.
Researchers have identified enzymes that regulate the speed of protein cargo trucks on cellular highways, a discovery with implications for spinal cord and nerve injuries as well as neurodegenerative diseases. The study found that these enzymes, TTLL-11 and CCPP-1, work together to control traffic flow on microtubule highways.
A study by Oregon State University finds that truckers who can't find safe places to park and rest face significant economic costs, with at-fault crashes resulting in approximately $75 million of 'crash harm' over a 7-year period on one stretch of highway.
Whale sharks track ocean fronts for food and migration purposes, revealing a network of 'highways' across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The study provides insights into whale shark behavior, informing conservation efforts and population estimates.
A University of Kansas researcher found that bumper stickers can facilitate social communication on highways, with drivers using labeling, affective, and puzzle modes to interpret messages. The use of mass-customized stickers has led to a shift towards more specific and unique messages, requiring new interpretive orientations.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered rapid microscopic swelling along the axons of rodent brain tissue after laboratory-induced mild traumatic brain injury. The study found that these swellings are reversible and disappear within minutes, which could lead to improved treatment for concussions.
Researchers found that 20% of children involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained or inappropriately restrained. A 10% improvement in child restraint use could avert approximately 232 pediatric deaths per year.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati found high sulfur pollution along India's Manali-Leh Highway, suggesting a link to diesel pollution. The study, published in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, showed that diesel exhaust contributes to acid rain and has environmental impacts even in remote areas.
Researchers propose a smart system to reduce long queues at certain roundabout approaches, using magnetic detection devices under the road surface to activate traffic metering signals. The system can delay and length of vehicle lines up by up to 60% while also reducing pollutant emissions as motorists stop less frequently.
A Duke University professor proposes that wealth inequality is governed by a physical law, where systems evolve to increase access to flow. This natural tendency governs the distribution of wealth in economies, with hierarchical movement leading to greater disparities.
A new study proposes a risk-based approach for classifying road surface conditions under winter weather events, aiming to improve current road classification systems. The approach estimates driving risk using a collision model calibrated with detailed hourly data of weather, road conditions, traffic, and accidents.
The University of Texas at Arlington researcher is using a two-year, $360,000 contract to test the performance of geocells in a highway-widening project. Geocells are modular structures that can support a drivable surface and may provide cost savings by recycling valuable materials.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that phosphatidylserine treatment can enhance the stability of microtubular highways in neurons and improve cargo movement along these pathways. The study suggests that this supplement may be instrumental in reversing detrimental effects of Familial Dysautonomia.
Researchers at UTA will lead a collaborative effort to use UAVs for remote inspection of highways and railroads. The project aims to develop guidelines for safe and efficient use of UAVs, leveraging their advantages in speed, safety, and cost compared to human on-site inspections.
A new 'smart metal' technology, developed by the University of Nevada, Reno, is being used for the first time in a real-world application on a busy downtown Seattle highway. The innovative materials, including memory-retaining nickel/titanium rods and flexible concrete composites, allow bridges to bend and remain usable after strong ea...
A UTA civil engineering professor has secured a $1.2 million contract with TxDOT to implement a system that improves sub-base repair of roads, reducing pavement cracking and improving maintenance. The team will also use recycled plastic pins for slope stabilization in around TxDOT's Dallas District.
Researchers at Concordia University developed a new modelling method to analyze the scheduling of reconstruction work in complex infrastructure projects. The technique uses 4-D simulations to coordinate traffic flow with demolition and construction activities, eliminating potential clashes and saving time and money.
Researchers at Indiana University argue that annual registration fees for plug-in vehicles are misguided due to their minimal impact on road infrastructure funding. The decline in federal tax revenue is primarily attributed to increased fuel efficiency and non-adjusted fuel taxes, not plug-in vehicles.
Researchers documented significant reductions in wildlife-vehicle collisions after construction of overpasses and underpasses along a Wyoming highway. The study found that these structures can improve safety for motorists while enhancing habitat connectivity for migratory species.
The Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta, Canada, is still burning intensely, with smoke and heat detectable by satellite. Suomi NPP's VIIRS instrument captured daytime images on May 5, showing hotspots indicating the location of fires, while nighttime images on May 6 revealed the fire at night, with smoke appearing light gray.
A new travel study by UConn faculty will gather current data on residents' travel characteristics to inform transportation infrastructure decisions. The study aims to determine the role of transit, biking, and walking in improving mobility in communities.
Canada's high road fatalities during winters can be decreased by implementing stringent maintenance standards, government oversight, mandatory winter tires, seasonal speed limits, and public education about safe driving. Lowering complacency and exercising caution by drivers are also essential.
A new book by UC Santa Barbara geologist Arthur Sylvester explores the region's complex geology and notable features like the San Andreas Fault and Joshua Tree National Park. The guide includes 196 geo-referenced photographs, maps, and diagrams to help drivers appreciate the region's geological treasures.
The 2014-2015 Pahoa lava flow crisis at Kilauea Volcano posed significant societal impact despite low effusion rates, highlighting the need for effective communication and public education during volcanic events. The crisis provided valuable lessons about predicting and mitigating lava flow hazards.
Researchers at UTA are working with North Central Texas Council of Governments to determine the optimal toll price for managed lanes. They will use survey data and video traffic volume data to make recommendations about toll charges that encourage efficient use without increasing congestion, enabling speed of at least 50 mph.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have discovered that the Huntingtin protein controls the movement of Rab proteins in neurons, which can lead to neurological problems if disrupted. The study sheds light on an enduring neuroscience mystery: the root causes of Huntington's disease.
A new study documents the fatal connection between urban stormwater and coho salmon survival, but also finds that inexpensive filtration through columns of sand and soil can completely prevent toxic effects. The research demonstrates that coho salmon are an ecological sentinel for urban runoff's harmful effects.
A study suggests that a missing part of the brain, called the vertical occipital fasciculus, may provide a fundamental white matter connection between the visual system's object identification and spatial orientation functions. This 'highway' structure could play a critical role in coordinating information transmission between brain ar...
Researchers at Clemson University found that monitoring vehicle behavior is a reliable and less intrusive way to detect fatigue or drowsiness in drivers. The study tested volunteers for 20 minutes on a 15-mile course, using GPS technology to measure driving performance and detect deviations.