Articles tagged with Transportation Infrastructure
Researchers analyzed hydrogen vehicle risks in tunnels and found extensive damage potential, but low occurrence likelihood. The team recommended stricter speed limits, precise distance controls, and safer tunnel designs to minimize hazards.
Experts at the University of Birmingham have proposed a new approach to transport ticketing using blockchain technology and ontology. The system, called STUB, aims to provide a universal and accessible ticketing framework that can be used by multiple providers.
New research shows climate change will cause more severe combined wind-rain extremes in the UK and Ireland, leading to increased flooding and damage. The study found that stronger winds and heavier rainfall are likely to occur together, posing challenges for coastal areas and emergency response resources.
A recent study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers highlights the hidden threat of global underground infrastructure vulnerability to sea-level rise. Shallow and saltier groundwater exacerbates corrosion and failure of critical systems such as sewer lines, roadways, and building foundations in cities worldwide.
A new study reveals that retention ponds and wetlands can significantly reduce the amount of tyre particles entering aquatic environments, with an average reduction of 75%. The research found that tyre wear particles outweigh other forms of microplastics, but are also removed in greater quantities.
A new study finds that remote work has changed urban transportation patterns in the U.S., with significant variation across regions. The research reveals that remote work has reduced vehicle miles driven by about 1% per 1% decrease in onsite workers, but had a more substantial impact on mass-transit ridership.
Researchers used data from 9,300 miles of Greek roads to develop a machine-learning model predicting crash sites. The model identified key features such as abrupt speed limit changes and incomplete lane markings as predictors of crashes. The study's findings have implications for improving road safety globally.
A new study found that urban environment, road types, and crosswalk access play a major role in determining who gets blamed for crashes. Pedestrians were more likely to be blamed on roads with high traffic speeds and few crosswalks, while drivers were more likely to be faulted in areas with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Tackling inequality is vital to mitigate climate change effectively, as wealthy individuals often have greater ability to reduce their carbon footprint. Deep-rooted inequalities restrict people's capacity to switch to lower-carbon behaviours, making it essential for policymakers to provide equal opportunities across all income brackets.
Researchers found that neighborhoods within 3 kilometers of an Amazon last-mile delivery station experience twice the amount of delivery van and truck traffic as farther-away areas. These neighborhoods are disproportionately home to low-income households and people of color, who order 14% fewer packages than average. The study highligh...
Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a welding technique that can join composite metal foam components without impairing their properties. The new method uses induction welding, which penetrates deeply into the material and insulates it against heat.
Researchers found that space weather events can trigger 'wrong side' failures in rail signalling systems, which are more hazardous than 'right side' failures. This study highlights the need for the industry to consider the risks of space weather and explore mitigation strategies.
The ETH Zurich-developed Authentic Digital EMblem (ADEM) aims to protect humanitarian organizations' digital infrastructure from cyberattacks. The system uses a combination of security protocols, including web PKI and CT ecosystem, to ensure authenticity, accountability, and covert inspection.
Research reveals that most types of sea freight carry soil with live bacteria, fungi, worms, seeds, and insects, including regulated biosecurity organisms. The study highlights the need for efficient measures to prevent exotic species establishment through contaminated cargo.
UBC Okanagan researchers have developed sensors that can detect erosion and breaches in protective coatings, reducing inspection time and error risk. The AI-enabled sensors can also distinguish individual layer erosion within multi-layer coatings, enabling proactive monitoring and addressing of equipment degradation.
The UCLA Mobility Center of Excellence will conduct research on the impacts of new mobility technologies and highly automated vehicles on transportation systems. The center aims to improve efficiency, mobility, and sustainability by studying the long-term effects of emerging mobility technologies.
The University of Missouri's Missouri Work Zone Safety Center of Excellence aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in highway work zones through research and outreach. The center will focus on integrating emerging technologies, data analysis, and countermeasures to address distracted driving and other safety concerns.
New research from the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management suggests that managing public transit projects requires a comprehensive approach considering rational, psychosocial, and political dimensions. This involves engaging stakeholders, including non-users, to ensure societal impact and cost-effectiveness.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that connected vehicles improve travel time through intersections, but automated vehicles without connectivity actually increase wait times. The study suggests that incorporating vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication is crucial for optimizing traffic flow.
A study published in Health & Place found that walkable neighborhoods foster social interactions with neighbors, promoting a sense of community. Researchers analyzed data from 1,745 adults living in Seattle, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., revealing that these environments encourage active behaviors like walking and socializing.
Researchers develop AI-based method to quantify cracking patterns in reinforced concrete structures, enabling more accurate and efficient assessments of structural damage. The approach uses graph theory and machine learning algorithms to create a unique 'fingerprint' for each set of cracks, allowing for quick and consistent evaluations.
Researchers suggest sharing smaller, lightweight EVs to manage resource use in EV batteries. They found that reducing material supply risks requires systemic approaches and investments in new battery technologies.
The new model maximizes coverage area and minimizes response time, accounting for hot spots. It outperformed existing techniques in computational testing, improving response times regardless of traffic size.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University will investigate the links between multimodal transportation, climate adaptation and resilience. The center aims to promote transit access, sustainable communities and resilient development.
Researchers at Cranfield University are developing a new generation of lithium-sulfur batteries that offer improved performance and reduced weight compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The technology has the potential to support electrification of short-haul aircraft, light goods vehicles, and passenger vehicles.
A sensor embedded in concrete allows for more precise data on pavement strength, reducing the need for repairs and improving road sustainability. This technology has been implemented in several states, including Indiana and Texas, to reduce traffic delays and save taxpayer dollars.
A new open-source tool called TILE2NET uses aerial imagery and image-recognition to create complete maps of sidewalks and crosswalks. The tool has been trained on 20,000 aerial images from Boston, Cambridge, New York City, and Washington, recognizing 90% or more of all sidewalks and crosswalks in these cities.
Researchers found that strategically placing charging stations, especially at workplaces and in delayed home settings, can reduce peak electricity demand, store solar energy, and conveniently meet drivers' needs. This approach could help minimize the strain on the grid and avoid costly new power plants.
A new LiDAR system pinpoints pedestrian behavior to improve safety and efficiency at intersections. The system tracks pedestrians' true intent to cross, reducing conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles.
The UTSA ScooterLab will collect data on riders' mobility, context and environment to improve sustainable transportation solutions. The project aims to transform the way we think about micro-mobility.
A Florida Atlantic University study reveals that while private automobiles remain dominant, the share of car trips has decreased since its peak in 2001. In contrast, transit, non-motorized, and taxicab trips have increased. Lower-income groups rely heavily on public transportation due to limited mobility options.
A new funding proposal for a major rehabilitation of the 27 locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River suggests a public-private partnership to finance the project. The plan, proposed by Iowa State University's Yoshinori Suzuki, could pay off in the long run and reduce delays and bottlenecks for shippers.
A new modeling and visualization tool assists transit agencies in making the transition to electric buses, considering both cost and environmental equity. The bi-objective optimization framework model enables agencies to explore the interdependency of an electric bus transit system and a city's energy infrastructure.
A new approach, called the white phase concept, uses autonomous vehicles to control traffic flow at intersections, reducing fuel consumption and travel time. The system informs human drivers through a clearly identifiable signal, improving safety and efficiency.
A recent study found that homes near electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) in California see a significant increase in value, with those within 0.4-0.5 km of EVCSs valued up to 5.8% higher. The study also showed reduced air pollution and increased traffic, but no effect on property values within closer proximity.
A study by Dr Ansgar Hudde found that the Dutch cycle around twice as often as Germans during winter months due to differences in mobility culture. This is attributed to a cycling culture in Germany that only encourages seasonal cycling, whereas the Netherlands promotes year-round cycling.
Jamie Padgett, a Rice University professor, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation's BRITE Fellows program. With this funding, she will develop methods for infrastructure resilience modeling in response to uncertain, evolving conditions resulting from earthquakes, hurricanes, and other disasters.
Researchers developed biocomposites from corn stover and switchgrass for 3D printing with satisfactory properties. A national hydropower testing facility network can accelerate innovation and adoption of clean energy technologies. An EV truck stop design enables megawatt-scale charging, reducing carbon emissions.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University conducted a simulation to study bridge failure during large-scale earthquakes. The study highlights the importance of girder end design in improving resilience, with reinforcing ribs shown to be effective against lateral forces.
The MoveOn project has launched a nationwide cycling data platform, providing municipalities with access to high-quality cycling data. The platform is based on 5.2 million journeys collected from 340,000 cyclists across Germany, offering insights for efficient and user-oriented planning.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that organ donations and transplants increase by 21% during the week of large motorcycle rallies, with 26% more transplant recipients per day. The surge in donations does not alleviate the critical shortage of donor organs, highlighting the need for improved safety protocols.
A new study models likely future cliff retreat rates of two rock coasts in the UK, finding that rock coasts are likely to retreat at a rate not seen for 3,000-5,000 years. The researchers predict that rock coast cliffs will retreat by at least 10-22 meters inland due to accelerating sea level rise.
Researchers have created a more robust and accurate positioning system that surpasses GPS, particularly in urban settings. The new mobile network infrastructure achieved an accuracy of 10 centimeters, making it suitable for applications such as automated vehicles and quantum communication.
The study developed an extended deep Q-network (EDQN)-incorporated context-based meta-RL model that can autonomously detect traffic states, classify regimes, and assign signal phases. The model outperformed existing algorithms in simulation experiments and showed adaptability to new tasks without adjusting parameters.
Researchers have demonstrated a power-efficient component for demultiplexing operation using silicon photonic MEMS, enabling efficient wavelength demultiplexing for fiber-optic communications. The compact footprint of the add-drop filter allows fast operation compared to established MEMS products.
A new research group aims to develop an interdisciplinary approach for secure operation of critical infrastructure systems using artificial intelligence. The goal is to create a 'hybrid architecture' that combines AI-based strategic development with rule-based systems, ensuring safe and reliable behavior.
Researchers from NC State University have developed a dynamic computational tool to help improve user access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The technique accounts for factors such as charging time, cost, and wait times to provide users with the most convenient options.
Researchers developed UnlockedMaps to provide real-time accessibility information for urban rail transit stations, with a focus on elevators. The system shows accessible and inaccessible stations, allowing users to plan their trips accordingly.
A study found that online grocery shopping filled gaps for people with mobility limitations, quarantine, or sick with COVID. Despite technological limitations, many consumers predicted continued high usage of e-commerce in the food sector.
The CityAccessMap tool assesses urban infrastructure distribution and identifies areas for improvement, helping policymakers address socio-economic disparities. Disadvantaged communities face lower access to urban services, which can hinder social mobility and exacerbate inequalities.
A team of researchers has created an online dashboard to track equity requirements in 239 shared micromobility programs across the US. The dashboard provides city officials with valuable insights on best practices for expanding access to these programs, including technology access, reduced fare options, and adaptive vehicles.
A new hydrogel-based platform increases vaccine thermal stability, enabling distribution in diverse regions without strict temperature control. The technology has the potential to reduce economic costs and health risks associated with cold chain logistics.
The Active Transportation Return on Investment Study found positive effects on business activity in retail and food sectors, benefiting areas outside of downtown Portland. The research team evaluated 12 projects constructed between 2001 and 2016 and recommended investments for Metro's Regional Flexible Funding Allocations.
A study found that individual factors such as education level and health status are more influential on leisure-time physical activity than municipal resources. Commuting physical activity is also lower in rural municipalities due to longer distances and limited public transport.
A newly installed deep-water pipeline has led to a significant increase in the abundance and diversity of marine life on the Angolan coast. The study found that the pipeline provided shelter and trapped organic matter, which animals feed on, resulting in an immediate boost to sea-floor animals.
A new analysis suggests that Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately affected by traffic-related deaths, and that these disparities are larger than previous estimates show. The study found that travel distances vary among racial/ethnic groups when walking, cycling, or driving, and when these differences in activity levels a...
Researchers developed a computational model to determine optimal places for electric vehicle charging facilities and powerful stations without straining the local power grid. The model considers travel flow, user demand, and regional power infrastructure needs.
A recent SFU study found that 79% of Vancouver residents have access to a grocery store within a 15-minute walk, while 99% can reach one via cycling. However, there are inequities in access across populations and neighbourhoods, disproportionately affecting children, older adults, and racialized populations.
Researchers analyzed over 240,000 Google Street View images to find that streets with more visible sky, roadway, and signs have 48% more crashes than residential areas. The study highlights the dangers of 'open road' segments in urban areas, which drivers often perceive as highways, despite being near pedestrians and human activity.
Researchers documented traditional wooden boats in the Zanzibar Channel, showing continued use despite modern transportation developments. The study highlights innovations such as outboard engines and portable generators, which have transformed fishing methods.