The Real-World Safety Potential of Connected Vehicle Technology

Objective: This article estimates the safety potential of a current commercially available connected vehicle technology in real-world crashes.

Method: Data from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research's at-scene in-depth crash investigations in South Australia were used to simulate the circumstances of real-world crashes. A total of 89 crashes were selected for inclusion in the study. The crashes were selected as representative of the most prevalent crash types for injury or fatal crashes and had potential to be mitigated by connected vehicle technology. The trajectory, speeds, braking, and impact configuration of the selected in-depth cases were replicated in a software package and converted to a file format allowing “replay” of the scenario in real time as input to 2 Cohda Wireless MK2 onboard units. The Cohda Wireless onboard units are a mature connected vehicle technology that has been used in both the German simTD field trial and the U.S. Department of Transport's Safety Pilot project and have been tuned for low false alarm rates when used in the real world. The crash replay was achieved by replacing each of the onboard unit Global Positioning System (GPS) inputs with the simulated data of each of the involved vehicles. The time at which the Cohda Wireless threat detection software issued an elevated warning was used to calculate a new impact speed using 3 different reaction scenarios and 2 levels of braking.

Results: It was found that between 37 and 86% of the simulated crashes could be avoided, with highest percentage due a fully autonomous system braking at 0.7 g. The same system also reduced the impact speed relative to the actual crash in all cases. Even when a human reaction time of 1.2 s and moderate braking of 0.4 g was assumed, the impact speed was reduced in 78% of the crashes. Crash types that proved difficult for the threat detection engine were head-on crashes where the approach angle was low and right turn–opposite crashes.

Conclusions: These results indicate that connected vehicle technology can be greatly beneficial in real-world crash scenarios and that this benefit would be maximized by having the vehicle intervene autonomously with heavy braking. The crash types that proved difficult for the connected vehicle technology could be better addressed if controller area network (CAN) information is available, such as steering wheel angle, so that driver intent can be inferred sooner. More accurate positioning in the real world (e.g., combining satellite positioning and accelerometer data) would allow the technology to be more effective for near-collinear head-on and rear-end crashes, because the low approach angles that are common in such crashes are currently ignored in order to minimize false alarms due to positioning uncertainty.     

Compromising sustainable mobility? The case of the Gothenburg congestion tax

Congestion charging is widely considered an effective policy measure to regulate and reduce car traffic demand and associated environmental and health problems in cities. However, introducing restrictive measures to constrain individual choice and behaviour for the common good has often proven difficult. Using a specific case, the Gothenburg congestion tax introduced in 2013, we study the policy process behind the introduction of the tax and assess to what extent green values were compromised along the way. The tax was made possible by co-financing infrastructure investments, including roads, which seemingly contradicts stated goals of reducing car traffic and emissions. We show how the tax was ‘muddled through’ in a top-down political compromise by a grand coalition where different interests could legitimate their support in relation to the achievement of partially conflicting objectives and projects. However, to declare the regulatory goals fully neutralised would be to underestimate the scheme's direct environmental effects and restrictive potential. Finding a compromise with powerful political and economic interests was necessary to get it off the ground. Once launched, however, it can over time regain its restrictive properties and lead to more profound long-term effects.     

The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In‐Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications

Reservoirs are important for various purposes including flood control, water supply, power generation, and recreation. The aging of America's reservoirs and progressive loss of water storage capacity resulting from ongoing sedimentation, coupled with increasing societal needs, will cause the social, economic, environmental, and political importance of reservoirs to continually increase. The short‐ and medium‐term (<50 years) environmental consequences of reservoir construction and operation are well known and include an altered flow regime, lost connectivity (longitudinal, floodplain), an altered sediment regime, substrate compositional change, and downstream channel degradation. In general, reservoir‐related changes have had adverse consequences for the natural ecosystem. Longer term (>50 years) environmental changes as reservoirs enter “old” age are less understood. Additional research is needed to help guide the future management of aging reservoir systems and support the difficult decisions that will have to be made. Important research directions include assessment of climate change effects on aging and determination of ecosystem response to ongoing aging and various management actions that may be taken with the intent of minimizing or reversing the physical effects of aging.     

Resolution and Analysis of Spatial Variations and Patterns in an Urban Lake with Rapid Profiling Instrumentation

Rapid response vertical profiling instrumentation was used to document spatial variability and patterns in a small urban lake, Onondaga Lake, associated with multiple drivers. Paired profiles of temperature, specific conductance (SC), turbidity (T_n), fluorometric chlorophyll a (Chl_f), and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?) were collected at >30 fixed locations (a “gridding”) weekly, over the spring to fall interval of several years. These gridding data are analyzed (1) to characterize phytoplankton (Chl_f) patchiness in the lake's upper waters, (2) to establish the representativeness of a single long‐term site for monitoring lake‐wide conditions, and (3) to resolve spatial patterns of multiple tracers imparted by buoyancy effects of inflows. Multiple buoyancy signatures were resolved, including overflows from less dense inflows, and interflows to metalimnetic depths and underflows to the bottom from the plunging of more dense inputs. Three different metrics had utility as tracers in depicting the buoyancy signatures as follows: (1) SC, for salinity‐enriched tributaries and the more dilute river that receives the lake's outflow, (2) T_n, for the tributaries during runoff events, and (3) NO₃^?, for the effluent of a domestic waste treatment facility and from the addition of NO₃^? solution to control methyl mercury. The plunging inflow phenomenon, which frequently prevailed, has important management implications.     

Sources and Transport of Phosphorus to Rivers in California and Adjacent States,U.S., as Determined by SPARROW Modeling

The SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression on Watershed attributes) model was used to simulate annual phosphorus loads and concentrations in unmonitored stream reaches in California, U.S., and portions of Nevada and Oregon. The model was calibrated using de‐trended streamflow and phosphorus concentration data at 80 locations. The model explained 91% of the variability in loads and 51% of the variability in yields for a base year of 2002. Point sources, geological background, and cultivated land were significant sources. Variables used to explain delivery of phosphorus from land to water were precipitation and soil clay content. Aquatic loss of phosphorus was significant in streams of all sizes, with the greatest decay predicted in small‐ and intermediate‐sized streams. Geological sources, including volcanic rocks and shales, were the principal control on concentrations and loads in many regions. Some localized formations such as the Monterey shale of southern California are important sources of phosphorus and may contribute to elevated stream concentrations. Many of the larger point source facilities were located in downstream areas, near the ocean, and do not affect inland streams except for a few locations. Large areas of cultivated land result in phosphorus load increases, but do not necessarily increase the loads above those of geological background in some cases because of local hydrology, which limits the potential of phosphorus transport from land to streams.     

纳米Ag粒子在我国主要类型土壤中的迁移转化过程与环境效应

随着纳米技术的快速发展,纳米材料进入环境并不断累积,因此开展纳米材料的环境安全性研究具有重要意义.纳米银(Ag NP)是目前应用最广泛的人工纳米材料之一.本课题组拟以Ag NP为研究对象,系统研究其在我国主要类型土壤中的迁移、转化过程及其生态环境效应;基于同步辐射技术、同位素技术和量子化学计算等方法,揭示Ag NP与土壤中主要矿物或有机质之间的相互作用规律;探明Ag NP对土壤中微生物、动物和植物的致毒过程及其作用机制;发展Ag NP在土壤中迁移的数学模型,预测其在土壤中的迁移、滞留通量进而评价其淋溶风险,为Ag NP的安全利用提供重要理论基础和技术支撑.     

成都市臭氧重污染成因与来源解析

采用来源解析的方法对2020年成都市发生的一次较为严重的臭氧污染事件进行了研究.结果表明,此次污染过程呈现从清洁-污染-清洁的变化趋势,污染持续时间长达9d,最大臭氧小时浓度达到258.8μg/m3.气象因素在成都臭氧污染中的影响不可忽略,其中温度与臭氧浓度呈现显著正相关关系,东北风主要出现在污染前和污染后,可能起到稀...     

粤北地区一次臭氧污染过程分析及数值模拟

2020年7月1日,粤北地区出现了一次O₃污染过程,其中韶关市录得全省最高值162 μg·m^-3.本文利用常规观测资料以及再分析资料对影响此次韶关地区O₃污染过程的主要气象场特征进行分析,结果表明：6月28日—7月2日天气形势总体处于静稳状态,地面受到均压场控制,同时副热带高压较强,脊线位于韶关上空,导致中高层有下沉气流,抑制了垂直方向污染物的扩散.6月28—30日（污染积累阶段）,风速较大,韶关在外来输送和污染扩散条件的共同作用下,O₃浓度上升但未超标.7月1日（污染持续阶段）,韶关和清远两地风速减小,污染扩散条件不利;同时气温有所上升,光化学反应作用增强,有利于O₃浓度攀升;同时广州和佛山两地的风向从偏南风转为偏北风,韶关市维持偏南风,主导风向的差异是全省只有韶关O₃超标的主要原因.7月2日（污染消散阶段）,O₃外来传输及本地生成作用减弱,全省O₃浓度下降.进一步利用HYSPLIT后向轨迹以及WRF-CMAQ空气质量模式对3个阶段臭氧浓度变化的原因进行定量分析,结果表明：在积累阶段污染气团主要来源于广州、佛山和清远,外来输送作用明显;而在持续阶段3地O₃浓度低,O₃外来输送作用减弱;WRF-CMAQ模型定量过程诊断分析得出污染积累和持续阶段广州的水平平流输送项均为负贡献,分别达30%和18%,输出作用显著,但污染积累阶段较大的风速使得O₃在韶关地区无法堆积,韶关地区的水平输送正贡献项占比仅为12%;而在持续阶段,风速减小有利于污染物堆积,此阶段00：00—08：00时水平平流贡献项占比达59%,另外10：00—16：00本地气相化学过程的贡献项占比达56%.因此外地输送堆积以及本地气相化学生成共同造成了此次韶关地区的O₃污染过程.     

Ambient volatile organic compounds at a receptor site in the Pearl River Delta region: Variations, source apportionment and effects on ozone formation

We present the continuously measurements of volatile organic compounds（VOCs） at a receptor site（Wan Qing Sha, WQS） in the Pearl River Delta（PRD） region from September to November of 2017. The average mixing ratios of total VOCs（TVOCs） was 36.3 ± 27.9 ppbv with the dominant contribution from alkanes（55.5%）, followed by aromatics（33.3%）. The diurnal variation of TVOCs showed a strong photochemical consumption during daytime,resulting in the formation of ozone（O₃）. Five VOC sources were ...     

Distribution and transport characteristics of fine particulate matter in beijing with mobile lidar measurements from 2015 to 2018

Accurately quantifying the concentration and transport flux of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is vital when attempting to thoroughly identify the pollution formation mechanism. In this study, the mobile lidar measurements in Beijing on heavily polluted days in December from 2015 to 2018 are presented. The lidar was mounted on a vehicle, which could perform measurements along designated routes. On the basis of mobile lidar measurements along closed circuits of the 6th Ring Road around Beijing, the spatial distribution and transport flux of PM_2.5 in Beijing were determined with information of wind field. In the spatial distribution, both the concentration and transport of PM_2.5 were revealed to be more significant in the southern section of Beijing. The regional transport layer at heights < 1.3 km plays an important role in pollution formation. The maximum transport flux reached 1600 μg/(m²*sec) on 11 December 2016. With the aerosol boundary layer height determined from the image edge detection (IED) method, the inter-annual variations of the aerosol boundary layer height (ABLH) were also analysed. The ABLH decreased from 0.73 to 0.46 km during the same heavy pollution period from 2015 to 2018. Increasingly adverse aerosol boundary layer (ABL) meteorological factors, including lower ABLH, light winds, temperature inversions, and accumulated moisture, have become necessary for pollution formation in Beijing.