Evaluating safety-influencing factors at stop-controlled intersections using automated video analysis

Introduction: Although stop signs are popular in North America, they have become controversial in cities like Montreal, Canada where they are often installed to reduce vehicular speeds and improve pedestrian safety despite limited evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of stop-control configuration (and other features) on safety using statistical models and surrogate measures of safety (SMoS), namely vehicle speed, time-to-collision (TTC), and post-encroachment time (PET), while controlling for features of traffic, geometry, and built environment. Methods: This project leverages high-resolution user trajectories extracted from video data collected for 100 intersections, 336 approaches, and 130,000 road users in Montreal to develop linear mixed-effects regression models to account for within-site and within-approach correlations. This research proposes the Intersection Exposure Group (IEG) indicator, an original method for classifying microscopic exposure of pedestrians and vehicles. Results: Stop signs were associated with an average decrease in approach speed of 17.2 km/h and 20.1 km/h, at partially and fully stop-controlled respectively. Cyclist or pedestrian presence also significantly lower vehicle speeds. The proposed IEG measure was shown to successfully distinguish various types of pedestrian-vehicle interactions, allowing for the effect of each interaction type to vary in the model. Conclusions: The presence of stop signs significantly reduced approach speeds compared to uncontrolled approaches. Though several covariates were significantly related to TTC and PET for vehicle pairs, the models were unable to demonstrate a significant relationship between stop signs and vehicle–pedestrian interactions. Therefore, drawing conclusions regarding pedestrian safety is difficult. Practical Applications: As pedestrian safety is frequently used to justify new stop sign installations, this result has important policy implications. Policies implementing stop signs to reduce pedestrian crashes may be less effective than other interventions. Enforcement and education efforts, along with geometric design considerations, should accompany any changes in traffic control.     

游览性公共场所人员拥堵缓解策略的仿真模拟

为研究公共场所人群聚集情况下不同人员拥堵缓解管理策略的实施效果,在分析游客游览行为影响因素的基础上,以北京动物园熊猫馆为研究对象,通过实地调研获得场馆结构、游客数量和游客游览过程等基本信息,以此作为应用STEPS软件进行人员拥堵缓解策略仿真模拟的必要条件,从客流总量控制和游览模式控制2个方面重点研究了4种拥堵缓解策略的实施效果。模拟结果表明:在高峰时期大客流情况下,延缓检票时间模式明显优于分批检票入场模式;延缓检票时间模式与单向游览模式相结合,可以增加场馆内游客游览的有序性,但由于游客游览行为受到限制,会在局部造成拥堵;延缓检票时间模式与路线引导护栏模式相结合有利于减轻局部拥堵。不同的拥堵缓解策略能够影响客流总数和客流分布,有效的拥堵缓解策略能够降低公共场所的客流聚集风险。     

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS: A NECESSITY IN WATER PLANNING1

ABSTRACT In water planning activities, major emphasis has been placed on the development of procedures for devising “optimum plans.” These plans are defined as those which meet prespecified demands for water at “minimum cost.” However, all plans are developed subject to postulated conditions regarding the state of the physical system and of nature. Because planning takes place in a dynamic and uncertain environment in which postulated conditions are known to change, it is imperative that the planner be apprised in the planning phase of the effect of changes which can occur. Using “this information, a planner can temper his judgment with a knowledge of the effect of the uncertainty resulting from changes in the system state variables. This paper presents results of the use of a computer simulation and optimization model to quantify possible variations in system response which could occur as a result of uncertainty in the postulated physical and economic conditions under which the proposed water development system was to perform. The possible effects of these variable responses on planning decision-making is discussed.     

Risk models for wildfowl diseases

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of computer models, including artificial intelligence systems, in the context of risk assessment and management for wildfowl diseases. In particular, the paper focuses on avian cholera and botulism in U.S. wildfowl, which are a source of continuing concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Severe outbreaks occur frequently, and some have been estimated to claim the lives of as many as 300 000 waterfowl. A potentially valuable support to the USFWS would be a set of models that assist in recognizing situations with high risk of an outbreak, assessing the anticipated severity of an outbreak, and advising on possible preventive measures. The USFWS has already initiated development of several potentially useful models. This paper reviews these as well as other related efforts, within the overall context of risk management for avian botulism and cholera.     

AN ANALOG COMPUTER DEMONSTRATION OF DOUBLE-PEAKED INSTANTANEOUS UNIT HYDROGRAPHS1

The properties of an instantaneous unit hydrograph model consisting of two cascades of linear reservoirs in parallel were explored with the aid of an analog computer. By proper choice of the model parameters it is possible to produce two-peaked instantaneous unit hydrographs. The relative magnitudes and locations of the two peaks can be varied by changing the values of the parameters. An example of the use of the analog computer to select the parameters of the model giving the best fit to an observed runoff hydrograph is also included. The analog computer used in the study was the ASTRAC II developed at the University of Arizona.     

XQH1.00地震安全性评价工作程序包简介

ＸＱＨ１．００地震安全性评价工作程序包具先进性、灵活性、可靠性和实用性。编制者对危险性分析、人造地震动和土层反应等主要程序作了一系列改进，使之具有较强的计算性能。其中，人造地震动采用了自己研究提出的新技术——即时域迭加技术和反应谱整体逼近技术。该软件包采用菜单方式，实行人机对话和各种表格图件全部汉化。图件的输出可使用打印机和绘图仪，具有优良的服务性能。     

基于细胞尺度的光照对四尾栅藻生长的影响

以四尾栅藻（Scenedesmus quadricauda）为研究对象,采用平行平板流动腔装置,基于计算机视觉的藻细胞动态生长观察方法,从单细胞尺度研究不同光照强度对四尾栅藻藻细胞生长的影响.成功建立了四尾栅藻个体生长曲线模型,模型拟合效果良好.结果表明：在8000lux光照强度下,藻细胞的体积最大比生长速率最大,即四尾栅藻生长的最适光照强度为8000lux;适宜的光照条件可以增加藻细胞分裂时的大小,小于8000lux时,藻细胞分裂体积随着光照强度的增加而增加,大于8000lux时,藻细胞分裂时体积反而越来越小;较高的光照强度还有利于藻细胞适应新的环境,减少藻细胞复苏时间.     

利用计算机技术编制多媒体环境质量报告书

利用计算机技术编制多媒体声像环境质量报告书，具有三维图像、全程多媒体自动播放坐标图动态显示、生动活泼、声图并貌的特点。     

现行pH值平均值计算方法的不足与改进

分析了pH均值的计算原理、现行计算方法的可行性与局限性,提出一组新的计算方程式,比较两种方法计算结果的差别,并给出新方程式求解的计算程序。     

环境监测适用的自动气象站

介绍了采用美国达拉斯 (Dallas)半导体公司近年推出的单总线技术研制的自动气象站 ,它很适用于对地面气象参数的监测。论述了用单总线技术改造原来人工监测的实施方案。该系统也可广泛用于关心气象信息的各种部门