ANALYSIS OF POSSIBILITIES FOR THE USE OF VOLUME-DELAY FUNCTIONS IN THE PLANNING MODULE OF THE TRISTAR SYSTEM

Summary. Travel time is a measure commonly used for traffic flow modelling and traffic control. It also helps to evaluate the quality of traffic control systems in urban areas. Traffic control systems that use traffic models to predict changes and disruptions in vehicle flows have to use vehicle speed-prediction models. Travel time estimation studies the effects of traffic volumes on a street section at an average speed. The TRISTAR Integrated Transport Management System, currently being deployed across the Tri-City (Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia), is almost completed and data obtained from the System can be useful for the development of prediction models. A procedure for travel speed model selection for the Tri-City street network is presented in this paper. Matching of chosen volume-delay functions to the data obtained from the TRISTAR has been tested. Analyses have shown insufficient matching of functions that does not justify the possibility of their use in traffic control due to variability in different conditions of traffic, weather and, in the case of an incident, which justifies the need for further research aimed at satisfying matching of functions depending on the above-mentioned factors

Application of Markov chains approach for expecting extreme precipitation changes having impact on food supply

This work was co-financed by NCBiR, Contract no. FACCE JPI/04/2012 - P100 PARTNE

Identifying climatic risk to soybean cultivation in the transitional type of moderate climate in Central Poland

Meteorological measurements carried out in 1986-2015 were used to evaluate the climatic risk for soybean cultivation in the transitional type of moderate climate in Poland, as well the directions and the significance of changes in the meteorological indices were considered. Their analysis led to determination of the following unfavourable climatic conditions for soybean cultivation: shortening of the active growth period, a delay of the date on which the soil warms up to 8 °C at a depth of 5 cm, occurrences of meteorological and agricultural droughts and of late spring ground frosts. All indices of the climatic risk in soybean cultivation demonstrated high temporal variability. Significant trends of changes for the following indices were observed: an increase in the number of moderate and strong frosts and an earlier start of the period when soil reaches 8 °C at a depth of 5 cm. For 2000-2015, in relation to the previous 15-year period of 1986-2000, it was found that temporal variability increased for the number of moderate and strong late spring frosts and for the date of the last late spring frost. On the other hand, variability was reduced as regards the beginning and the length of the period of active growth of plants, as well as precipitation shortages and surpluses in the period when soybean water needs are intensified

Impacts of climate change adaptation options on soil functions: A review of European case‐studies

Soils are vital for supporting food security and other ecosystem services. Climate change can affect soil functions both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include temperature, precipitation, and moisture regime changes. Indirect effects include those that are induced by adaptations such as irrigation, crop rotation changes, and tillage practices. Although extensive knowledge is available on the direct effects, an understanding of the indirect effects of agricultural adaptation options is less complete. A review of 20 agricultural adaptation case‐studies across Europe was conducted to assess implications to soil threats and soil functions and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The major findings are as follows: (a) adaptation options reflect local conditions; (b) reduced soil erosion threats and increased soil organic carbon are expected, although compaction may increase in some areas; (c) most adaptation options are anticipated to improve the soil functions of food and biomass production, soil organic carbon storage, and storing, filtering, transforming, and recycling capacities, whereas possible implications for soil biodiversity are largely unknown; and (d) the linkage between soil functions and the SDGs implies improvements to SDG 2 (achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture) and SDG 13 (taking action on climate change), whereas the relationship to SDG 15 (using terrestrial ecosystems sustainably) is largely unknown. The conclusion is drawn that agricultural adaptation options, even when focused on increasing yields, have the potential to outweigh the negative direct effects of climate change on soil degradation in many European regions

Conditions for the implementation of the contraflow bus line in a reversible traffic organization

Polskie miasta wprowadzają rozwiązania mające na celu zachęcanie do korzystania z alternatywnych do podróży samochodem sposobów przemieszczania się, w tym transportem zbiorowym, co może przyczynić się do zmniejszenia zatłoczenia sieci ulicznej. Jednym z przykładów takich działań jest wprowadzenie dedykowanego zmiennokierunkowego pasa autobusowego na jednej z głównych arterii miasta Gdyni. Jest to pierwsze rozwiązanie w Polsce, które zostało uruchomione pod koniec ubiegłego roku. Głównym celem artykułu jest przedstawienie innowacyjnego rozwiązania oraz wskazanie jego wad i zalet oraz problemów, które pojawiły się na etapie wdrożenia. Przedstawiono ponadto metodę szacowania efektywności zmian w organizacji ruchu na podstawie badań terenowych i symulacyjnych, którą zastosowano podczas procesu planowania usprawnień.Polish cities introduce solutions to encourage alternative – to car travel – modes of transport, including public transport, which can contribute to reducing congestion in the street network. The example is the introduction of a dedicated reversible bus lane in one of the main arteries in Gdynia. This is the first solution in Poland, which was launched at the end of last year. The main aim of the article is to present an innovative solution and to indicate its advantages and disadvantages and problems that appeared at the implementation stage. Moreover, a method of estimating the effectiveness of changes in traffic organization on the basis of field research and simulation, which was used during the process of planning improvements, has been presented

Effects of Drip Irrigation and Top Dressing Nitrogen Fertigation on Maize Grain Yield in Central Poland

Maize is a plant of a global cultivation range and great economic importance, which is mainly due to its high yield potential and versatile use as food, fodder, and energy source. To evaluate the effects of drip irrigation and nitrogen fertigation on maize growth in light soil in the climate conditions of Central Poland, a field experiment was carried out in 2015–2017, as a dependent split-plot design with four replications. Two factors were used: I. drip irrigation (W0—no irrigation, W1—optimal irrigation, ensuring 100% coverage of the water needs of maize during the period of increased water needs), II—method of top dressing application of two doses of nitrogen 2 × 40 kg·ha−1 (T—traditional application as broadcasted urea, F—fertigation with the use of a 6% aqueous solution of urea). The results presented in the paper concerning the absolute, relative and unitary average increases in corn grain yields under the influence of drip irrigation indicated the potential for increasing significantly the productivity of corn under the condition of optimizing the water factor. The average yield increase was 2.35 t·ha−1, varying depending on rainfall pattern: in the dry season it was 4.79, and in the wet season 1.03–1.22 t·ha−1. The application of top-dressing nitrogen fertigation resulted in a significant increase in the yield of maize grain in relation to the traditional method of nitrogen fertilization. Drip irrigation and fertigation are treatments that, ensuring the stability of maize yield over the years, contribute to an increase in plant yield by approximately 25% on average, and over 80% in the dry seasons

Effects of Drip Irrigation and Top Dressing Nitrogen Fertigation on Maize Grain Yield in Central Poland

Maize is a plant of a global cultivation range and great economic importance, which is mainly due to its high yield potential and versatile use as food, fodder, and energy source. To evaluate the effects of drip irrigation and nitrogen fertigation on maize growth in light soil in the climate conditions of Central Poland, a field experiment was carried out in 2015–2017, as a dependent split-plot design with four replications. Two factors were used: I. drip irrigation (W0—no irrigation, W1—optimal irrigation, ensuring 100% coverage of the water needs of maize during the period of increased water needs), II—method of top dressing application of two doses of nitrogen 2 × 40 kg·ha−1 (T—traditional application as broadcasted urea, F—fertigation with the use of a 6% aqueous solution of urea). The results presented in the paper concerning the absolute, relative and unitary average increases in corn grain yields under the influence of drip irrigation indicated the potential for increasing significantly the productivity of corn under the condition of optimizing the water factor. The average yield increase was 2.35 t·ha−1, varying depending on rainfall pattern: in the dry season it was 4.79, and in the wet season 1.03–1.22 t·ha−1. The application of top-dressing nitrogen fertigation resulted in a significant increase in the yield of maize grain in relation to the traditional method of nitrogen fertilization. Drip irrigation and fertigation are treatments that, ensuring the stability of maize yield over the years, contribute to an increase in plant yield by approximately 25% on average, and over 80% in the dry seasons

Trends in climate change of indicators of plant irrigation needs in Poland in 1991-2020

Przeprowadzono ocenę zmienności czterech klimatycznych wskaźników potrzeb nawadniania roślin w I strefie celowości stosowania tego zabiegu w Polsce (temperatura powietrza, opady atmosferyczne, częstość susz atmosferycznych, niedobory opadów). Analiza dotyczyła czterech miejscowości (Szczecin, Poznań, Kalisz, Toruń), wielolecia referencyjnego 1991-2020 oraz fragmentów i całego okresu aktywnego wzrostu roślin (V-VIII). Badania wykazały dość jednoznaczny wzrost potrzeb nawadniania pod względem kryterium klimatycznego. Wynika on przede wszystkim z istotnego wzrostu temperatury powietrza, skutkującego zwiększeniem się potrzeb wodnych roślin. Wykazano tendencję do pogłębiania się niedoborów opadowych w wieloleciu 1991-2020 na Nizinie Szczecińskiej i w Wielkopolsce oraz zidentyfikowano dużą liczbę susz atmosferycznych o zwiększonej intensywności w latach 2015-2020.An assessment of the variability of four climatic indicators of plant irrigation needs (air temperature, precipitation, frequency of atmospheric droughts, rainfall shortages) in the 1st zone of irrigation application in Poland was carried out. The analysis concerned four localities (Szczecin, Poznań, Kalisz, Toruń) during the reference multiyear period 1991-2020, in the entire period of active plant growth (V-VIII) as well as the parts of it. Results of the analysis have shown a fairly clear increase in irrigation needs in terms of the climatic criterion. It results primarily from a significant increase in air temperature, resulting in an increase in the water needs of plants. For the period 1991-2020 tendency to deepening rainfall shortages in the Szczecin Lowland and in Wielkopolska was demonstrated. The large numbers of atmospheric droughts with higher level of intensity were identified in the second part of the analysed period in the years 2015-2020

Markov chain as a tool for forecasting daily precipitation in the vicinity of the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland

The crop yield depends on numerous weather factors, but mainly on the rainfall pattern and course of air temperature during vegetation period. Investigating the dependence of yields on rainfall, apart from its amount, there also should be taken into account dry spell periods. The two-state Markov chain was considered as a precipitation pattern in the investigation, since it is generally recognized as a simple and effective model of the precipitation occurrence. Based on the daily precipitation totals from the period 1971—2013, the Markov chain was designated. The data were derived from a measuring point of the University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz, Poland. As one of the objectives was to determine the order of the Markov chain examined describing the change of precipitation in subsequent days. Another aim was to investigate rainfall dependencies on a month of a year. An analysis of this data leads to the conclusion that the chain is second order. This is confirmed by the two criteria used: BIC (Bayesian Information Criteria) and AIC (Akaike Information Criteria). The research regarded the precipitation volume dependence on a month of the year