Joint Road Safety Analysis in Open Roads and Tunnels

From the user’s (drivers) point of view, a road is a unique linear infrastructure although it is clear for a driver that such a linear infrastructure consists of open terrain (open roads) and occasionally closed environment (tunnels). Since the two environments present different safety issues, the related analyses are usually conducted on the field by different experts; those conclusions are sometimes not well interlinked and harmonised, leading to safety gaps particularly, but not only, in the transition areas. Joint safety analyses conducted in the same time by a group of road safety and tunnel safety experts can fill such a gap and increase the safety level of the whole infrastructure. During the year 2016, an international group of road safety experts and tunnel experts visited five road sections with open roads and tunnel in Europe and performed joint safety analyses together with the infrastructure managers. Such analyses were conducted according to a predefined experimental procedure to check the effectiveness of the joint analyses with respect to the usual ones. The key results are that joint safety operations in tunnels and open roads are possible and extremely useful: their cost can be very low when well planned

TRANSFORMERS - Configurable and Adaptable Trucks and Trailers for Optimal Transport

Proceedings of 7th Transport Research Arena TRA 2018, VIENNE, AUTRICHE, 16-/04/2018 - 19/04/2019; This contribution is based on the European collaborative project TRANSFORMERS (Configurable and adaptable trucks and trailers for optimal transport), which received co-funding from the European Commission. The project has the goal of reducing energy use per tonne.kilometre of goods transported by up to 25%. This is achieved by innovations including: i) Configurable whole vehicle aerodynamics, ii) Improved loading efficiency measures, iii) A distributed, trailer mounted electric driveline known as 'hybrid-on-demand' for truck-semitrailer combinations. The combination of innovations gives the possibility of a semi-trailer combination which can be adapted or re-configured to suit individual transport missions. The paper focuses on providing background to the project, an overview of the innovations developed within the project, and the main conclusions that were drawn from the wide range of work undertaken within the project. It covers both the 'Energy Efficiency' and the 'Load Optimisation' trailers which were developed and tested within the project. Document type: Conference objec

Invited perspectives: A research agenda towards disaster risk management pathways in multi-(hazard-)risk assessment

Whilst the last decades have seen a clear shift in emphasis from managing natural hazards to managing risk, the majority of natural-hazard risk research still focuses on single hazards. Internationally, there are calls for more attention for multi-hazards and multi-risks. Within the European Union (EU), the concepts of multi-hazard and multi-risk assessment and management have taken centre stage in recent years. In this perspective paper, we outline several key developments in multi-(hazard-)risk research in the last decade, with a particular focus on the EU. We present challenges for multi-(hazard-)risk management as outlined in several research projects and papers. We then present a research agenda for addressing these challenges. We argue for an approach that addresses multi-(hazard-)risk management through the lens of sustainability challenges that cut across sectors, regions, and hazards. In this approach, the starting point is a specific sustainability challenge, rather than an individual hazard or sector, and trade-offs and synergies are examined across sectors, regions, and hazards. We argue for in-depth case studies in which various approaches for multi-(hazard-)risk management are co-developed and tested in practice. Finally, we present a new pan-European research project in which our proposed research agenda will be implemented, with the goal of enabling stakeholders to develop forward-looking disaster risk management pathways that assess trade-offs and synergies of various strategies across sectors, hazards, and spatial scales

D1.2 Handbook of multi-hazard, multi-risk definitions and concepts

This report is the first output of Work Package 1: Diagnosis of the MYRIAD-EU project: Handbook of Multi-hazard, Multi-Risk Definitions and Concepts. The aim of the task was to (i) acknowledge the differences and promote consistency in understanding across subsequent work packages in the MYRIAD-EU project, (ii) improve the accessibility of our work to a broad array of stakeholders and (iii) strengthen consensus across the hazard and risk community through a common understanding of multi-hazard, multi-risk terminology and concepts. The work encompassed a mixed-methods approach, including internal consultations and data-generating exercises; literature reviews; external stakeholder engagement; adopting and building on a rich existing body of established glossaries. 140 terms are included in the glossary, 102 related to multi-hazard, multi-risk, disaster risk management and an additional 38 due to their relevance to the project, acknowledging the need for a common understanding amongst an interdisciplinary project consortium. We also include extended definitions related to concepts particularly of relevance to this project deliverable, including ‘multi-hazard’, ‘hazard interrelationships’, ‘multi-risk’ and ‘direct and indirect loss and risk’. Underpinned by a literature review and internal consultation, we include a specific section on indicators, how these might be applied within a multi-hazard and multi-risk context, and how existing indicators could be adapted to consider multi-risk management. We emphasise that there are a number of established glossaries that the project (and risk community) should make use of to strengthen the impact of the work we do, noting in our literature review a tendency in papers and reports to define words afresh. We conclude the report with a selection of key observations, including terminology matters – for all aspects of disaster risk management, for example communication, data collection, measuring progress and reporting against Sendai Framework targets. At the same time, we discuss when is it helpful to include ‘multi-‘ as a prefix, questioning whether part of the paradigm shift needed to successfully address complex challenges facing an interconnected world is through inherently seeing vulnerability, exposure and disaster risk through the lens of multiple, interrelated hazards. We emphasise that there is likely to be an evolution of the terminology throughout the project lifetime as terms are emerge or shift as the project evolves. Finally, we propose a roadmap for developing and testing draft multi-risk indicators in MYRIAD-EU. The WP1 team would like to acknowledge all the contributions of the consortium on this task and the feedback from the External Advisory Board, in particular the chair of the board Virginia Murray, Head of Global Disaster Risk Reduction at the UK Health Security Agency, and the contribution of Jenty Kirsch-Wood, Head of Global Risk Management and Reporting at UNDRR, for her reflections on the findings of this work

Outcome Following Ovarian Drilling in Nigerian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterized by endocrinopathies which can lead to infertility. Various modalities of treatment have been employed including ovarian drilling, but the outcome of such ovarian drilling in Nigerian women is not known. Aim: This is a systematic review of the outcome of ovarian drilling on the menstrual pattern and pregnancy rate in Nigerian women. Materials and Methods: Google scholar and PubMed databases were searched for studies that relate to PCOS management using ovarian drilling and other modalities in Nigeria. The citation lists of relevant articles and studies were also searched. Case reports, retrospective studies, and prospective studies were included. Review articles, systematic reviews, and meta‑analysis were excluded. Six studies were found to be suitable and consisted of two case reports and prospective studies each, respectively, and one clinical trial and retrospective study each, respectively. Results: There were a total of 107 patients aged 17–49 years. While all the patients presented with a complaint of abnormal menstruation, 50%–70% complained of inability to conceive. All the patients had used clomiphene citrate as first‑line drug to manage their complaints. Ovarian drilling was carried out using the conventional unipolar diathermy and 4 or more drills per ovary. Following the procedure, 76% resumed normal menstruation and 30% conceived. Conclusion: Reports of ovarian drilling in Nigeria reveal a positive outcome but the number of published studies are few and quality of evidence low. Further well‑designed studies including randomized controlled trials are needed to make definite conclusions

Recommendations for future test sites : Deliverable No 5.1

Over 70 test sites in Europe and elsewhere were identified through personal contacts and knowledge of the project team, web searches and discussion with the CEDR CAD group and industry contacts. The output of this work was a catalogue of connected and automated driving test sites, identifying and categorising 37 test sites in Europe (Deliverable 2.1). The sites are also presented in a Google map page which gives the locations of the test tracks and approximate extent of road-based test sites. A preselection of 16 test sites for further investigation was made by the project team and discussions with the CEDR CAD team at a workshop in Tallinn. These sites were prioritised based on factors including; provision of information to the team in the first phase, the type of track or roads involved (excluding low speed pods in campus environments for example) and sites or projects that would be operational beyond the lifetime of the project. Final agreement was made, and visits made to the following sites by members of the project team, CEDR project officers and representatives of NRAs: Horiba MIRA, Midlands, UK, Alp.Lab, Graz, Austria, TRANSPOLIS, Lyon, France. Discussion were also held with the Midlands Future Mobility test road to learn about the plans for this 20-year project. The findings are presented in Deliverable 3.1. Following this work, the project team took the learnings from the test sites initially categorising the test sites by road / track type, for example urban, interurban, simulations, detailing the practical implications for each and noting test sites in each category and occasions where NRAs were directly involved. The sites where priority areas for NRAs (safety, traffic efficiency, customer service, maintenance and construction and data / C-ITS) were discussed and implications for NRAs presented. In the absence of data provided directly provided by test sites, the impacts of CAVs, CVs and AVs for these priority areas were detailed in relation to potential impacts, benefits, or infrastructure requirements for NRAs in the future. This was supplemented by four cases with more in-depth analysis to provide a concrete overview of activities at specific sites or projects addressing aspects that align with the work of NRAs. These were: Highways England: Construction and maintenance vehicles, work zone safety, TRANSPOLIS test site: cyber security and data case study and self-driving vehicle cyber security testing capabilities, ENSEMBLE truck platooning project, and ZENZIC: CAVs cyber security testing capabilities From the work undertaken, a series of findings were made, which are presented joint Deliverable 4.1 and 4.2. A From the findings developed, a series of recommendations were made. The original plan was that these would be discussed with the CEDR CAD group at the TRA conference in Helsinki and/or a CEDR group meeting in Bern, however the outbreak of COVID19 prevented this from happening. Instead, three online workshops were held with representatives of the CEDR CAD group, project officers, research institutes and interested experts and a fourth workshop with the CEDR CAD group only. Following an overview of the work undertaken on the project, the MURAL whiteboard tool was used to present the recommendations, clarify or add new one, vote on those of highest interest, and finally to discuss and categorise the difficulty of implementation of the recommendations. In the areas investigated, there are a variety of simulation, visualisation, test tracks and test beds that address NRA needs across Europe. One area that is possibly lacking is road trials that traverse international boundaries and work on this should be undertaken to ensure interoperability of systems across Europe. Depending on specific NRAs needs there is a variety of testing scenarios available. NRAs can become mutual partners and participate in consortia together with the OEMs and other relevant data and service providers to be able to obtain and exchange data and best practices. Since the test site performance and safety information resulted from specific tests and trials undertaken by each site is typically confidential it is proposed that NRAs join such initiatives or join ventures and become a mutual partner. More open communication from all parties could lead to the development of projects that address common areas of interest such as safety, traffic efficiency and customer service, and help accelerate the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles

Overview of connected and automated driving test sites

Connected and automated vehicles potentially offer solutions to some key challenges for National Road Administrations (NRAs), such as reduction of accidents, increasing network capacity etc. As a result of this potential, both industry and certain national governments are undertaking trials that are mainly focused on technological challenges such as the ability of vehicles to drive safely in “random” situations etc. Far less attention has been paid to questions around the implications for NRAs. The overall aim of the STAPLE project is to provide a comprehensive review of technological and non-technological aspects of the most relevant connected and automated driving test sites in order to understand the impact of these sites on the NRAs’ core business and functions

Effective and coordinated road infrastructures safety operations

The general objective of the ECOROADS project is to overcome the barrier established by the formal interpretation of the two Directives 2008/96/EC (on road infrastructure safety management) and 2004/54/EC (on tunnels), that in practice do not allow the same Road Safety Audits/Inspections described in the first Directive to be performed inside tunnels, ruled by the second one only. This implies that, while from the user (driver) point of view a road is a unique linear infrastructure generally in open terrain and sometimes in closed environment (tunnels), the strict application of the two Directives leads to a non-uniform approach to the infrastructure safety management outside and inside tunnels. The ECOROADS projects is establishing a common enhanced approach to road infrastructure and tunnel safety management by using the concepts and criteria of the Directive 2008/96/CE on road infrastructure safety management and the results of related European Commission (EC) funded projects. The direct involvement of different public and private stakeholders through dedicated workshops, discussion and exchange of best practices between European tunnel experts and road safety professionals are leading to common agreed procedures that will be tested in five European road sections which feature both open roads and tunnels. The outcome of the project will be a set of commonly agreed recommendations and guidelines for a coherent application of safety procedures on the whole road network, both at the Member State and EU level, providing a valuable input to the work of the EC and the possible future revision of one or both Directives. ECOROADS started on June 2015and is now approaching the first phase of the field visits, after having defined the procedures for the joint operations involving road and tunnel safety experts. This paper explains the basic concept and the criteria adopted for the test sites, together with the common approach agreed by the international stakeholders concerned