BIM And GIS Data Integration: A Novel Approach Of Technical/Environmental Decision-Making Process In Transport Infrastructure Design

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Safety Audit for Weaving Maneuver: A Driver Simulation Safety Analysis

Weaving lanes are designed to ensure the crossing of two or more traffic streams traveling in the same direction along stretch of road without the aid of traffic control devices. Weaving lanes assume a key role in roundabouts characterized by wide inscribed circle diameter, where the weaving maneuver represents a crucial aspect for safety. This is confirmed by several findings that demonstrate as the weaving maneuver is one of the most difficult operation to analyze in terms of road safety. Many studies report that the combination between the length of weaving lanes and the traffic volume is a key factor to explain high accident rate along interchange zones. Bearing in mind this facet, this article proposes an analysis of driver behavior on different weaving lanes in various traffic conditions performed on an interactive driving simulator. Different lengths of weaving lane combined with different traffic flow conditions were simulated, and the different drivers' performance have been analyzed. A risk assessment has been conducted by analyzing driver's behavior as a function of driver's risk perception. It has been observed that the increase of weaving lane length is effective only when the traffic flow conditions exceed a certain threshold

Analysis of weaving maneuver’s critical issues using a driving simulator

It is well known that the weaving maneuver is one of the most difficult maneuvers to analyze in terms of road safety. Weaving sections provide a transition for vehicles from the right lane to the left lane and from the left lane to the right lane; in order to allow drivers to enter a road stretch or to exit out of it. Interchange segments are the most likely area where road accidents occur because of the complexity of the weaving maneuver. The complexity of this operation depends on drivers’ behavior and risk perception associated with the different phases that compose the maneuver: the intensity changing lanes, and braking and accelerating behaviors of a driver under different traffic flow conditions. Using an interactive driving simulator, this study proposes an analysis of drivers’ behavior on different weaving lanes in various traffic conditions. Three different lengths of weaving lane combined with four different traffic flow conditions were simulated and the different drivers’ performances have been analyzed. The objective of the research is to evaluate reliable indicators able to verify weaving maneuver's safety standards, in order to achieve more efficient design criteria. Several findings have shown that a driving simulator can ensure the reliability of measures and, it can also show the relationships between road geometrical characteristics and drivers’ behavior

Coupling Virtual Reality Simulator with Instantaneous Emission Model: A New Method for Estimating Road Traffic Emissions

The article presents a new methodology for traffic emissions modeling by coupled the use of dynamic emissions models with a virtual reality driving simulator. The former allows the drivers’ behavior to be studied through a virtual reality driving test, focusing the attention on how traffic flow conditions combined with road geometrical characteristics influence the driving behavior. The latter is used to model the instantaneous vehicle emissions, starting from the driving data provided by the driving simulator. The article analyzes the relationship among three factors: the driving behavior, the pollutant emissions, and the traffic flow condition. The results highlight the influence of the drivers’ behavior on fuel consumption and emissions factors. Under high traffic flow, despite the reduction of the average vehicle speed, the average emissions level increases due to the increased vehicle accelerations and decelerations, which influence the behavior of the engine and the aftertreatment system. The proposed approach points out the relationship between vehicle emissions and drivers’ behavior. Since the coupling among instantaneous emissions modeling and geometry-functionality conditions of the road reveals important elements that traditional approaches miss, the proposed method provides a new way to increase the efficiency of road design and management, from the environmental point of view