Uso de técnicas de geoprocessamento na determinação de áreas de risco de incêndio e determinação de locais para a instalação de torres de observação de incêndios. Estudo de caso: Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula/RS

In this work, the tools of geoprocessing were used as a subject to elaborate a map of fires risk to the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, State of Rio Grande do Sul, and also to determinate suitable spots for strategic location of two fire observation towers, that could help for the prevention and combats to fires in the forest. Mapping fire risk was achieved by following, basically, the methodology proposed by Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). In this way, using the image of the satellite Ikonos /I and topographical maps that corresponded to the study area, such as realizing practice works, it was possible to generate, at the software Idrisi for Windows (32 bits), 6 layers, which were integrated using GIS, giving place to a map of fires risk to the zone. This map, associated with otherinformation about the zone and of the local habits, allowed the determination of the spots to installate the towers. It was ended that the proposed methodology adapted to the study area, and that the zone needs a strategic plan of prevention and combats to fires because of its importance as a preservation area and due to its report of fires occurrence.In this work, the tools of geoprocessing were used as a subject to elaborate a map of fires risk to the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, State of Rio Grande do Sul, and also to determinate suitable spots for strategic location of two fire observation towers, that could help for the prevention and combats to fires in the forest. Mapping fire risk was achieved by following, basically, the methodology proposed by Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). In this way, using the image of the satellite Ikonos /I and topographical maps that corresponded to the study area, such as realizing practice works, it was possible to generate, at the software Idrisi for Windows (32 bits), 6 layers, which were integrated using GIS, giving place to a map of fires risk to the zone. This map, associated with other information about the zone and of the local habits, allowed the determination of the spots to installate the towers. It was ended that the proposed methodology adapted to the study area, and that the zone needs a strategic plan of prevention and combats to fires because of its importance as a preservation area and due to its report of fires occurrence.Neste trabalho, as ferramentas do geoprocessamento foram utilizadas com o objetivo de elaborar um mapa de risco de incêndio para a Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula/RS e determinar os locais mais adequados para a localização estratégicas de duas torres de observação de incêndios, que auxiliem na prevenção e combate de incêndios na floresta. O mapeamento de risco de incêndios foi realizado seguindo-se basicamente a metodologia proposta por Vettorazzi & Ferraz (1998). Assim, utilizando-se a imagem do satélite Ikonos II e cartas topográficas correspondentes à área de estudo, bem como com a realização de trabalhos de campo, foi possível gerar, por meio de interpretação visual, no software Idrisi for Windows (versão 32 bits), 6 Planos de Informação, os quais foram integrados através de SIG, dando lugar a um mapa de risco de incêndio da zona. Este mapa de risco, aliado às demais informações referentes ao terreno e aos costumes locais, permitiram determinar os melhores pontos para a instalação das torres. Concluiu-se que a metodologia proposta adequou-se a área em estudo, e que a zona necessita de um plano de prevenção e combate a incêndio visto a sua importância como área de preservação e devido a seu histórico de ocorrência de incêndios

Potential of ITS to improve safety and mobility of VRUs

ITS Applications have in recent years assisted in reducing the number of fatalities in Europe. However, Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) have not benefited as much as vehicle users. The EU-sponsored VRUITS project assesses the safety and mobility impacts of ITS applications for VRUs, assesses the impacts of current and upcoming ITS applications on the safety and mobility of VRUs, identifies how the usability and efficiency of ITS applications can be improved, and recommends which actions have to be taken at a policy level to improve ITS safety and mobility. This paper describes the results of the first phase of the project, in which the critical scenarios for VRUs are identified starting from accident data analysis, and following a user needs based on focus groups and expert interviews. From this basis, the most promising ITS applications for VRUs are selected according to their potential to address the specific needs of VRUs

Current and future trends in VRU accidents in Europe - why we need ITS solutions

Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) is a collective term used to describe cyclists, motorcyclists, moped riders and pedestrians. This paper describes work undertaken within the EC’s VRUITS project which focuses on reducing VRU accidents through the use of ITS solutions. The paper determines the current accident numbers within Europe for VRUs between the years 2002 and 2012 using the CARE database. Accident forecasting is then applied to predict future accident numbers if current trends continue and no successful countermeasures including ITS solutions are introduced into the Road Transport System. This shows the number of VRU fatalities in 2030 to be almost comparable to those of car accidents since car fatality rates are reducing at a far increased proportion compared to VRUs. The results of the study emphasise why the introduction of effective ITS solutions are necessary to improve the overall safety of VRUs

Critical accident scenarios for cyclists and how they can be addressed through ITS solutions

It is recognised that ITS applications have been relatively successful in improving road safety primarily through technology applications the vehicle and infrastructure. However, Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) have not received as much benefit as other road users. The EC-funded VRUITS project places the VRU road user at the centre, assesses the impact of current and upcoming ITS applications on the safety and mobility of VRUs, identifies how the usability and efficiency of ITS applications can be improved and recommends which actions have to be taken at a policy level to improve ITS safety and mobility. A major focus of the VRUITS project involves the safety of cyclists within the EU as a target VRU group. To provide the evidence-base for ITS applications, data were analysed to determine critical scenarios for cyclists and these data included national data in Spain, Austria, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. This analysis was matched to analysis of the European CARE data to determine the consistency between the national and European databases. The main findings from the data analysis are as follows; • The majority of cycling accidents in the accident analysis were found to occur at junctions/intersections. • One of the most common scenarios involved vehicles pulling out into the path of the oncoming cyclist at an intersection • CARE data suggests that the most common scenario involves both cyclist and vehicle heading in the same direction but the vehicle then turns into the cyclist’s path • Overall, males are over-represented in the data. • The majority of the accidents occur in fine dry weather during daylight hours • The majority occur in urban areas at relatively on roads with relatively low speed limits Data from this phase of the VRUITS project will be used to determine the ITS solutions that are relevant to the scenarios determined through accident analysis. Subsequent phases of the project will look at the feasibility of implementation of theses countermeasures which is likely to include some pilot testing of specific applications

A headway to improve PTW rider safety within the EU through three types of ITS

Introduction: The current safety situation for Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) within the EU is alarming. According to EU statistics, PTW riders account for 17% of all fatal road injuries in the region and twice as many fatalities per hundred thousand registered vehicles compared with occupants of cars. In recent years, too little attention has been given to Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), including PTW users, in the development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Therefore, ITS should be developed that consider PTW riders an integral part of traffic; we focus on three systems that we believe have the potential to improve safety among PTW riders, namely Intersection Safety (INS), the Powered Two Wheeler oncoming vehicle information system (PTW2V), and the Vulnerable road user Beacon System (VBS). The present study aims to estimate quantitatively the safety impacts of the selected ITS for PTW riders in the EU-28, once the systems are fully adopted and meet selected future scenarios for 2020 and 2030. Method: An ex-ante method suggested by Kulmala [1] was further developed and applied to assess the safety impacts of ITS specifically designed for VRUs. As suggested by the method, the analysis started by determining the impact mechanisms through which the selected ITS systems affect the safety of PTW riders. Results: According to the main results, all the systems we studied have a positive impact on PTW rider safety by preventing fatalities and injuries. The greatest effects, based on 2012 accident data and full penetration, could be attained by implementing PTW2V (283 fewer yearly fatalities) and INS (261 fewer yearly fatalities). The weakest effect was found with VBS (216 fewer yearly fatalities). Forecasts for 2030, also based on estimated accident trends and penetration rates, confirm an expected edge for INS and PTW2V in terms of safety