A Cost Effective Route Guidance Method for Urban Areas Using Histograms

Analysing shortest path for real time traffic environment is crucial with dynamic updating. VANET technology can be used for analysing traffic but generates a huge amount of data to be exchanged, which demands more processing power and resources. In this paper, a new histogram-based route guidance algorithm (HBA) has been proposed based on light weight processing. The proposed algorithm enables selecting the shortest path between any source and destination using the histogram models, which capture the higher order distribution function of the number vehicles in every lane. Furthermore, the histogram model is used to estimate the traffic delays at intersections and roundabouts. The data entity collection through sensors used for histogram modelling is presented in detail. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides a good prediction of road traffic status and a better solution for the congestion problem in the urban areas

Development of a Composite Sustainability Index for Roadway Intersection Design Alternatives in the UAE

Many studies have been carried out to evaluate the sustainability of transportation systems, but little attention has been given for the design of roadway intersections. This study aimed to establish a framework and develop a tool to assess the sustainability of roadway intersections from a road-user perspective. Sustainability indicators at the strategic level were extracted from the literature and were utilized with relative weights to develop economic, environmental, and social indices that would be combined into a composite sustainability index (CSI) tool. The tool was applied to four case studies of intersections in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. For each case study, the sustainability of fifteen design alternatives was evaluated for different scenarios of traffic volume and operational speed. Dimensional indices and the overall CSI were determined using the Multi-Criteria Decision Making method. Results indicated that traffic volume had a significant impact on intersection sustainability ranking, while the effect of operational speed was insignificant. Moreover, weight assignment had an effect on determining the most sustainable design alternative, where the best alternatives of the dimension with the major weight would most likely be the most sustainable. The developed tool would assist decision-makers in other cities to assess intersection projects that correspond to their regional goals

Recent Microextraction Techniques for Determination and Chemical Speciation of Selenium

Research designed to improve extraction has led to the development of microextraction techniques (ME), which involve simple, low cost, and effective preconcentrationof analytes in various matrices. This review is concerned with the principles and theoretical background of ME, as well as the development of applications for selenium analysis during the period from 2008 to 2016. Among all ME, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was found to be most favorable for selenium. On the other hand, atomic absorption spectrometry was the most frequently used instrumentation. Selenium ME have rarely been coupled to spectrophotometry and X-ray spectrophotometry methods, and there is no published application of ME with electrochemical techniques. We strongly support the idea of using a double preconcentration process, which consists of microextraction prior to preconcentration, followed by selenium determination using cathodic stripping voltammetry (ME-CSV). More attention should focus on the development of accurate, precise, and green methods for selenium analysis